Portsmouth Police Building Parapet

ew&r executed the structural rehabilitation of the Police Administration Building in Portsmouth, Virginia, addressing significant deterioration in the precast concrete parapet system. The scope included removal and replacement of spalled and cracked concrete, restoration of corroded reinforcing steel, and installation of new structural steel beams to support rooftop mechanical units.

Repairs involved surface preparation and undercutting of all deteriorated concrete, abrasive blasting of exposed reinforcement to bright metal finish, and reinstallation using high-performance, cementitious repair mortars (Sika Repair 224 / Monotop 611). New reinforcing bars were epoxy-anchored to the existing substrate to ensure proper load transfer and long-term bond integrity.

In addition to concrete work, the project required extensive steel rehabilitation. Embedded plates and bracing members were power-tooled to SSPC-SP11 standard, primed with Tnemec Hi-Build Epoxolin Series 66, and finished with Endura-Shield II Series 1074 for corrosion protection. Remedial welds, new connection plates, and angle reinforcements were fabricated and installed per AISC 360-10 and AWS D1.1 requirements.

All work was completed under continuous safety control and special inspection procedures as required by the Hampton Roads Regional Inspection Guidelines, ensuring full compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and IBC 2012.

The successful completion of this project restored the structural integrity of the parapet system, improved resistance to moisture and wind loads, and extended the service life of the facility’s envelope for years to come.