DAR Headquarters Restoration

The Christman Company’s restoration of the city block-sized DAR complex was performed in two phases. Phase I consisted of masonry conservation, flashing restoration, and stone cleaning at Memorial Continental Hall. At Constitution Hall, Christman implemented marble consolidation in addition to masonry conservation, flashing restoration, and stone cleaning.

Phase II consisted of the restoration and rebuilding of the north and south terraces, the restoration of the terrace steps, and the challenging addition of an underground archive storage vault below the marble terrace. For this project, the terrace was disassembled, catalogued and stored on site while the marble perimeter walls and foundations were protected and shored in place. A new structural concrete storage vault was also constructed and waterproofed. The terrace pavers were then reinstalled in their original locations (modified for the addition of a new terrace drainage system) and the terrace steps and perimeter walls were restored. Replacement marble was used in some places, as were mortar repairs and stone dutchmen. The storage vault received a new, museum quality HVAC system.

All work was performed while the complex remained open to tourists and occupied by staff, including the museum and auditorium which is used by political guests and the U.S. president.