Frederick, MD
Visitation Hotel Fire
Scope/Solutions
On 1 April 2023, a fire broke out on the roof of the former Visitation Academy building. At the time of the fire, the 1840s building was being redeveloped as a mixed-use site with a sixty-seven-room boutique hotel and two condominium buildings. SGH, who was serving as the structural engineer for the hotel renovation project, investigated the condition of the structure following the fire and designed repairs.
SGH evaluated the areas of the structure affected by the fire and water used to extinguish it, and designed repairs to address the structural damage. Highlights of our work include:
- Rapidly responding to the fire and visiting the site to identify the extent of damaged structural framing
- Assessing the residual capacity of fire-damaged, heavy-timber trusses and roof framing
- Collaborating with the contractor to develop remedial work plans that included retaining portions of the roof framing to brace the existing walls until the damaged components could be replaced
- Designing new roof framing to reinstate the original load path
- Preparing construction documents for repairing existing roof framing and installing new metal plate-connected wood trusses in areas that were not salvageable
1 of 4
Project Summary
2024
Completion Date
70k
Project Size
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures
Markets
Commercial
Client(s)
O2J Visitation
Specialized Capabilities
Repair & Strengthening
Key team members
Additional Projects
Mid-Atlantic
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
SGH investigated the flooring installer’s concerns of the debonding of the leveling compound and difficulty bonding the roll carpeting to the applied leveling compound and advised the project team about carpet installation procedures.
Mid-Atlantic
The Bank Building
Lincoln Property Company redeveloped the site at 699 Fourteenth Street to create a new trophy office building. The project incorporates the historic Federal-American National Bank building with a new eleven-story tower that cantilevers over the existing building and extends four levels below grade.