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Montgomery County to Shore Up Red Brick Courthouse Chimneys; Work to Begin Immediately
Summary
County contractors will erect scaffolding and remove deteriorated chimney sections at the locally designated Red Brick Courthouse after engineers found mortar and brick failure that pose a safety risk; Maryland Historic Trust must review replacement brick and mortar.
Montgomery County contractors will begin immediate work to stabilize and restore chimneys at the locally designated Red Brick Courthouse after a structural inspection found failing mortar and crumbling brick.
Craig Maloney, an architect with CEM Design Architects, told the City of Rockville Historic District Commission on April 17 that the county plans to erect scaffolding at three locations around the building and remove chimney sections down to a stable course of brick. “We went up in a lift last week, to look at the chimneys. . . . A strong wind could blow them over,” Maloney said. He said crews will salvage what historic brick they can and have new bricks fabricated to match existing profiles and color.
The work is intended to address an immediate safety concern rather than a long-term restoration project. Maloney said crews will install temporary covers over the exposed openings and cap the chimneys with stainless steel once masonry work is finished. He added that the county plans to match mortar and brick profiles precisely: “We’re gonna salvage whatever brick we can, and then we’re going to have new brick fabricated to match the existing.”
Sheila Paziri, the city’s preservation planner, showed photographs of the chimneys and described deteriorated stone and lime scaling in the mortar. Paziri noted that Maryland Historic Trust (MHT) holds an easement on parts of the courthouse and that MHT staff want to review and approve proposed replacement brick and mortar. “You can see the photo. The sandstone cap is mostly gone. The mortar is… crumbling,” Paziri said during the presentation.
County staff said moisture issues noted in the building interior prompted a roof inspection that revealed the chimneys to be in worse condition than the slate roofing. Mike Lowe, a project manager with the Montgomery County Department of General Services, participated in the presentation and confirmed the county’s plan to begin scaffolding and chimney stabilization shortly. Commissioners and staff pressed only brief clarifying questions; a county employee who identified herself as Director of Regional Services said she would abstain from any future formal HDC discussion of the project.
The presenters said additional exterior repairs — including slate roof and flashing work — are likely to follow as budget allows, and that some items will return to the commission for review. Paziri told commissioners she would share the project photos with Peerless Rockville, the local preservation nonprofit, so the organization is aware of imminent work and potential public inquiries.
The commission did not take a formal vote on the county’s emergency work during the meeting; county staff characterized the chimney repairs as an urgent safety response that has been coordinated with Maryland Historic Trust staff review of facade materials.
