Project Challenge:
The First United Methodist Church of Hightstown, built in 1898,
is a Gothic Revival building. In 1999, a preliminary structural
report by others revealed that the heavy timber trusses supporting
the roof over the sanctuary space were deteriorated and no longer
serviceable due to long-term water infiltration. Since the elements
of the truss were separating and a roof collapse was imminent,
the building was immediately closed and temporary structural
shoring was erected to allow continued use of the space.
In addition to the timber truss problems, the stone masonry
foundation walls were severely deteriorated and the basement
floor framing was supported with several temporary posts.
The congregation wanted to utilize their basement space and
remove the support posts. The second floor framing, which
consisted of an unusual post-tensioned timber system, also
required investigation. After several engineers had rejected
this complex structural rehabilitation project, Klein and
Hoffman (K&H) was contacted by the Church's historic preservation
architect to help.
Project Solution:
K&H performed a detailed visual inspection of the entire
timber truss system. Computer and hand analysis was then performed
to determine the true load paths and specifically identify the
flaws in the original truss design. The reinforcement of the
trusses included a complex system of steel plates, pipes, channels
and bolted connections to vertically and laterally stabilize
the system. Each piece had to be large enough to transfer the
loads and small enough to maneuver along the small catwalks
by a few people. After a total of five years, the posts in the
Sanctuary were finally removed.
The basement was also structurally rehabilitated to prevent
water infiltration, reinforce the existing wood floor framing
and provide a post-free space for additional storage. Additional
work included the removal of bearing walls in the basement to
facilitate expansion of the community room and replacement of
the fire escape stair.
CLIENT/OWNER: First United Methodist Church
of Hightstown
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