Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Historic architectural and structural engineering investigation and temporary stabilization of exterior stone masonry walls.
Client: Taylor Hazell Architects Limited/Parks Canada
Owner: Province of Prince Edward Island
Description of Services
J.W. Cowie Engineering Limited was invited by Taylor Hazell Architects Ltd. to participate in a proposal call by Parks Canada to conduct an architectural and structural engineering investigation on the exterior stone masonry walls of Province House. Taylor Hazell Architects Ltd. (Prime Consultant from Toronto) in association with Spencer R. Higgins Architects Inc. of Toronto and J.W. Cowie Engineering Ltd. of Halifax were awarded the project.
Province House was constructed between 1843 and 1847. The exterior walls of the building are load bearing stone masonry supporting interior timber framed floors and timber roof trusses.
Province House houses the legislature of the province of Prince Edward Island and is a national historic site of Canada and is a designated provincial heritage place. The building is owed by the Province of Prince Edward Island and operated under joint management agreement between the Province and Parks Canada Agency.
Site investigative work began in the Fall of 2012. During the site investigative work, J.W. Cowie, M.Eng., P.Eng. discovered the mortar throughout portions of the exterior wall was in an advanced state of deterioration, isolated sections of the exterior walls had displaced and sections of timber were rotten. One area required immediate temporary stabilization which was designed by J.W. Cowie, M.Eng., P.Eng. and installed under the supervision of J.W. Cowie.
Subsequent to the completion of the site investigative work, restoration design drawings and specifications were prepared for temporary stabilizing isolated areas of the exterior masonry walls including, the stabilization of the capstones throughout the North and South elevations of the building. The construction contract was awarded to Clifford Restoration Ltd. of Toronto.
J.W. Cowie, M.Eng., P.Eng. also participated in the preparation of a report advising of the requirements for long term permanent restoration construction with associated restoration construction costs.
01. South elevation of Province House, Charlottetown, PEI - September 2012.
02. Temporary structural stabilization (out of plane) of capstones, South exterior wall of Room 303, Province House - November 2012. The East/West spanning hollow structural steel member is connected to the South bearing ends of the North/South spanning timber roof trusses. Stainless steel threaded rods are chemically bonded into the back of the capstones and connected to the East/West spanning hollow structural steel member.
03. Capstones on the top of the South exterior wall of Room 303 anchored to the East/West spanning hollow structural member by use of chemically bonded threaded rods.
04. South exterior wall of Room 303 temporarily structurally stabilized by installing chemically bonded stainless steel threaded rods into the lintel and sill stones of the window opening. The threaded rods are anchored to the vertical spanning timber framing members located adjacent to the East and West sides of the window opening. The top of the vertical spanning timber framing members are connected to the underside of the East/West spanning hollow structural steel member. The bottoms of the vertical timber framing members are connected to the third floor timber deck and timber floor joists.
05. 2 in. x 8 in. (nominal) timber studs with attached 2 in. x 8 in.(nominal) members placed against the interior face of the inner wythe of the South exterior wall of Room 303. The timber framing prevents the inward movement of the rubble stone inner wythe.
06. Structural steel framing for temporary lateral support (out of plane) of the North exterior wall of Room 302. Stainless steel threaded rods are chemically bonded into the back of the capstones with anchorage to the East\/West spanning hollow structural steel member. The hollow structural steel member is connected to the North bearing ends of the North/South spanning timber roof trusses. The lintel stone and the sill stone of the window opening are provided lateral restraint by chemically bonded stainless steel threaded rods connected to the steel framing.
07. East/West spanning hollow structural steel member with end connections at the South bearing ends of the bottom chord of the North/South spanning roof trusses. Chemically bonded stainless steel threaded rods connect the back of the capstones to the East/West spanning hollow structural steel member. The out of plane loading and displacement of the capstones is restrained by the hollow structural steel member. The lateral load is transferred to the timber roof trusses and in turn to the timber roof diaphragm of the building. Sections of the timber framing for support of the ceiling were removed to permit installation of the steel framing.
08. Example of stainless steel threaded rods chemically bonded into the back of the capstones for anchorage to the East/West spanning hollow structural steel member.
09. Shows the East/West spanning steel framing above the arch shape timber ceiling framing. The removed sections of timber ceiling framing (removed to permit the installation of the structural steel framing) have been reinstalled.
10. Typical connection of the East/West spanning hollow structural steel members with connection to the South bearing end of a North/South spanning timber roof truss.
11. Shows the East/West spanning steel framing above the restored timber ceiling framing.
12. Typical strengthening detail for restoration of the arch shape timber ceiling members.