TP Over the Top

Ruredil - Fiber Reinforced Cement Matrix (FRCM)

Pellegrino Amato, Export Sales Manager of Ruredil (Italian manufacturer) makes comment on fiber reinforced cement matrix (FRCM) mock-up at presentation in NYC on 02-12-2013. 

Note: Our hands-on team seeks any project in North America where we can be hired to install these exotic materials.

Structural engineering solutions. What you see here is a sheet of carbon fiber as would be used on masonry (stone, brick). They also produce a system for concrete applications that uses a polyparaphenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO) mesh. PBO is a Japanese product used to make bullet-proof vests. This is not your garden variety masonry material. It goes beyond the technology of ferrocements in respect of thin structure. Think, canoe or kayak here.

The cement is pozzolanic (not Portland) and a magic to the system is the ability to manufacture nano-particles into the mix. This is not an epoxy system.

The material is well adapted to historic masonry structures for earthquake retrofit, with a high porosity for vapor transmission. The Ruredil crew in their presentation showed several projects where this has been proven out.

My recent escapade to Boston and back, driving across Long Island, CT & MA after the Nemo snow event, was in relation to my videotaping the Ruredil presentations (including the one in Queens, NY). Currently at work in my leisure time on editing 6+ hours into a 3-minute spot.

Technical information can be had from Patrick Morrissey of Conspec Associates.  

APT-PTN Conference in October -- Project Management: Contractor Interface

I am moderator and session leader for a panel presentation at the APTI Charleston 2012 Conference. I am also involved in a bunch of other activities at this APT-PTN event. More news to follow in time. 

Session Code: CS13 Session Title: Project Management: Contractor Interface 
When: Tuesday, October 2, 8:15-9:45, 
Where: Francis Marion Hotel, Charleston, SC 

The best practice of historic preservation technology requires that architects, engineers and conservators work closely in a team structure that includes those who practice in the contracting of traditional trades, as well as the stewards and owners of historic properties. It is not a situation of one body of knowledge being higher than another, it is a reasonable case of their being more knowledge under the sun than can be fit in the vessel of one person's lifetime. Best practice is that we bring the diversity of our minds and our experience forward and work together for the common goal of heritage conservation. 

This session will explore, celebrate, bring forth and question why and how all of us can best work together within the preservation industry.

Ilene Tyler, Quinn Evans Architects and John Fletcher of National Restoration 
Paper Title: From HSR to Restoration: the Fort Gratiot Light Station Demonstrates Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration at Every Step of the Process 

Brief Synopsis: Fort Gratiot Light Station is located at Port Huron, Michigan. In the process of the project there was a problem, as yet unresolved, with an applied coating system. Ilene Tyler and I have been friends for a number of years, we have presented together and worked together on projects. I am particularly interested in work on lighthouses and can reflect on issues that I was involved to help sort out many years ago at the Montauk Lighthouse. Ilene and John's presentation will combine the perspective of the preservation architect in collaboration with the preservation contractor. 

Robert Cagnetta, Heritage Restoration, Inc. and Leland Torrence, Leland Torrence Enterprises Paper 
Title: Achieving Project Success Through Professional Collaboration of the Trades and Design 

Brief Synopsis: 1862 First Congregational Church, Bristol, RI. A relatively unique approach was made toward the creation and composition of the project team that includes a close collaboration and communication with the stewards of the structure. Rob is currently the president of the Preservation Trades Network. I feel for him as I am the first-past president of PTN. Rob represents the preservation contractor and Leland represents the position of an owner's representative. I am friends with and do business with both individuals. Rob's firm hired me early on to this project as a stonemasonry consultant. My hope is that they will talk about the excavation of a whole lot of clay-mud from underneath the structure. 

Stewart Dohrman, Coastal Heritage Society
Title: Preserving Public Money: A Recipe for Success (Avoiding Blood-Sport Contractors) 

Brief Synopsis: I like railroads and trains and train facility structures. Involved in facilitation of preservation work at the Central of Georgia Railroad Shops Complex in Savannah, Georgia Stewart will explore strategies by which a public agency has been able to stretch their funding dollars and at the same time enable the employ of local tradtitional trades practitioners. Doing quality historic preservation work using public money can be a challenge. The traditional low-bid public procurement system seems to conspire against good preservation work. Explore ways to use existing and alternate public procurement systems to do high quality historic preservation projects.

APT Student Scholar, Jeremy Robbins MS Candidate UMass Amherst
Title: Re-Examining the Contributions of Civil Engineer and Inventor William Wheeler 

Brief Synopsis: William Wheeler is credited with the invention of light pipes (fiber optics) and first proposed their use as a source for central lighting in a structure. Jeremy gave a very interesting presentation at the APT-NE symposium in Hartfod, CT on historic lighting. I have specifically asked Jeremy to extend his study and presentation to include discussions with contemporary trades involved in fiber optic installations, with a focus to how they will relate to a history of their trade, and he will be interviewing them in regard of the implementation of single source lighting in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum gallery space.

Wooden Church in Poland

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New Old Traditional Trade Construction

Building a custom, multi-century house for under $80 a square foot | Better! Cities & Towns Online.

Clay Chapman

Portfolio

Hope for Architecture

Window Preservation Workshops to be held June and July 2012, Pine Mountain, Kentucky

Window preservation instructors Jim Turner and Duffy Hoffman

The Pine Mountain Settlement School will offer two one-week workshops on preserving historic windows at its campus located in rural Pine Mountain, KY. The workshops are geared toward people of all skills levels and could be beneficial for homeowners, contractors, and managers of historic properties.

Steel Windows
Jim Turner, owner of Turner Restoration (Detroit, MI), will instruct a workshop on preserving steel windows, June 10-15, 2012. Participants will learn how to remove steel window units, repair rusted and bent sections, replace missing components, adjust frames, remove and reapply glazing, remove and reapply paint, and other aspects of steel window restoration. Cost for this workshop is $950, which includes tuition, meals, lodging, student materials, and safety glasses. For more information, visit here.

Wood Windows
Duffy Hoffman, third generation craftsman and owner of P and R Inc., will instruct a workshop on preserving wood windows, July 15-20, 2012. Participants will follow the sash restoration process from removal of the window, to paint removal, repair, use of epoxies, Dutchman repair, glazing and re-installation. The pros and cons of window weatherization, including the energy savings of storm windows will also be discussed. Cost of the workshop is $750, which includes tuition, meals, lodging, student materials and safety glasses. For more information, visit here.

Since 2002, Pine Mountain Settlement School has offered hands-on field schools that emphasize practical preservation techniques that anyone should be able to master. Founded in 1913 as a boarding school for mountain children and as a settlement serving the community through economic, health and cultural initiatives, the school continues to provide instruction in environmental education and traditional arts and culture. More than 3,000 students visit its National Historic Landmark campus each year to participate in day programs or week-long programs. Pine Mountain Settlement School is a non-profit institution.

Patrick Kennedy
Restoration Project Manager
Kentucky Heritage Council
300 Washington Street
Frankfort, KY 40601

Coffee & Bagel - NYC, March 1, 2012

Coffee & Bagel - NYC
Thursday, March 1, 2012, 8:30-10:30
Neighborhood Preservation Center
232 East 11th Street New York, NY
between 2nd & 3rd Ave.

sponsored by
The Growth Coach of New York

RSVP John Stahl 

The Growth Coach of New York
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