SUPERSTRUCTURES is dedicated to the art and science of preservation.
Building components - supporting structure, facades, balconies, fenestration, roofs, plazas, and parking decks - no matter how well designed and constructed, will eventually deteriorate and must be maintained in order to preserve the integrity of the asset.
The building envelope, for example, experiences tremendous abuse due to environmental exposure. Water infiltration, temperature variation, freeze-thaw cycles, acid rain, and ultraviolet radiation all conspire to damage its components. Cracks develop and enlarge, sealant disintegrates, spandrels rust, curtain walls corrode. Sometimes a problem results when a critical issue has been overlooked in the original design of the building. Occasionally, the culprit is sub-standard material or workmanship. These mechanisms can act individually or in concert, creating a vicious cycle that exponentially accelerates their damaging effects. Eventually, this process results in serviceability failures such as energy loss, leaking roofs, flaking paint, or powdered plaster. When neglected, problems become exacerbated. If neglected long enough, unstable portions of a building can ultimately threaten the life-safety of the public.
The science of preservation requires an understanding of the factors that can compromise an asset's integrity coupled with a thorough knowledge of remedial measures - their design, cost, and implementation. The art of preservation entails the design of solutions that are either virtually invisible, or enhance the asset's appearance after implementation. With a staff of engineers and architects and conservators, SUPERSTRUCTURES embraces both.
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