SHEPPARD HOUSE
CLIENT
Watson & Henry Associates

LOCATION
Bridgeton, New Jersey

STRUCTURE
The David Sheppard House, was built as a Federal style mansion in 1791. Located at a busy intersection in Bridgeton, New Jersey, it housed two generations of the Sheppard family before being expanded in the Nineteenth Century to accommodate its use as a school for young women. These additions were demolished in 1995. Vacant for over twenty years, the City now plans to lease the property to Rutgers University for use as a marine sciences educational facility. A Level II Capital Preservation Grant was received from the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund. To assist in funding the exterior stabilization and restoration work that began in 2007 and was completed in 2008.

CHALLENGE
We were retained by Watson & Henry Associates as the structural engineer and roof consultant for the Sheppard House Project. Included were the survey and analysis of the existing interior structure and design of the structural reinforcements.  Construction documents for a new addition on the north side of the building were also needed, although this aspect of the project did not move forward.

SCOPE OF SERVICE
  • Perform on-site investigation of existing structural framing and roof systems.
  • Measure and document interior and exterior existing conditions.
  • Investigate, analyze, and assess exterior walls, timber joists, and main collector beams.
  • Prepare structural construction documents for a planned addition and renovation.
SOLUTION
  • Designed and installed structural details to reinforce the distorted main collector beams and joists at each level using a combination of timber scabs and steel plates.
  • Prepared structural component of construction documents for renovations and the planned building addition.
  • Designed a new roof and provided drainage details in accordance with Factory Mutual Global standards.