Monday, December 5, 2011

Concord, NH — The New Hampshire State House, originally built back in the early 19th century, has seen many harsh winters since its first days as the state capitol. Comprised of native granite and a mortar mix containing lime and sand, the building’s faced a large amount of dirt and grime buildup over the years from exposure to the elements. Work was finished recently to restore the historical exterior of the capitol building, which required a great deal of knowledge about its unique materials and care in handling their revitalization. Meridian Construction completed the renovations earlier this fall, including minor window repairs to the State House portico.

Along with the State House project, Meridian completed work repointing the Legislative Office Building and Tax Revenue Building. These were unique projects, as the Legislative Office Building required a different approach given that its primary building material was slate stone. The Tax Revenue Building, which is an old brick structure with cast stone cornices, required a separate repointing schedule as well. Many of the buildings in the New Hampshire government have also had a history of being used for other purposes than their current use—this includes the Legislative Office Building, which had served as a post office and courthouse from 1889 to 1967. Additional repair work included repainting and recaulking the windows of the Legislative Office Building, as well as minor window and repair work to the north face of the Tax Revenue Building.

These projects required special equipment, given the high traffic environments; Meridian made sure that 95% of all dust generated during the process was captured and contained. Environmentally friendly products were used to wash the State House. Working closely with the Department of Administrative Services, project managers, and Bureau of Public Works, the objective from the start was to make certain that all projects ran as smoothly as possible. With the health and safety of all pedestrians, visitors and building occupants being one of the highest priorities, precautionary measures were taken throughout to create and maintain as minimal disruption as possible during the length of the restorations. Meridian also gave extra attention to protecting the landscaping around the State House, given its pristine appearance and importance to the capitol building.