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
St. Elizabeths Center Building
The U.S. General Services Administration wanted to repurpose the historic Center Building as the central office for the Department of Homeland Security.
Mid-Atlantic
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Headquarters Building
The headquarters for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) includes an eleven-story office tower and four circa 1900s buildings incorporated in the concrete tower structure. SGH assisted with the building enclosure design.