Amherst College Tower, Amherst, MA

After inspecting the 150-foot-tall tower, eye to eye from a manlift, and after conducting probes at various locations throughout the exterior of the tower, we determined that the mortar holding the existing stone veneer on the tower was extremely deteriorated, that the stones were virtually unbonded to the substrate, and were in real danger of falling. Moreover, that a collapse of a small area of stone could trigger a catastrophic failure sending tons of stone down onto the roof of the museum below, any bystanders, and to the adjacent student dormitory.

The college took immediate action by erecting scaffolding over the entire tower and engaging engineers to design repairs while, simultaneously, mobilizing masons to begin the careful documenting and removal of the existing veneer, subsequent repair of the substrate, and reinstallation of veneer on the entire exterior to match the existing and maintain the historic of the structure.