Carl Walker, Inc., a nationally recognized parking consulting and engineering firm, wins International Concrete Repair Institute’s (ICRI) 2014 Award of Excellence
Carl Walker, Inc., a nationally recognized parking consulting and
engineering firm, recently won International Concrete Repair
Institute’s (ICRI) 2014 Award of Excellence for the Windsor Suites Parking
Garage Restoration project in Philadelphia, Penn.
The 192-car Windsor Suites valet parking garage, constructed circa 1963, is
on the second through fourth floors of the 23-story hotel in historic
Philadelphia. The structural frame consists of cast-in-place flat concrete
slabs, varying in thickness from seven to nine inches. The slabs are
supplemented with beams at the edge of the slab and at various interior
locations. The column arrangement requires reinforcing steel to be placed at
asymmetrical strips parallel to lines that connect column centerlines. The
lateral load resistance is provided by the shear walls of the elevator core
and stair towers. The foundation system includes caissons that bear on rock
strata.
In 2008, a portion of Level 2 was close to collapse. Immediate measures were
taken for public safety. Once the conditions were stabilized, an intense
investigation was made to determine the extent of the problem and make
recommendations for repair. The evaluation revealed significant
deterioration of concrete slabs, failure of previous top and bottom slab
repairs, delaminations around columns, and severe corrosion of reinforcing
steel. Immediate actions included closing 40 percent of Level 2 and 15
percent of Level 3 parking areas, closing part of the mezzanine office, and
installation of shoring in the garage entrance.
The repair program was developed, addressing the requirements of the
building structure, maintaining public access, and keeping the garage
operational. The phased restoration included temporary shoring and bracing
elements, repair, replacement, or both of the garage slabs, and slab
waterproofing.
Dealing with the potential of losing the facility, a major economic
recession, and the highly visible location in a major city, the owners of
the Windsor Hotel assembled a team that would work together to solve this
complex problem.
Carl Walker, Inc. operates seven offices nationwide that specialize in
parking planning, parking structure design and the restoration of parking
structures, plazas and facades.
For More Information, Contact Kate Rizor at 1.800.FYI.PARK or
krizor@carlwalker.com