Terra Cotta Preservation for Van Nuys Building

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, 
California, USA

The Van Nuys Building on the corner of Spring and 7th in Downtown Los Angeles involved the complete preservation of the entire exterior veneer, encompassing terra cotta, granite, wood windows, and cement stucco. Over 300,000 sq. ft. of building surface was restored in a comprehensive and carefully phased project. 

The project involved terra cotta preservation and interior stone restoration, as we also restored the interior marble lobby. Much of the terra cotta veneer was highly modeled and articulated, making the decay and repair scope more challenging and extensive. We were able to clean them with a mild acidic-based cleaner and pressurized water, and most repairs were to locations of failed glaze and repointing of joints.

Wikipedia Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_Street_Financial_District

Click on images below to enlarge.