For Immediate Release:

February 5, 2007

(801) 975-0909

sarah@kepcoplus.com

 

Salt Lake City, UT- Recently KEPCO+, a Utah based cladding installation contractor, made history with the completion of the Utah State Capitol Terra Cotta Restoration Project by reinstalling classically detailed terra cotta on the Capitol rotunda using a prefabricated panel system. 

 

“I liked the concept of old world terra cotta installed with new world technology. I'm thrilled with the benefits of doing it this way and hope it will open the door for the future use of classically detailed terra cotta,” said David Hart, executive director for the Utah State Capitol Preservation Board. 

 

Typically, terra cotta is set piece-by-piece directly onto the structure of a building, a time-consuming endeavor. To reduce the overall installation time, panelization was selected as the method of installation for the majority of the terra cotta. Each piece of terra cotta was removed from the building and evaluated to determine if it would be restored or replicated. One of the primary goals of the architect, the Capitol Restoration Group, was to reinstall as much of the historic terra cotta as the condition of the pieces would allow. To make this reinstallation possible, unique metal frames were fabricated to accommodate both the restored and replicated pieces. Each terra cotta piece was installed to a frame at KEPCO+'s facility, and the completed panels were then installed on the rotunda.

 

Even elaborate details, such as the entablatures, columns, column capitals, balustrades, and window hoods were able to be panelized. Each radial panel was precisely engineered so that when the installation was complete, the restored rotunda would maintain its historic dimension. The terra cotta panels fit together perfectly to encompass the 250 foot circumference of the rotunda.

 

In all, 60% of the terra cotta was panelized for reinstallation; 204 terra cotta panels, ranging in weight from 800 to 8,400 pounds, were fabricated and installed during the intensive restoration and seismic upgrade currently taking place on the Utah State Capitol. 

 

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