AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Longevity Category

HALLMARK CONDOMINIUM BALCONY REPAIR

Alexandria, Virginia

Submitted by C.A. Lindman, Inc.

The International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) was established in 1988 (as the International Association of Concrete Repair Specialists) because there was a desperate need to improve the concrete repair industry. At that time, concrete “patches” routinely failed within 2 years. None of the procedures we now take for granted were industry standards yet. Balcony repair projects were especially prone to premature failure. Good engineers and contractors were experiencing unacceptable failures and litigation.

This is the story of a project undertaken during this period (1988-1991) of evolving repairs and the role ICRI played in the project’s success. It illustrates the role these projects and their early failures played in establishing the need of a central industry organization for concrete repair. Because the first attempt at repairing the concrete on the balconies on this project failed so quickly and completely, the success of the second attempt using the forbearer of ICRI guidelines was hailed as a huge success after only 2 years. Now 15 years later, revisiting the project is even a stronger affirmation of the need for ICRI and the guidelines to concrete repair.

This is an average project now, but this approach taken in 1991 was cutting-edge and took vision from the owner/contractor/engineer team. The engineer, in particular, took quite an interest in this new, risky concrete repair field, and did a great job of research and team building.

Owner
Hallmark Condominium
Alexandria, Virginia

Project Engineer/
Designer
Thomas Downey, Ltd.
Alexandria, Virginia

Material Suppliers/
Manufacturers
Neogard Corporation
Elliot City, Maryland

Sika Corporation
Annapolis, Maryland