The Russ Building is a 31-story commercial office building located at 235 Montgomery Street in San Francisco’s Financial District. It spans the entire block of Montgomery Street between Pine and Bush Streets. Constructed in 1927, the Russ Building is listed on the California Register of Historic Resources as an early example of a skyscraper. Built in the neo-Gothic style, the building has a steel frame, terracotta cladding, and wood windows. It contains over 500,000 square feet of space, as well as a 350-stall parking garage.

The Client began a terracotta cladding restoration project in 2012. During initial surveys, MCA observed glaze spalls, bisque spalls, biological growth, failed and cracking mortar joints, and rust jacking. These conditions are often caused by water intrusion and create new pathways for water to migrate into the masonry material. Rust jacking is a sign that enough water has migrated to the steel structure to cause spalls and possible fall hazards. MCA developed a restoration protocol to address these conditions to significantly reduce water migration. After the conclusion of the restoration project, MCA has continued to provide consultation services to the Client to ensure that the building remains in good condition.

Location

San Francisco

Project Type

Building Enclosure Investigation
Remedial Architecture

Client

Shorenstein Realty Services, LP

Project Status

Active