Sacramento, CA

SMUD Museum of Science & Curiosity

Scope/Solutions
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Project Summary

Scope/Solutions

Designed in the Beaux-Arts style by William Polk, the 1912 power station sat unoccupied for decades. Thanks to a private-public partnership between the city, the museum, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), and others, the building was reinvented as part of a new museum focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The project included renovating and repairing the historic building, constructing a new 22,000 sq ft addition with a 122-seat planetarium, and addressing the contaminated, flood-prone site. SGH consulted on exterior wall repairs and the roofing and waterproofing design for the project.

Working with the architect, contractor, and historic preservation consultant, SGH consulted on repairs and improvements to the existing powerhouse. Highlights of our work include:

Consulting on below-grade waterproofing for the existing foundation walls and vapor retarders on the powerhouse’s new slabs, considering the site is prone to flooding
Performing petrographic analyses of concrete samples extracted from the exterior walls, determining the carbonation depth, and evaluating the reinforcement condition
Designing concrete repairs to the existing walls to address cracking and spalling, including complete reconstruction of an ornate cartouche over an entrance
Incorporating anti-carbonation treatment and embedding zinc anodes to extend the useful life of the repairs
Developing details to anchor original lettered concrete panels to the wall structure
Specifying an elastomeric coating for the exterior walls to limit water penetration and mimic the original finish
Consulting on a complete replacement of the roofing and roof structure
Supporting the project team through construction by reviewing submittals, establishing a pricing system for repairs and quantities, visiting the site to observe ongoing enclosure work, and helping the project team address field conditions