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Timothy Klusczinski, President, Historic Preservation Commission Sep. 17, 2012 _pie 2 Frost Engineering & Consulting: The engineering inspection of the Avon's fagade performed by Frost Engineering & Consulting was completed over a two-day inspection period, August 17th through August 18th, using a 40 -foot lift that held two engineers. The inspection included a sounding of the entire upper fagade, using a small wooden mallet, the prescribed method of the U.S. National Park Service for terra cotta inspection. The U.S. National Park Service is the authority on the preservation of U. S. historic sites. The Frost report has several photos in three Appendices, with arrows and typed explanations of the apparent deterioration of the terra cotta sections. The photos were taken on August 17, 2012 when the inspection began. Those initial photos show the 8.5 lb. terra cotta capstone that later fell as still in place. The photo also shows that the capstone had a long diagonal crack that ran through its center from its top to its base. When Frost learned from the Library a few days after it completed its inspection that the front portion of that capstone had fallen (the 8.5 lb. solid piece that is 4" x 5" by 9"), they went back and took a second photo of that area from the ground with a telescopic lense. The before and after photos of this capstone are also enclosed with the photos of the Frost report. According to the results of the structural engineer inspection performed by Frost, many of the terra cotta tiles, 10% to 15% of all the tiles on the Avon's 2nd story fagade, are badly cracked and are no longer attached to the bricks behind them that once held them. They believe these tiles are held in place only by the friction of the other tiles that are around them and that are still attached. These areas are in danger of falling at any time and should be removed. Frost's final engineering report has this warning: "Note: Three areas have delamination so severe that it has caused the terra cotta to separate frons the existing brick ivall behind These locations present a potential falling object hazard and should be considered for either removal or re -attachment to secure them and prevent additional dislodging of surrounding tiles." Their close-up photos of the deterioration appear in Appendices A, B and C. They show close-up photos of the terra cotta tiles that are separating from the wall behind them, extensive spalling and cracking and even the remains of a former bird's nest in the cavity of one of the badly cracked tiles next to a window. Many of the terra cotta tiles are also badly crazed and have lost most of their protective baked -on finish through spalling. These tiles would need to be removed completely in order to have them re -glazed in a kiln or replaced with new matching tiles, especially if they are badly cracked. Wherever the spalling has occurred, moisture has been making its way into the tiles and back to the mortar that holds those tiles to the side of the building. The reason why the conditions of the fagade are so poor is because these conditions have developed over a long period of time and nothing has been done to correct this deteriorating situation. Frost Engineering & Consulting also provided in its August 22nd report to the Library, as requested, two methods of securing and stabilizing the entire front wall of the Avon, both its facade and the brick wall that backs that fagade. The first method recommended by Frost uses a steel frame and the second a reinforced concrete frame, with estimated costs for the construction of each method. Recipient of the 2009 Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence www.libraryforlife.org