BUILDING EVALUATION FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE AND PRESERVATION

An architect and engineer must consider many aspects of any building that is being evaluated for an adaptive re-use project. Careful and precise evaluation of an existing building's structure, systems, and materials are necessary for both design considerations and for financial feasibility analysis. This professional guide to evaluating structural and material integrity of existing buildings covers everything from foundation issues to decorative details, identifying the causes of building failures as well as techniques for repair. The book considers building assessment issues for structures of different scales: midsize commercial, small commercial and residential buildings. Building repairs on adaptive re-use or historic preservation projects are an essential consideration in the financial outlook of a project, and this book details each step in the assessment process in an easy-to-understand way.

J. Stanley Rabun, PhD, PE, RA, is a professor at the University of Tennessee. As an architect and structural engineer, he has designed many residential and commercial buildings and continues to consult on a wide array of projects. Dr. Rabun also serves as an expert witness in construction accidents and building failures, testifying on cases involving water leakage and mold. Dr. Rabun is the author of Structural Analysis of Historic Buildings (Wiley).
Richard Kelso, PhD, PE, is a mechanical engineer and a professor at the University of Tennessee. A partner in a consulting engineering firm for more than twenty-five years, Dr. Kelso serves as an expert witness in construction accidents and building failures, testifying on cases involving HVAC systems and mold.

"Rich with diagrams and photographs...the authors set aside chapters for the evaluation of electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems, helping the prospective purchaser to better understand what to look for with an old building, and what you're looking at when you complete walk-through on the property. " (HeritageOhio.org, July 2009)

Preface.
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
Chapter One: Architectural Character.
Chapter Two: Survey of Existing Conditions.
Chapter Three: Electrical Systems: Background.
Chapter Four: Mechanical Systems.
Chapter Five: Plumbing, Bathrooms, Accessibility and Fire Systems.
Chapter Six: Sustainability.
Chapter Seven: Pro Forma Analysis.
Chapter Eight: Testing.
Bibliography.
Index.