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4. 2021-05 Roundhouse Structual Assessment! RYAN S. HELLWIG, PE ! STRUCTURAL ENGINEER ! May 10, 2021 Dorrie Brooks, AIA Principal Jones Whitsett Architects 308 Main Street, 3RD Floor Greenfield, MA 01301 db@joneswhitsett.com Re:Preliminary Structural Report The Roundhouse Northampton MA Dorrie - Please accept the following summary of my visit to the above-mentioned building. On April 27 April, 2021 I personally viewed all accessible areas of the structure. The Roundhouse consists of two distinct masses with a connector. One mass is round and the other is rectangular. The building was reportedly built in 1856, although it appears that the rectangular one was constructed later. There was a major renovation in 1986. The structural systems consist of the following: Exterior bearing walls are thick, unreinforced brick masonry. Floors are primarily constructed with steel beams and concrete slabs. There are small areas with wood-framed infill The top floor of the rectangular building is frame with wood. The roof of the round building is steep, and has a cupola. The rafters are dimension lumber. The thrust of the rafters is resisted by six steel rods. The roof of the rectangular building is gabled. The rafters are covered by finishes and are not visible. Light steel trusses support the roof system. In general the condition of the buildings appears sound. Some particular areas were noted: 1.Bowed exterior walls on the rear of the round building. These appear to have been stabilized. 2.Crack monitors were visible along the side of the rectangular building, and differential settlement along that wall is evident. It may have stabilized. These monitors should ! 18 LINDEN AVENUE ! GREENFIELD, MA 01301 ! ! VOICE = 413 - 774 - 7444 ! EMAIL = rshpe@crocker.com ! Preliminary Structural Report The Roundhouse Northampton MA May 10, 2021 continue to be checked in the future. 3.Old masonry exterior walls need continual maintenance. Any work should use appropriate materials, especially mortars for repointing. 4.The roof of the round building has been retrofitted with steel columns. The roof surface appears to sag in between these posts. This condition is likely stable, but should be monitored. 5.A doorway was cut into the top of the round building wall, at the connection to the rectangular building, the top of the opening cut through the sill of the wall, which is a tension ring, holding in the bottoms of the rafters. This is also probably stable. Given the steep pitch and slate surface, it is doubtful that there is ever any snow on the roof, so the loads are constant and consist only of the dead weight. 6.Many columns have been added in the basement, presumably as part of the 1986 renovation. The floor slab is new, and the repairs all seem solid. 7.Much of the lower level of the round building was rebuilt with wood, possibly in 1986 as well. This also looks solid. 8.There is some dampness noticeable in the basement, and a sump pump was running intermittently. Brick masonry is porous, and therefore humidity levels will be high unless controlled. It is possible that there was so much moisture in the air that the floor above was severely compromised and had to be replaced. Given the age of the buildings, they appear to be in good shape. Certain areas should be monitored in the future. In terms of the building code, these structures are grandfathered unless significant changes are proposed. Anything that might weaken the them or increase their loading would have to be treated as new construction, and its capacity analyzed. This can be challenging for concrete structures, which depend on steel reinforcing for strength. In an existing concrete building, the reinforcing must be investigated, preferably using non-destructive techniques. Respectfully, Ryan Hellwig Massachusetts Professional Engineer #37300 - STRUCTURAL enclosures:(8) photographs Page 2 of 2