SHSU NSARC Art Gallery Masonry Retrofit
Continuous carbon fiber reinforcement of clay-tile masonry walls during the SHSU NSARC Art Gallery renovation.
Delta Structural Technology completed a composite wall retrofit for the SHSU NSARC Art Gallery renovation. The scope addressed cracked clay-tile masonry in the art and studio building. Working from the project’s reinforcement requirements, Delta developed a full-face interior carbon fiber treatment intended to confine the wall and connect its elements within a continuous reinforcement scheme.
Project challenge
The existing clay-tile wall exhibited cracking, and the project team required additional reinforcement at the inside face of the inner wythe. Existing mastic, conduit and a wood covering at the wall base affected access to the masonry. These conditions had to be addressed before preparation and application of the composite system could proceed across the designated interior wall face.
Project approach
The scope followed design references S-020 through S-300 and specified carbon fiber wrap-type reinforcement to meet the supplied design values. Delta’s planned sequence removed existing mastic, established the required surface profile, laid out the reinforcement and saturated the masonry surface and fabric with epoxy. The fiber was then to be installed across the designated interior face, creating a continuous treatment rather than isolated patches at individual visible cracks.
Delivery and coordination
Floor protection, removal of the false-wall covering and removal of attached conduit were assigned to others. Rolling scaffolding was included to reach the wall. Composite submittals and final design governed the material layout, while optional pull-off testing was tied to curing. The project therefore required coordinated exposure of the full receiving wall surface before the reinforcement installation sequence.
Project significance
This renovation illustrates composite strengthening applied to existing masonry rather than a concrete beam or slab. Its distinctive feature was the continuous interior treatment of clay-tile wall construction. The case connects the specified reinforcement objective with practical requirements for mastic removal, surface access and a coordinated wall-wide application.
