BUNCOMBE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, Asheville, N.C.
RETROFIT TEAM
EXTERIOR RESTORATION CONTRACTOR: Western Specialty Contractors
ENGINEER: SKA Consulting
SCAFFOLDING SUPPLIER: Scaffolding Solutions
THE RETROFIT
Western Specialty Contractors’ Charlotte Branch used its expertise in historic masonry to restore the façade of Buncombe County Courthouse.
The historic courthouse was designed by architect Frank Pierce Milburn and built between 1924 and 1928. The 17-story skyscraper’s façade consists of brick and ashlar veneer and features complex setbacks with an overlay of Neo-Classical Revival limestone and terra-cotta ornament. The courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Over time, the landmark structure’s façade had deteriorated and required extensive restoration. Western Specialty Contractors contracted with Buncombe County to do the specialized work, which included brick and sealant replacement and terra-cotta repairs.
Taking on the project meant that Western Specialty Contractors experts would have to work 195-feet above the ground to repair the building’s envelope. The crew worked with local supplier Scaffolding Solutions to determine the scaffolding needed to allow the building to remain operational during construction and keep workers safe during inclement weather.
“Access to the façade was a driving part of this project,” says Western Assistant Project Manager Quinn Griffith. “We strategized scaffold access on every phase in order to save time and money on the extensive project.”
Work on the façade started on April 20, 2020, and was completed on budget and ahead of schedule in August 2021.
The end result is a beautifully restored, structurally sound and waterproof façade that will last for many years to come.
PHOTOS: WESTERN SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS