Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal — The Road to Recovery — November 23 - December 6, 2012 — 15C T he R oad to R ecovery Armand Christopher Jr., USAArchitects
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It is important to have “Building Envelope” damage assessed by a qualified architect
I
n the aftermath of Super- StormSandy, many build- ing owners in New York,
es from a tree falling through a roof, or portions of foundation washed away; to little or no structural damage at all, but rather roofing, siding, ma- sonry, doors or windows have been compromised, allowing water intrusion to occur. These kinds of problems can be the most deceptive because they often appear to be minor and correctable by engaging a sole contractor. However, in most cases, it is extremely beneficial to have such “Building Envelope” damage assessed by a quali- fied architect. Armand Chris-
topher Jr. A.I.A. a partner with USA Architects heads USA’s Building Envelope Studio. Ac- cording to Christopher, “water is the biggest enemy of con- struction and often the long- term effects are far worse than what’s simply damaged in the rain/storm event.” Wind and driving rain, in combination, allow water intrusion through pathways that normally shed water without leaking. More- over, if only a few shingles, or small portion of a commercial membrane roof is damaged, large amounts of water can enter before the storm is even
over. Once water is inside a structure it often gets trapped between various layers or building elements, where left unattended, will lead to condi- tions of internal degradation, rot, and often mold. These insidious actions usually occur unnoticed behind the scenes, and inconspicuous to the un- trained eye, until such time as they manifest into costly, even structural failures, or serious health risks. USA Architects with its highly trained and experi- enced building envelope spe- cialists is available to the
public for a consultation with- out obligation on all building concerns resulting from the recent storms. As full service Architects, in association with some of the best consulting en- gineers in the region, the firm from its offices in Somerville, NJ and Easton, PA are able to address any issue from an envelope evaluation and asso- ciated remediations, to a com- plete building replacement. Armand Christopher Jr. is a principal of USA Ar- chitects, he heads the in- house Building Envelope Studio n
New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylva- nia are faced wi th dam- age to their homes and commercial facilities. In the worst of cases, build- i n g s h a v e
Armand Christopher Jr.
been completely destroyed. In other cases, the damage rang-
a disinfectant (bleach) to the use of more sophisticated (and expensive) chemical agents. If significant amounts of mold are present, an experienced professional needs to be re- tained to ensure it is removed properly; although that quick- ly becomes cost prohibitive in most deconstruction projects. Once reclaimed, it is vitally important that the area be kept dry so mold growth does not re-occur. One of the major benefits of deconstruction, besides often saving important and unique architectural treatments, is the diversion of demolition debris from landfills. Non-po- rous materials that have been properly recovered, evaluated, cleaned (when necessary), and re-used can be counted as an important part of a project’s sustainable contribution to a redevelopment effort. In the final analysis, the usage of non-porous, inorganic de- constructed items presents a minimal risk to develop- ers or contractors, especially when considered in light of the inherent aesthetic and “green” value such materials bring to a building. Because of the extensive damage from Hurricane Sandy, the amount deconstructed materials will be on the rise. Kimberly Hicks is a proj- ect manager with EWMA’s Headquarters Office in Parsippany, NJ. She spe- cializes in environmental assessments, remediation, indoor air quality andmold services. n continued from page 13C Hurricane Sandy aftermath, mold and the re-use of demolition . . .
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