Main Pumping Station Exterior Wall Repairs

Des Plaines, IL

Mason Contractor: B.E.T.O.N. Construction Inc.
Architect: AECOM
General Contractor: B.E.T.O.N. Construction Inc.
Suppliers: Henry Frerk Sons, Inc.
Owner: Northwest Water Commission

Wall System: Barrier Wall: Stone Veneer/Reinforced Concrete Block

Project Description

The Main Pump Station building located in Des Plaines, Illinois, about 15 miles from Chicago is an important part of the Chicago’s network of water pumping stations serving the most precious resource, which is water, to about 18,000 of customers. B.E.T.O.N. Construction Co. with the alliance of AECOM architectural group has been chosen in June of 2013 to work as the primary mason on the restoration of this building. Our goal was to restore the building to its dignity and beauty but at the same time maintain the environmental integrity due to the required cleanliness and preserving health of drinking water.

B.E.T.O.N. Construction Co. has approached this project with the highest quality of craftsmanship because of the difficulty of irregular nature of stone façade. Our people had to rake out the mortar joints with various sizes of hand chisels depending on the shape of individual stone pieces. In addition, we had to remove the stone that has deteriorated beyond repair and replace with the matching stone without damaging surrounding areas. Finally, we had to remove the existing coping stones around the building in order to install new stainless steel flashing and reinstall the coping to create a water tight barrier for the building.

The AECOM group was supervising our masonry work by highly enforcing written quality control programs that would demonstrate our ability to properly follow the methods and use materials and appropriate tools without damaging masonry but performing to the highest standards.

Overall, our team work was very effective and made the Main Pump Station project in Des Plaines, IL a mutual success that helps preserve the beauty and masonry soundness of important architectural objects in Midwest.

Date of Project Completion: August 2013

Awards

Chicago Public Schools - 2012 WBE Contractor of the Year

Photography by Bernadette Izyk