B.5.2 - 304 E 44th St - Structural assessment — original pdf

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P u b l i c W o r k s D e p a r t m e n t Quality Management Division To: Christina Bies Project Coordinator Parks & Recreation Department, City of Austin Re: Elisabet Ney Museum 304 East 44th Street, Austin Texas, 78751 Existing Exterior Balcony Ms. Bies, April 19, 2021 This letter is in regard to the structural integrity of the existing elevated balcony. A site visit was conducted on April 7, 2021, to perform a structural observation of the exterior balcony located to the east of the main entrance. See photo A The existing building appears to be a stone structure, a full assessment of the building was not made at the time of our site visit. The existing balcony is located to the east of the main entrance of the museum. See photo B. The balcony floor system consists of wood floor joists that are supported by a double wood member beam at both supporting ends. See photos C and D. The joist sizes and supporting wood members were not measured during the site visit. There are two (2) steel lintels that support a low stone guard rail wall on along the south and east side of the balcony, the steel lintels are supported by stone columns. At the time of our site visit the two (2) steel lintels were rusted and were delaminated. See photos E and F. The stone column support located against the building along the east side of the balcony is leaning southward away from the building and a limestone block has split in the stone capital. See photos G and H. The structural integrity of the existing stone column capital and the two (2) steel lintels have been compromised, creating imminent hazard and danger to the health, safety and welfare of the public. The balcony is not to be accessed and the area needs to be roped off. It is my professional recommendation that this be addressed immediately to minimize any further damage. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you, Karim Helmi, PE City Structural Engineer QUALITY MANAGEMENT DIVISION Public Works Department │ City of Austin 512.974.6539│ karim.helmi@austintexas.gov Photo A: Building Front View Photo B: Exiting Balcony 2 | P a g e Photo C: Balcony Wood Framing Photo D: Balcony Wood Framing 3 | P a g e Photo E: Existing Steel Lintel Photo F: Existing Steel Lintel 4 | P a g e Photo G: Existing Stone Column Photo H: Existing Split Stone Capital 5 | P a g e