The Chicago branch of Western Specialty Contractors (WSC) received the 2021 “Project of the Year” award from the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) for concrete-restoration work it did at a local Extra Space Storage facility. The company was recognized during a Feb. 24 awards dinner, according to a press release.

The honor distinguishes outstanding projects in the concrete-repair industry. Entries are received from around the world to compete in 11 categories. Each project is judged on uniqueness, use of methods and materials, functionality, value engineering, and aesthetics. The panel of judges is selected by the ICRI Awards Committee and consists of North American contractors, engineers and manufacturers.

“Extra Space Storage was chosen as the ICRI Chicago Chapter ‘Project of the Year’ because it was a unique concrete-repair project with multiple construction challenges and historic significance,” said Kurt Baron, vice president and awards committee chair for ICRI Chicago. “The building was required to remain fully operational without displacing the [self-storage] tenants, so creative repair techniques were utilized.”

The project at 601 W. Harrison St. was completed in June. Chicago-based Klein & Hoffman Inc. was the architect, while RJP Consulting Group of Indianapolis served as the engineer.

Originally constructed in the early 1900s, the building was once used to store delivery trucks for the “Chicago Tribune.” Consisting of three above-grade supported levels and an on-grade basement with 198,000 square feet of total floor space, the structure was built with 14-inch-thick, conventionally reinforced slabs and 5-inch-thick concrete ramps that allowed vehicle access to all floors.

Repairs were made in 52 places, including over occupied self-storage units. Each needed an enclosure to contain debris and dust. The work was phased so the business could remain open throughout the entirety.

WSC built elevated work platforms to access each point of repair, and all work was completed using a form-and-pump method. Once the work was complete, a traffic-bearing membrane was applied to vehicular traffic surfaces, and the underside repairs were painted to match the adjacent concrete. Additional renovations were made to the property simultaneously including a roof replacement, façade and window upgrades, and unit remix.

“This was a unique and challenging concrete-repair project on many levels,” said Matt Ziesemer, assistance branch manager for WSC. “Our footprint needed to have minimal impact on the building’s tenants due to its continued operation while repairs were being performed. Some of the concrete deterioration was more extensive than originally anticipated, and we had to coordinate our work around several other contractors also doing work. Our team delivered on its expertise, and the owner and tenants can feel confident in the work that we performed. We are honored to have our work recognized by the ICRI Chicago Chapter.”

Family-owned and -operated for more than 100 years, WSC provides masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, it has 30 branches nationwide and employs more than 1,200.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space is a self-storage real estate investment trust that owns or operates 2,096 locations in 41 states and Washington, D.C. The company’s properties comprise approximately 1.5 million units and 160.9 million square feet of rentable space.

Source: International Concrete Repair Institute, ICRI Project Awards