In June 2005, S. Harris & Co. was retained by  the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. to provide a Structural Conditions Report on one of the oldest urban retail buildings in the United States.  The purpose of the investigation was to analyze the capacity of the second floor and attic for the purpose of housing the offices of the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation.  The Lewis Store was built in 1749 and S. Harris & Co. was asked to verify the load capacity of the second floor and attic and make recommendations on strengthening the structure as necessary.

Upon completion of the assessment, S. Harris & Co. provided professional structural engineering and architectural design for the occupancy of the second floor. The project includes the reinforcement of the beams and girders on the second floor, the structural enhancement to the attic collector beam, and the conversion of the first floor corridor walls to bearing walls.  After a thorough investigation and design phase, the renovation improvements to the Lewis Store took place between March and August of 2006.

An articulated structural system was designed and constructed between the floor joists, hidden within the building framing.  The all steel system consists of a series of modified trusses, composed of turnbuckles, clevises, threaded rods, and plates.  This system proved top be successful because it was disguised from the public's eye and did not require the removal of original fabric.

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