The building consists of 13 stories above grade included the penthouse level and 5 stories below grade on a lot bordered by 11th Street NW to the west, F Street NW to the south and neighboring buildings to the north and west. The sub-grade parking structure is served by two garage elevators. The elevator shaft walls consist of reinforced concrete foundation walls with wide-flange steel beams spanning across the shaft oriented in the east-west direction. The wide-flange steel beams provide support for the vertical elevator car guide rails which extend from top to bottom of the shaft. Leakage was occurring into the shafts prompting an investigation.
TCE & Associates performed a condition assessment of the elevator shaft to determine the extent of structural damage and to determine the sources of water intrusion. The elevator shafts were experiencing water intrusion through these concrete foundation walls resulting in leakage and associated water damage to the steel beams and connections. Foundation walls resist lateral pressures from soil and water on the exterior side. Ongoing corrosion of the steel has resulted in loss of cross sectional area thereby reducing integrity of the steel components. Water collecting at the base of the pit has caused corrosion to steel members and electrical conduits bearing on the slab.
TCE & Associates developed a repair program to address water intrusion and repair structural members. In general, the scope of work included injecting leaking foundation wall cracks, applying crystalline waterproofing system, prep and painting steel beams & connections, installing supplemental steel connections as required and cleaning out the drainage system.
