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Architects flag rising damp, roof and clock‑tower work as priority repairs
Summary
Architects told the court the basement shows rising damp—moisture moving up masonry walls—that degrades lime mortar, and they recommended options from staged concrete footings to ongoing lime‑based repointing; they also noted deteriorated wood and end‑of‑life sheet‑metal components in the bell/clock tower and recommended slate roof replacement.
Architect Alexis told the court the building shows two higher‑priority structural maintenance issues: rising damp in the basement and degraded materials in the bell/clock tower and domes. She said the rising damp likely reflects a subsurface water source and causes sand‑like mortar residue on basement floors; if not addressed the mortar degradation can become a structural concern over time.
"We're seeing in the basement...the term is rising damp, and it's likely due to a water source that's under the building," Alexis said, describing options that include ongoing lime‑based repointing as a maintenance regimen or staged insertion of a concrete footing beneath masonry walls to stop moisture migration. She said the tower has deteriorated wood from water infiltration and the sheet‑metal components and domes are near end of life.
The architects recommended a structural review and included these items in their scope and cost estimate. Commissioners acknowledged the conditions but said they were not immediate emergencies; the design team recommended including the work in the master plan and program budget.
