Terra Cotta Masonry Anchor Solution for a High School Retrofit Project
Project Overview:
Frost Engineering & Consulting undertook the structural retrofit design for a High School historic building located in Indiana, USA. Built in 1929, the building holds significant cultural and architectural value, listed as an Indiana Landmark.
The project aims to repurpose the building into a modern community center spanning approximately 10,500 sq. ft, including facilities such as a kitchen, areas for fitness classes and tutoring, alongside retaining the original building.
Challenge:
A critical aspect of the retrofit involves anchoring new public and maintenance catwalks into the original hollow terra cotta masonry blocks, which presented a challenge due to the unique historic masonry type.
After considering a wide range of options, Frost Engineering struggled to find a viable solution that could securely anchor into this particular type of masonry without compromising its integrity.
Solution:
Seeking a specialized solution, Frost Engineering had PYTHON conduct an on-site pilot study, evaluating the feasibility of using PYTHON MT anchors for the unique requirements of the historic masonry blocks. The results of the pilot study demonstrated that PYTHON MT anchors offered the best-fit solution to meet the project's needs.
“After considering a range of other anchors to attach new walkways into original hollow terra cotta blocks, PYTHON MT anchors were the best solution for this unique and historic masonry connection need.”
Frost Engineering & Consulting
Implementation:
With PYTHON MT anchors identified as the optimal solution, the project is set to proceed with the installation of the anchors in 2024-25. The anchors will play a crucial role in securely attaching the new catwalks to the historic masonry, ensuring both structural integrity and preservation of the building.
PYTHON Fasteners are ICC-ES evaluated and seismically rated for masonry restoration and retrofit applications. Installation is ultra fast and simple, with no epoxy needed, discover how simple the PYTHON MT is to install.
To discuss your next project, contact our expert engineering team at info@pythonfasteners.com or call +1 (206) 8418 745.