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Resurgence Engineering and Preservation, Inc. is a Portland, Maine based structural engineering firm. We provide Maine municipalities, developers, architects and homeowners with engineering services for preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive use of historic buildings and structures. The firm considers this work an important component to preserving Maine's rich and historic built environment.
The firm specializes in assessment of buildings and structures in significant structural distress, and has provided structural and building envelope stabilization plans for several buildings listed on Maine Preservations Most Endangered Properties list. Resurgence Engineering has provided structural assessment, rehabilitation design, and construction administration services for diverse and historically significant properties such as the Portland City Hall Clock Tower, Burnt Coat Harbor Light, Biddeford City Hall, the Bond Street (Augusta) historic district, Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center, and The Brick Store Museum.
The firm also works with municipalities to preserve historic and modern sculpture, guiding emerging artists as they create bold aesthetic statements in metal, stone, and wood.
Client: City of Portland
Scope: Parapet Restoration, Clock Tower Restoration, Seismic Upgrades
Individual parapet stones were not anchored together, and the parapets needed appropriate anchorage to resist earthquake forces. Resurgence Engineering analyzed the parapets and designed a pinning system that anchored the parapet stones together and tied them into the gable end wall. Work included complete demolition and rebuilding of the existing parapets. Clock tower weight pockets were selectively rebuilt where existing corroded steel had to be extracted.
Client: Ocean Park Association
Scope: Structural stabilization, restoration, and accessibility and life safety improvements
The Ocean Park Association requested engineering design and construction monitoring services for the rehabilitation of Temple Square, the religious and cultural focal points of their community within Old Orchard Beach.
Temple Square consists of three buildings and a bell tower. The Temple (built 1881) is an 80-foot diameter, octagonal timber-framed structure that seats up to 800 guests for religious services and performances. Porter Hall (1903) serves as a smaller gathering facility for religious services and cultural events, and Jordan Hall (1920) functions primarily as the religious education building for the community.
Client: Northeast Civil Solutions
Scope: Mill Building Foundation Assessment
Northeast Civil Solutions hired Resurgence Engineering to assess the foundation of the Keddy Mill, to see whether or not the building could cost-effectively be converted into apartments. While the heavy concrete-framed building appeared more than capable of supporting infill housing, the larger question was whether or not the buildings foundation could resist theoretical wind and seismic forces imposed by contemporary building codes. Also, the condition of the soils below the foundations was unknown, but suspected to be loose fill. Resurgence performed a comprehensive assessment of the building foundations, to determine what upgrades were necessary to help the building resist code-required lateral forces imposed by wind and seismic loading.
Client: City of Biddeford ME
Architect: Lachman Architects & Planners, www.lachmanarchitects.com, Construction Managers: Consigli Construction
Scope: Assessment of Clock Tower Phase One Structural Stabilization
In 2007, the City of Biddeford retained Resurgence Engineering to assess the 1894 Biddeford City Hall Clock Tower. The assessment uncovered many concerns with the wood cladding and timber structure that comprised the upper portion of the tower. Resurgence and Lachman created a prioritized list of stabilization items, for an affordable $200,000 construction budget to secure the tower and limit further water infiltration until better economic conditions permit full restoration.
Architect: TFH Architects, Portland ME
Contractor: James Holt Andrews Carpentry, Kennebunkport ME
Scope:
TFH Architects retained Resurgence Engineering to assess an existing, deteriorated timber-framed barn and to assist carpenter James Holt Andrews in resurrecting the salvageable timber structure on a new site, in compliance with current building codes. Andrews, TFH, Resurgence and the Owner worked collectively to bring as much of the deteriorated structure as possible back to use on a private sheep farm.
Client: Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
Architect: TTL Architects, Portland ME
Contractors: Gnome Masonry Division, Falmouth ME, Cumberland Ironworks, Pownal ME
After decades of limited access to the upper level of Fort Popham, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands sought assistance to stabilize loose overhead brick and granite masonry, and to improve fall protection for the public at the site.
Resurgence Engineering worked with ttl architects to provide detailing so stabilize overhead masonry while permitting roof drainage. The $400,000 construction project greatly increased public access to and interest in this fascinating structure.
Resurgence Engineering has also provided assessment and stabilization design for masonry at Fort Gorges, Fort Knox, and Fort William Henry.
Client: Maine Historic Preservation Commission / Friends of Swan Island
Scope: Structural Assessment for Prioritized Repairs for Five Main Houses and Associated Outbuildings
This assessment was the first phase in an ongoing preservation strategy for the historic buildings located on Swan Island on the Kennebec River. The scope of Resurgence Engineering's work included a full day on site assessment of all structures, checklist summaries for each building, schematic floor plans and an outline of prioritized repairs. This assessment will help provide a better understanding of immediate structural concerns and efforts required in order to extend the lifespan of each building.
Client: Victoria Mansion
Scope: Structural Assessment of the Southwest Porch and Front Entry Porch
The assessment of the porch is part of the ongoing restoration efforts at Victoria Mansion. The Southwest Porch had been fully reconstructed in the early 1980s. However, high exposure to harsh weather has caused deterioration and cause for concern about the structural integrity, specificially of the columns and porch roofs. Resurgence Engineering was able to work closely with Caleb Hemphill (Preservation Carpenter) and the Maine Historic Preservation Commission in order to determine structural versus cosmetic concerns. Additionally, a report was developed in order to provide direction for the design phase of the project ensuring that the historical authenticity is not compromised.
Client: Pearl Properties, LLC
Scope: Structural Stabilization and Rehabilitation Design
Since 2005, Resurgence Engineering and Preservation has worked with Pearl Properties on the structural stabilization and rehabilitation of this property, which was a former carriage repair shop and livery on India Street. Structural Design included use of recycled steel framing that was tested and certified following salvage from a Rockland, Maine warehouse. Resurgence also worked with the owner to phase construction in order to maintain existing structure stability while rebuilding significantly damaged areas.
Future occupancy is intended to be a mix of retail, office, and residential space in this compact yet complex structure.
OWNER/ENGINEER September 2002 present. Resurgence Engineering and Preservation, Inc., Portland, ME
•Evaluation and inspection of historic institutional, commercial, and residential building structures.
•Structural design and analysis to stabilize and upgrade existing historic structures.
•Structural design of residential additions and light-commercial construction.
PROJECT E.I.T. / ENGINEER - September 1996 - April 2002. Criterium-Mooney Engineers, Portland, ME
•Structural, Fire, and Life-safety upgrades in historic masonry, iron, steel, and timber structures.
•Construction litigation and deposition witness.
MECE (STRUCTURES) and HISTORIC PRESERVATION CERTIFICATE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
September 1994-August 1996. Charlottesville, VA (Completed January, 1998)
•Graduate Research Assistant, History Department, Virginia Transportation Research Council. MECE Report: Renovation Options for the Goshen Bridge. Restoration feasibility study
proposed and estimated costs of renovation methods for two-span metal truss bridge listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
•Preservation courses included Preservation Theory, Preservation Planning, Engineering Aspects of Preservation (Building Evaluation Techniques), Community History Studies (two
semesters).
STRUCTURAL E.I.T. January 1990 - July 1994. S E A Consultants, Cambridge, MA
•Design and analysis of steel, reinforced and prestressed concrete, reinforced masonry, and wood structures.
STRUCTURAL E.I.T. June 1988-January 1990. Engineers Design Group, Cambridge, MA
•Design using steel, concrete, masonry, and timber construction; shop drawing review, site inspections.
Duke University. BSCE, May 1988. Civil Engineering Emphasis in Structures
BSCES Lecture Series, Structural Rehabilitation/Restoration (1993)
Engineering for Historic Structures, APTI Conference, 2003.
Wind Loads on Buildings and Structures, Seminar, 2004.
Transitioning from 2006 to 2009 IBC, Seminar, 2010.
Greater Portland Landmarks, Structural Engineers Association of Maine, (Secretary, 2007-2010)
(207) 773-4880
Al_Resurgenceengineering.com
132 Brentwood Street
Portland, ME 04103
The Congress Building
(State Theater Building)
615 Congress Street
Suites 505 & 506
Portland, ME 04101
**Please do not mail or send correspondence to this location.
Please call ahead, as we are often at project sites. Thank You
"Building a Bridge from Yesteryear" Public Roads Magazine
"The Work Up There" Landmarks Observer
Greater Portland Landmarks
Maine Preservation
Grahamtastic Connection
Scope: Parapet Restoration and Seismic Upgrades
Individual parapet stones were not anchored together, and the parapets needed appropriate anchorage to resist earthquake forces. Resurgence Engineering analyzed the parapets and designed a pinning system that anchored the parapet stones together and tied them into the gable end wall. Work included complete demolition and rebuilding of the existing parapets.
Resurgence Engineering and Preservation - 132 Brentwood Street Portland Maine 04103 - v/f (207) 773-4880 - Al_ResurgenceEngineering.com
