Willard Ice Building-Water Infiltration Inspection

Specialty Consulting, Inc. (SPC) was engaged by the Capital Development Board (CDB) to provide design services for addressing water infiltration issues at the Willard Ice Building, home of the Illinois Department of Revenue in Springfield, Illinois. Constructed in 1984, the building required repairs to its skylight system, replacement of the north and south roofs at the smoker’s corridor, and repairs to water-damaged interior finishes.

The project began with a comprehensive assessment aimed at identifying and addressing water infiltration issues. SPC prepared an extensive assessment report based on field investigations, sample tests, code analyses, and review of previous assessments. The report documented existing conditions through representative photographs, provided repair recommendations, and included associated cost estimates.

Critical inspections were conducted by SPC and skylight consultant BTL. These inspections involved close-up examinations, water testing, and other methods to identify the causes of water infiltration. A boom lift was used to inspect the skylight structure from inside the building during water testing (per AAMA 501.2) on the building’s exterior. SPC also performed field investigations of the roofing systems, which included visual observations of roof conditions, inspection of roof cuts to observe as-built conditions, and sample collection for asbestos testing.

The unique challenge of this project was accurately identifying and remedying water infiltration sources while ensuring minimal disruption to building operations. SPC’s detailed approach and collaboration with experts ensured successful resolution of the water infiltration issues, restoring the watershedding integrity of the Willard Ice Building skylight.