Investigation and Repair of Holy Name Cathedral

Holy Name Cathedral was constructed in 1874 and currently serves as the Cathedral for the Archdiocese of Chicago. In 2008 a decorative piece of millwork fell from the ceiling of the church. This event prompted an investigation of the church's ceiling which identified deficiencies in the arched ceiling, roof structure, and eventually the supporting wood columns. This presentation will review the investigation and repair of the cathedral which spanned over a three-year period. Special attention will be given to the column repairs and exterior wall repairs surrounding the columns which included the creation of localized insulated cavity walls within the mass masonry wall system. Air, water, thermal, and structural detailing will be reviewed. The presentation will also discuss the wireless data collection system that was installed at each wood column to serve as an early warning detection system as a means of mitigating future problems. Kevin A. Kalata is a licensed architect and structural engineer and is the current chair BEC-Chicago. Mr. Kalata is an Associate Principal with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE). Since joining WJE in 1996, Mr. Kalata has performed numerous investigations associated with exterior wall systems. As part of this work, Mr. Kalata is involved in the testing and assessment of windows, curtain walls, and various other building enclosure and cladding systems for moisture penetration, air infiltration, and thermal performance for both new and existing construction. Cladding systems evaluated include brick, terra cotta, stucco, EIFS, stone, metal panels, and glass facades. Mr. Kalata has also conducted investigations of distressed buildings, building components, and framing systems to evaluate damage from hurricanes, tornadoes, and fire, as well as to investigate construction, material, and/or design defects.