Waco Tower
Masonry repair, grout placement, and FRP strengthening formed an integrated retrofit approach for the Waco Tower elevator building.
Delta Structural Technology completed structural retrofit work at the Waco Tower elevator building. The repair concept addressed unreinforced concrete masonry through a combination of block replacement, grout placement, composite reinforcement, and roof-support work. Its defining feature was an integrated approach to the masonry enclosure: the proposed reinforcement extended across more than one face of the wall, connecting repairs at the top of the building with strengthening below.
- Market
- Industrial
- Services
- Masonry retrofit and FRP strengthening
- Location
- Waco, Texas
- Structural members
- Walls
Project challenge
The tower presented a linked set of conditions. Missing and loose blocks at the top rim required repair, while the unreinforced masonry needed a reinforcement strategy. Roof removal and replacement were also part of the proposed sequence. Treating these as unrelated tasks would leave critical interfaces unresolved, particularly where the roof support and wall reinforcement met at the top of the structure.
Project approach
Delta developed a sequence beginning with site access and roof removal, followed by replacement of deficient top-rim blocks and filling with flowable grout and thickened epoxy. The design concept called for horizontal FRP on the interior, grout placement into masonry cells, and vertical composite reinforcement extending from the interior over to the exterior. The proposal also addressed square-tube roof-support columns, welded connections to roof beams, and replacement roof sheet metal.
Delivery and coordination
Access planning compared crane and scaffolding options. The proposed work also required ventilation, preparation of bonding surfaces, and coordinated access to both the interior and exterior wall faces. Exterior composite protection was addressed through a UV-resistant coating in the construction sequence. These dependencies made the order of operations important: masonry repairs, grout placement, reinforcement, and roof work each created conditions needed by the following activity.
Project significance
The Waco Tower project illustrates a repair strategy that combines conventional construction with externally bonded reinforcement. The technical lesson is the importance of continuity at transitions. Strengthening a masonry tower involves the condition of its blocks and cells as well as the way reinforcement crosses corners and connects with roof-support work.
