Memorial Hall is the largest surviving building from the Centennial Exposition of 1876 and is a registered National Historic Landmark. It is currently the headquarters of the Fairmount Park Commission, and it is a prominent landmark in West Philadelphia, with it lighted hipped dome visible for miles at night.

In the spring of 2000, S. Harris & Co. was retained by the Fairmount Park Commission to consult with the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust, Inc. in assessing the extensive plaster damage in the Great Hall of Memorial Hall. S. Harris & Co. was charged with investigating the source of the plaster damage, which included large decorative brackets, cornices, and caryatids, and recommending intervention and treatment options to preserve the interior ornamentation of the historically significant grand hall.

The interior of the Main Hall and Foyer are elaborately decorated with caryatids and molded plaster cornices. Recently, plaster has fallen in rather large masses, thus causing the management to request an evaluation. The team was headed by John Carr of the Fairmount Park Historic Trust, who retained Sam Harris as a consultant. The sources of the plaster deterioration were readily detected to be a failing asphalt roof. The water was coming in through the roofing and onto the plaster below, causing the plaster to release and fall fifty feet to the floor of the Main Hall. As interim measures, the damaged areas have been netted and barricades have been constructed below.

2002 CEILING & PLASTER EVALUATION

The much publicized event of the plaster falling from the ceiling of the Board Room prompted Fairmount Park to ask S. Harris & Co. to evaluate the remaining plaster and structural members and recommend appropriate remediation. This analysis had to be accomplished with as little disturbance to the rest of the ceiling as possible.  To undertake a thorough investigation, S. Harris & Co brought in a borescope technician to provide video documentation of the ceiling structure through easily repaired access holes in the ceiling.  This analysis led to the conclusion that old termite damage had caused the failure of the wood nailers in the ceiling and its partial collapse.  The analysis also provided assurance that the remainder of the ceiling contained salvageable material to which the plaster could be easily and inexpensively anchored using plaster washers.

Click here for more information about Memorial Hall

--S. Harris & Co. Comprehensive Project List--