Making New & Existing Structures Stronger & Last Longer
building envelope restoration capabilities
Industry Leader in Building Envelope Restoration
Safety 24/7
PULLMAN has completed over 12,000 building envelope restoration and historic preservation projects. PULLMAN’s expertise ensures that the maintenance, repair, and protection of building assets are properly addressed and long lasting.
A focus on proactive safety programs and QA/QC procedures ensures that PULLMAN can protect the general public, work crews, and surrounding structures while delivering quality projects.
Turnkey Design Build Services
Proactive Maintenance Reduces Risk
PULLMAN can provide turnkey, single source design build services by combining our preconstruction and construction expertise with our engineering partners and STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES’ specialized repair products. The results are faster and more cost efficient quality solutions.
A proactive approach to maintaining building envelope allows top-to-bottom inspections to catch small problems before they become large ones. Working with our engineering partners, PULLMAN can help identify and prioritize life safety repairs through various evaluation methods and modeling software.
Building Envelope Restoration Services STEP 1: OBSERVATION REPORT The building envelope is made up of many components that work together to keep the building protected from the environment. Regular inspections not only allow for the investigation of problems and identification of distressed areas, but also provide the information needed to create a proactive repair approach that can save money. Scheduling inspections also helps to identify materials that are near the end of their service-life. A proper maintenance plan, for even minor issues, can extend the life of the building envelope and help you to manage your maintenance budget and optimize the scheduling of needed repairs. Together with our engineering partners, PULLMAN provides proactive top-to-bottom reviews that help owners catch small problems before they lead to costly damage, life safety issues, and disruption to operations and occupants. We offer an initial inspection to help you understand the current condition of your structure’s building envelope.
INITIAL INSPECTION OVERVIEW As part of our services, we offer a visual inspection of the building
envelope of your structure that includes: • Review of the current state of the facade, doors and windows, plaza decks, roofing systems, chimneys, and below-grade systems. • Summary of visual deficiencies and areas of possible moisture intrusion.
At the conclusion of the inspection, the team will determine if your building envelope will be classified as: • Healthy with no significant weathering and no major signs of distress. • Deteriorated with some visible signs of damage – the building would benefit from a more in-depth investigation and advanced testing to find the root cause analysis of the source of problems. • Severely damaged with extensive deterioration that could prevent normal operations. An in-depth assessment and testing should be scheduled (see Full Investigation Services). • Life safety risks that require immediate attention and temporary make-safe recommendations until the structure can be fully assessed and repaired.
Building Envelope Experience • Newark Airport Mariott • Augusta Health • Beaumont Hospital • Grand Park Centre • University of Michigan • University of Pennsylvania • West Virginia University • Temple University • State of Missouri Capitol Building • MGM Grand • David Whitney Building • The Ritz Carlton, Philadelphia • Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island & Seaside Park • Huebner Oaks Retail Complex • Historic UC Berkeley Stadium • Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building • Xerox Square Tower • 10 Light Street • Park Avenue House • Golden Nugget Casino • St. Agnes Cathedral • Rosedale Gardens Bell Tower • Napa United Methodist Church • Three Parkway Penthouse • The Arts Condominium • Iodent Building • Holy Trinity Church
Building Envelope Restoration Services STEP 2: FULL INVESTIGATION When a structure is identified to need a full condition assessment, it is important to move forward, as building envelope issues can quickly lead to costly property damage, safety issues, and tenant dissatisfaction. The combination of PULLMAN’s engineering partners’ design expertise and our hands-on construction team provides more complete and cost efficient investigations. Working together from the beginning helps to reduce unknowns, improve the understanding of the root causes of performance issues and the exact magnitude of the problem. Comprehensive Investigation Services Survey & Access Capabilities A thorough condition assessment starts with the ability to get hands on and close-up to perform the necessary evaluation and tests. Our turnkey team combines repair and maintenance capabilities with professional engineering to give clients thorough, yet cost-efficient, access to the structure using both traditional and new technology for comprehensive investigation. Access services include: • Rope access • Swing stage access • Lifts & scaffolding • Laser & drone mapping technology • Emergency stabilization & life safety measures Evaluation & Testing Using the initial evaluation as a guide, a full condition assessment will narrow in on the specific building components that need detailed evaluation and testing. Where appropriate, industry standard test techniques are specified for the building components that were identified. These tests will determine both root cause and the extent of the problem. Where appropriate, hands on testing (NDT/SDT) will be performed on elements identified as potential problems such as flashings, penetrations, drainage systems, coatings, surfaces, intersections, and structural frames. Our engineering partners are also building envelope experts. By combining their expertise with our construction capabilities, we provide efficient and thorough evaluations, including the ability to do more invasive probing.
Evaluation Services Our teams have the expertise and equipment to perform both evaluation and standardized testing on all building components, including: • Facades • Wall systems • Balconies and other appurtenances • Roofing systems • Air barriers • Fenestrations (doors and windows) • Below grade systems
Building Envelope Restoration Services STEP 2: FULL INVESTIGATION (CONTINUED) Advanced Testing
Final Report Deliverables • Investigation summary, including photo/video documentation • Data analysis and extent of deterioration
By teaming PULLMAN’s construction capability with engineers that are focused on building envelopes, we can provide the most advanced testing available when required, including items such as: • Infrared thermal imaging & field testing • Hydrothermal modeling • Static & dynamic water intrusion testing • Electronic leak detection of membranes • Air & water leakage testing • Energy improvement analysis of building envelope repair selection • Building material sampling, analysis, & invasive probing • 3D laser scanning for historic documentation, cataloging, & asset management The Final Report Following the team’s extensive investigation, we provide a detailed summary of the condition of your structure and findings as well as options for moving forward. With PULLMAN being a part of the investigation process, repair options can be developed along with value engineering and more accurate cost estimates.
• Repair solution options with constructability evaluation • Order of magnitude costs for repairs
Building Envelope Restoration Services STEP 3: MOVING FORWARD WITH A DESIGN BUILD APPROACH
Design Build Approach Benefits • Capitalize on the team approach for a more thorough investigation • More accurate cost estimates • Alternative solutions with known costs • Confidence in constructability of repairs • Phased design/construction is possible • Faster design through construction schedule • Lower costs Committing to a Design Build approach brings added value at each stage of the repair and maintenance process through single source responsibility. Single source means constructability issues and costly change orders are minimized. The key advantages of the Design Build process during construction are: • Faster schedules • Lower cost • Less cost growth PULLMAN’s team approach to design explores multiple solutions. Before a design solution is selected, we compare options with you in terms of costs and life-cycle. A collaborative approach also provides greater creativity in developing potential options, enhanced understanding of constructability, and accuracy in the cost impact thanks to the combined expertise of a Design Build partnership.
• Less unforeseen conditions • Fewer change orders • Single source responsibility from investigation through warranty
Building Envelope Restoration Services STEP 4: DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION As an exclusive licensee of STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES, PULLMAN draws on the overall capabilities of the entire organization, including access to solution building support services and repair products. STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES provides our engineering partners with knowledge of material types and applicability, service-life, and constructability analysis so owners get the best repair options. The Design Build approach means the team focuses more on exploring the most constructible and cost-efficient solution during the design phase rather than designing defensive detailing for bid documents. Under the team approach, unforeseen conditions are dealt with more rapidly with a focus on innovative solutions and maintaining budget. Together, we provide a holistic partnering approach to quality control and quality assurance, including extensive reporting. This turnkey approach provides a seamless experience to customers. From initial design through construction and warranty, you gain singlesource responsibility and aren’t put in the middle trying to resolve conflicts between the designer and contractor.
Specialty Building Envelope Services • Masonry repair • Concrete repair • Historic preservation • Facade stabilization • Moisture control & waterproofing • Seismic & storm upgrades • Facade cleaning • Repointing
Frontline Safety Strategies • 100% compliance with OSHA Silica requirements • High level management & technician/craft involvement • Project specific safety committee • Task hazard analysis • Safety observation processes
Site Logistics during Construction PULLMAN understands that owners want to keep their buildings in operation and producing revenue, even while undergoing repair. Our experience with multi-story buildings and focus on safety and quality allow us to optimize jobsite and public safety, access, phasing of work, schedule, and noise and dust protection. For each project, crews develop comprehensive logistics and protection plans that maintain the best possible environment for facility tenants and customers. Along with planning, PULLMAN focuses on communication with the owner, patrons, related subcontractors, as well as the general public. Repair services are offered around the clock and on weekends when necessary. Should a project require additional staffing to maintain schedule, PULLMAN is able to draw upon the vast resources of multiple offices and a nationwide self-performing mobile workforce.
• Jobsite safety audits • Improvement planning & execution