The Hippodrome Theater, built around 1914 as a vaudeville house, is one of the last remaining historic Thomas Lamb theaters in existence. The Hippodrome closed its doors in 1981. By then, portions of the Hippodrome's once-opulent interior had been covered over by paint, or ignominiously draped with yards of garish pink curtains - all in periodic former attempts to "modernize" the theater's appearance.
Structural Preservation Systems, Inc. completed a project to help restore the theater to prominence. The Hippodrome Theater development project on Baltimore's downtown west side had a budget of approximately $56 million.
Plans called for the Hippodrome, as a renovated 2,200-seat performing arts complex, to become the prime Baltimore venue for Broadway shows, along with presenting other large, locally produced entertainment events. The list of contracting projects associated with this undertaking included relocation of site utilities, excavation, demolition, foundation work, structural steel, cast-in-place concrete and masonry work, curtain wall and storefront systems, exterior and interior historical restoration, plus interior finishes.
Whiting Turner, the general contractor, selected SPS to carry out needed concrete structural repairs pertaining to the main theater and balcony seating area. The original plan called for undertaking concrete repairs that were more aesthetic in nature than structural. Upon further investigation, SPS discovered that insufficient rebar in the slab was causing the balcony to be deficient in its negative moment capacity. Thus, structural strengthening would be required in addition to basic repairs. Working in concert with Morabito Consultants, SPS provided a design recommendation for the change in scope that would be more constructable, less labor-intensive, and more time-efficient - hence less costly than other alternatives.
SPS's strengthening plan utilized VSL's Hardwire Steel Reinforced Polymer (SRP) composite system and an overlay of 4-in. of lightweight concrete to increase the load capacity of the balcony. (In some areas, the beam spacing was positioned closer and an overlay was not necessary). In order to reach the repair location without damaging the Hippodrome's impressive ceiling dome, SPS constructed special scaffolding that was hung off of the beams, from which the repair crew members would be required to work on their hands and knees. During two concrete pours, a total of 112 yards of concrete was pumped through a very small window in the top of the theater. In those areas where the overlay wasn't needed, 400 sq. ft. of carbon fiber was placed below the tread on the balcony. In addition, 1,700 ft. of L-shaped Hardwire SRP strips were placed under the risers, and more than 310 linear feet of epoxy injection was also used in the repair.
Because the change in scope was unplanned, both time commitments and dollar resources were important factors in coming up with the best repair strategy. SPS was able to complete the repair project in six weeks, while taking the needed precautions to preserve the existing plaster, exterior walls, facade, and decorative materials. The renovation of the Hippodrome performing arts complex was completed in 2003.