Lace Village
Project
L.R. Costanzo (LRC) served as the Construction Manager for this mammoth, community revitalization project that restored 9 of the 32 original buildings dating back to 1901 that made up the former Scranton Lace Company. From 1916 to 2002, the Scranton Lace Company remained the first and largest known producer of Nottingham Lace in the United States. LRC oversaw the roof system repairs and replacement, restoration of the historic masonry façade, and removal and replacement of the 270 windows. In addition, all of the underground utilities were replaced throughout the Village to service each building. Beautifully landscaped walkways, courts, sidewalks, parking areas, along with exterior accent lighting were added to articulate the bygone features and the new walking paths throughout the 11 acre site.
Challenges
- Extensive masonry restoration required identifying the location of the repairs and distinguishing the difference between slightly weathered brick and deteriorated brick for restoration.
- Uncovering the true extent of roof repairs. The roofs were a major part of waterproofing the existing buildings, however the team from LRC did not know the true extent of the damage until the existing roofing material was removed
- Creating the perimeter of the Village Square
Solutions
- Oversaw the contractors as they conducted detailed visual inspections and tests and coordinated with the engineers to determine viability of the masonry. This tedious process included both destructive and non-destructive testing techniques, multiple site meetings, and schedule sequencing and manpower management to stay on-time with the additional restoration
- Worked hand-in-hand with the contractor and designer to design the required repairs, area by area, as the roofs were being opened and damages revealed. To prevent further damage to the buildings’ interior, LRC sequenced additional crews to make repairs in a timely manner, replicating the original framing as to not deviate from the original building structure and appearance
- Provided structural steel columns and beams, as well as supports for the exterior walls and window openings
Construction Details
- Utilized reclaimed brick from some of the original buildings demolished on-site
- Restoration also included the structural repairs of concrete, exterior buildings, including crack repair and concrete patching
- Installed new exterior windows, meeting current energy codes, while at the same time, providing a close match to the existing industrial window type
- Installed exterior accent lighting at buildings and site lighting at parking lots/roadways to articulate the historical features and the new walking paths throughout
