Local 1 Maryland/ Virginia/ DC

JOURNAL: ISSUE 4 - 2014

Exterior scaffolding punctuates Phase One of the National Cathedral’s post-earthquake restoration.

When a magnitude 5.8 earthquake centered near Richmond, VA shook the East Coast in August 2011, a lot more than just the earth trembled. One of Washington, DC’s most recognizable landmarks and the nation’s second largest cathedral, National Cathedral, was severely impacted. In just a matter of seconds, loosened finial stones rained down, hand-carved pinnacles and gargoyles shifted and twisted, and cracks appeared in the Neo-Gothic flying buttresses, causing an estimated $26 million in damage to the Cathedral’s structural components. It took two and a half years to carefully assess the damage and develop a comprehensive restoration plan. Nothing less than the skill and experience of BAC Local 1 Maryland/Virginia/DC stone masons and finishers and signatory contractor Lorton Stone of Springfield, VA would do for these important repairs.

“It is an honor and a privilege for our members to have the opportunity to utilize their skills for the restoration of our National Cathedral,” says Local 1 President Scott Garvin. “I know they bring their “A” game to work every day, but I am especially proud of the work my brothers are doing on this sacred site.”

Phase One of the project, begun in March, includes inspection, cleaning, and repair of the nave ceiling and restoration of six damaged flying buttresses in the east end. Phase Two will address the flying buttresses on both sides of the nave and the grand pinnacles atop the central tower.

From left, BAC Executive Vice President Tim Driscoll, Local 1 MD/VA/DA President Scott Garvin, Joe Alonso of the National Cathedral, BAC Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer and President James Boland.

On November 5th, International BAC Executive Board – President James Boland, Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer, and Executive Vice Presidents Gerard Scarano and Tim Driscoll – visited the jobsite, where Local 1 members employed by Lorton Stone are now patching, tuck pointing and retrofitting the east end of the building, dismantling and resetting loose and damaged stones, and cleaning the vaulted masonry ceiling.

The stabilization of the flying buttresses, a signature element of the Cathedral, requires dry-coring a 3” diameter hole for 25’ through which threaded stainless steel rods are then inserted and grouted for the length of the flyer. The voussoir stones of the flying arch are likewise being reinforced with threaded rods epoxied into place after each stone is core drilled to a depth of 30”. Additional exterior work includes Dutchman repairs with special carving Jahn patching, the cutting, and pointing of limestone joints, sealant removal and installation, cleaning, and the removal and re-setting of pinnacle stones after grout and anchors have been installed.

The BAC Executive Board and Local 1 officers view the interior of the Cathedral.

At right, Local 1 finisher Andres F. Jerez welcomes BAC President James Boland, center, and Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer, left.

The interior restoration presents unique challenges as well. Local 1 members are replacing, pointing and cleaning the Akoustolith tiles that comprise the Cathedral’s vaulted masonry ceilings. These vaulted ceilings are then cleaned in their entirety where necessary using a specialized poultice (shredded toilet paper, soda ash, and fire clay) to address heavy staining. After drying for several days, the poultice is then removed, leaving a clean surface. Additional interior work includes Dutchman repairs, anchor installations for displaced stone, crack repairs, and sealant removal and installation.

In August scaffolding was placed in multiple locations inside the Cathedral, joining exterior scaffolding that is both stabilizing damaged stonework and offering access to craftworkers and engineers. The interior scaffolding now provides ceiling access for the first time since the late 1980s when the last round of interior cleaning and repairs were performed.

“One of the challenges we have when we clean the arches is to make sure nothing falls in the open area where people walk and gather,” said Victor Castro, a Local 1 stone mason since 1986. Commenting on why BAC craftworkers were selected for the high profile project, Castro said, “We’ve proven over the years that we can do a really good job.”

Says BAC President James Boland, “My fellow Executive Board members and I thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to talk with so many of the Local 1 members responsible for restoring this great landmark and for ensuring the safety and security of all those who visit and worship here.”

FBAC Executive Vice President Tim Driscoll, left, with Local 1 member Ivan Sieiro Lopez. Behind them are Local 1 Field Representatives Pedro Clavijo, left, and Nino Cruz.

BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, right, and Local 1 President Scott Garvin, left, and Joe Alonso check out damaged pinnacles.

Local 1 MD/VA/DC members and officers at the National Cathedral. From left, front row, Rafael Seara, Field Representative Nino Cruz, President Scott Garvin, Field Representative Pedro Clavijo, Victor Castro, Francisco Abundez, and Nelson Portillo. Second row from left, Andres Jerez, Santos Canales, Jose L. Rodriguez, Jose Escamilla, and Oscar Granados Reyes. Third row from left, Luis Martinez-Iraheta, Jose Mejia Aguilar, Carlos Velasquez Granados, Jose R. Carranza, and Ivan Sieiro Lopez. Last row, Joe Alonso of the National Cathedral.

Cheltenham Youth Detention Center

Cheltenham Youth Detention Center in Prince George’s County, Maryland, is the first facility to be funded as part of a statewide facility improvement plan by the Department of Juvenile Services. This 100,000 square foot, 72-bed multi-use building includes housing areas, administration space, admissions/release areas, behavioral health and food service space, as well as education, recreation, visitation/staff training, and maintenance/storage areas.

Local 1 MD/VA/DC bricklayer Oscar Valladares.

Cory Jones, left, owner of signatory First Choice Masonry, greets BAC President James Boland, right, and Local 1 President Scott Garvin, center.

In November, 35 bricklayers of Local 1 MD/VA/DC, employed by newly organized BAC signatory contractor First Choice Masonry (Washington, DC) began work on the expansion of the current Youth Detention Center, a 100% load bearing masonry project features over 340,000 CMU, 100 tons of rebar and 3,800 cubic yards of grout. The project’s veneer includes split face CMU, ground face CMU and brick.

Cory Jones, President of family-owned First Choice Masonry, says it is the firm’s first Union job and their largest project to date. “My uncle taught my father the trade, and my father taught me,” said Jones. “The job has lots of components, reinforcements, and more attention to detail since it must be secure. We’re satisfied so far with the quality of work that Union masons are performing.”

Owner of First Choice Masonry, Cory Jones, shakes hands with BAC Executive Vice President Tim Driscoll. From left, Local 1 Field Representative Todd Buckner, Local 1 member and Foreman and Local 1 member Martin Schmitt, Cory Jones, BAC Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer and Executive Vice Presidents Tim Driscoll and Gerard Scarano.

President Scott Garvin says Local 1 welcomed the opportunity to sign First Choice. “First Choice Masonry is utilizing six affiliates of the building trades on the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center PLA site, but BAC is the only union that they have signed a full agreement with. We believe that is a testament to our strategy in the market; providing a safe, skilled workforce to drive the project to a successful completion. We were also able to provide First Choice with a seasoned foreman to ensure that they maximized the potential of the skilled craftworkers that we provided.”

Building Information Modeling (BIM), a model-based process that helps with planning, designing, constructing, and managing buildings and infrastructure, was in use on all phases of the project. BIM allows the design team, general contractor and subcontractors to coordinate in real time. Subcontractors are able to keep track of precisely what materials are needed at the jobsite and when. First Choice Foreman and Local 1 member Martin Schmitt described his experience with BIM as “excellent”, adding:  “BIM was used in estimating the job, with jobsite coordination, keeping up with the material, and keeping the material on schedule. It kept me on my toes.”

BAC Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer, left, with Local 1 bricklayer Talmadge Hayer, right, and Local 1 Field Representative Todd Buckner, center.

Local 1 bricklayer Dwayne Holland.

Schmitt described the project as a labor-intensive one. “With 3,000 embeds, we must have the ducts and embeds right and any penetrations have to be perfect. Having Union workers on this job means quality and workmanship.”

The project is expected to be completed in November 2015.

From left, Foreman and Local 1 member Martin Schmitt, signatory contractor First Choice Masonry owner Cory Jones, and BAC President James Boland discuss the project.

Local 1 bricklayer Javier Deheza.

Local 1 bricklayer Mohamed Daramy.

From left, Local 1 member Talmadge Hayer, BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano and Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer, and Local 1 Field Representative Todd Buckner.