Owner
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Mill Run, Pennsylvania

Project Engineer/Designer
Robert Silman Associates, PLLC
Washington, D.C.

Repair Contractor
VSL (VStructural LLC)
Springfield Virginia

Material Suppliers
Safeway Steel Scaffolds Co.
McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania

Dennis Lumber Co.
Markleysburg, Pennsylvania

Fallingwater, a historical structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, was constructed in 1937. The structure consists of a series of indoor/outdoor "trays" that cantilever over a waterfall below. Fallingwater is now a museum entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

A comprehensive strengthening and repair program forFallingwater, sponsored by the Conservancy, was executed during the winter of 2002. Strengthening was required due to severe cracking and deflections that threatened the museum's structural integrity. 

The renovation program was divided into three distinct phases. The first step was to gather and document as much information about the condition of the structure as possible. Based on information gathered in phase one, the next step was to analyze the structure and formulate a strengthening and repair strategy. The strengthening and repair work was organized into a closely monitored step-by-step process. Materials of construction for the project included post-tensioning strands and bars, carbon fiber rods, cast-in-place concrete, epoxy grout, cementitious grout, epoxy crack injection, and structural steel members. There were many unforeseen conditions, safety considerations and specific challenges faced by the repair team on this historic structure.