1723 Hollis Street – Halifax, Nova Scotia
Restoration of exterior stone masonry walls (dimension sandstone and granite).
Date of Completion of Original Building Construction: 1935
Owner: Province of Nova Scotia
Client: Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Public Works
Scope of Cowie Engineering Services
Prime Consultant for the following:
- Specifications for Cleaning All Exterior Stone Masonry Walls of Building – Spring 1995
- Phase I Restoration
(Bedford Row Elevation and Eastern Half of Cheapside Elevation) – 1997/1998 - Phase II Restoration
(Hollis Street Elevation and Western Half of Cheapside Elevation) – 2002/2003
01. Hollis Street and Cheapside elevations prior to cleaning (April 1995).
02. Cheapside and partial Hollis Street elevation prior to cleaning (April 1995).
03. Bedford Row and partial Cheapside elevation prior to cleaning (1995).
04. Cheapside elevation and partial Bedford Row elevation prior to cleaning (1995).
Phase I Restoration
Cowie Engineering Design Drawings and Specifications for Tendering:
- Enclosed access scaffolding and hoarding
- Full and partial stone replacements
- Stone repairs (Dutchmen)
- Anchoring of existing stone units
- Grouting throughout entire wall system
- Repointing entire wall system
- New sloped roof with sheet copper roofing over cornice and new sheet copper flashings over fascia and parapet
- Caulking around existing windows
Cowie Engineering Services During Restoration Construction:
- Review of shop drawings for enclosed access scaffolding.
- Close-up visual inspection and documentation of each individual cut stone and provided instructions to masonry contractor.
- Inspected restoration construction.
- Reviewed masonry contractor's monthly progress claims.
05. Enclosed scaffolding on Bedford Row elevation and East half of Cheapside elevation.
06. New sloped roof with sheet copper roofing over cornice and new sheet copper flashing over fascia and parapet.
07. New sloped roof with sheet copper roofing over cornice and new sheet copper flashing over fascia and parapet.
08. Example of cut-out defective areas of cornice stone for replacement.
09. Shows replacement of cut-out areas of cornice stone shown in photo 08.
10. Example of removed sandstone units at the corner of Cheapside and Bedford Row elevations.
Also shows new installed corner stone.
11. View of same wall area shown in photo 10.
12. New smooth-faced corner stone with return ready for installation. Refer to photograph 11.
13. New corner stone with return installed and new smooth-faced 8-inch thick ashler unit ready for installation.
14. Examples of rebated jamb units adjacent to window opening.
15. Typical new cut rebated jamb unit for replacement of removed jamb unit shown in 14.
16. Example of 4-inch thick smooth-faced ashler unit being reinstalled.
Pre-Qualification Tender
Preparation of pre-qualification tender documents and review of submitted tenders.
Cowie Engineering Design Drawings and Specifications for Tendering:
- Preparation of technical restoration design drawings and specifications for stipulated prices and unit prices.
- Technical specifications similar to Phase I technical specifications, however, the scope of the work increased by adding electric heat tracing on the sloped roof over the cornice of the Phase I and Phase II elevations.
Scope of Cowie Engineering Services During Restoration Construction:
Similar to Phase I restoration construction.
17. Job sign for Phase II restoration.
18. Enclosed scaffolding West half of Cheapside and hollis Street elevations.
19. Removal of a portion of the cornice stonework for partial replacement.
20. Bottom portion of new cut stone for cornice shown in 19.
21. Examples of cut-stone units removed at plaster between window openings.
22. Example of new cut smooth-faced pilaster unit rebated at both ends. refer to 21.
23. Example of cut-stone units removed at pilaster between window openings.
24. Typical rebated pilaster units ready for installation for replacement of removed cut stones at pilaster between window openings.
25. Typical example of removed cut stones at the corner of Hollis Street Cheapside elevations.
26. Replaced cut stone units at the corner of Hollis Street at Cheapside elevations.
27. Hollis Street and Cheapside elevation showing restored stonework (June 2004). Compare to 1752-01 (April 1995) prior to cleaning.
28. Portion of Hollis Street elevation with front entrance (June 2004).
29. Hollis Street entrance to Provincial Building (June 2004).
30. Shows detail of original stone carving with no restoration required (June 2004).
31. Detail of original stone carving showing 1935 as the date of completion of the original construction.
32. Bedford Row elevation and Eastern half of Cheapside elevation (June 2004). Compare to 1752-03 (April 1995) prior to cleaning.