Evaluation and Repair of Concrete Buildings – The Tale of Two High-Profile Projects in the US

The repair of concrete structures presents unique construction challenges compared to new construction.  These include the fact that there are often variations in the as-constructed details compared to those shown in design and construction drawings.  Moreover, for buildings that have been in service for some time, the aging and deterioration of components can make construction more difficult especially if the building must remain in service during repairs.

To describe some of these challenges, this presentation will focus on the evaluation and repair of two high-profile concrete buildings in the US – the Courthouse Square mid-rise building complex in Salem, Oregon, and the Austonian high-rise residential tower in Austin, Texas. The presentation will discuss the nature of design and construction defects that were uncovered during investigation, the types of concrete deterioration that had been experienced during service, and the types of repair and strengthening schemes that were utilized to bring the buildings into compliance with building codes. 

Randall W. Poston, PhD, PE, SE, NAE

Sr. Principal - Pivot Engineers, Austin, TX, President - American Concrete Institute, Neil Armstrong Distinguished Visiting Fellow - Purdue University College of Engineering

Randall W. Poston, PhD, PE, SE, NAE is a Sr. Principal at Pivot Engineers, a structural engineering consulting firm in Austin, TX. He is also a Neil Armstrong Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Purdue University College of Engineering and a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio.  For the past 35 years, Dr. Poston has been engaged in the evaluation, repair, strengthening and design of more than 700 structures.  His expertise includes investigation of structural failures, evaluation of corrosion of steel in concrete, structural concrete repair and strengthening design, and nondestructive testing of concrete structures. He is an active member of numerous national and international technical committees, including being a current member of ACI Committee 318 and was the Chair of Committee 318 during the 2014 code cycle. Dr. Poston currently serves as the ACI Immediate Past President. Poston was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2017.