Located in the center of Indianapolis, the Indiana War Memorial is a historical landmark, built to honor World War I veterans. Originally constructed in 1924, the structure was facing water intrusion from the roof. The owner sought to replace the existing waterproofing system, repair, and prevent further water damage.

STRUCTURAL teamed with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. to provide a design-build approach to preserve the structure’s historical integrity. The scope of work involved an innovative engineered phasing plan and limiting the use of tower cranes.

In order to replace the waterproofing system, the team worked from the top-down, working on two rows of limestone units at a time. The original waterproofing system was applied on the roof and partially under large limestone units.

First, scaffolding was put around the entire building to ensure safety. The crew worked on the different layers of the ziggurat roof, working on the top level first, then moving to the statuary and colonnade levels. To access the system, the limestone units needed to be removed. One of the challenges was moving the 1,500-pound limestone units without using tower cranes. However, the project team was able to develop a system of using hoists and rollers to move the units.

Once the units were moved, the crew could complete the roofing repairs underneath the membrane, which included replacing the waterproofing membrane, gutters, and drains. The limestone units were then repaired or replaced and put back in place.

Another challenge the team faced was keeping the building operational during construction while maintaining the safety of all those interacting with the building. Through effective preplanning, collaboration and communication with the owner, crews were able to maintain operations while directing people away from construction sites.

The project was successfully completed on time, under budget, and with zero safety incidents.