Jingyi Luo | CVM Engineers

I had the opportunity to intern at CVM Engineer, which provided me with a wealth of diverse experiences. I was fortunate to work alongside waterproofing experts, architects, contractors, engineers, clients, preservationists, and material scientists. Moreover, I had chances to contribute to multiple projects in various locations. Therefore, I traveled between Philadelphia, King of Prussia, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Oklahoma. Two projects, the Jim Thorpe Memorial Building in Oklahoma and the Swarthmore Lang Music Center in Pennsylvania, were directly connected to my academic coursework. The Jim Thorpe Memorial Building, a Classical Revival structure constructed between 1937-1941, offered a tangible application of the knowledge taught in HSPV 5550 Conservation Science and HSPV 5510 Building Pathology. The building façade is clad with limestone, whereas the structural system is reinforced concrete. Our team performed condition assessments, façade cleaning trials, Relim tube tests, interior assessments, water leakage inspections, and observed the existing window assemblies for envelope upgrades. I was responsible for two items. The first item was conducting Relim tube tests and analyzing the condition of existing exterior mortar. The second was to work with contractors conducting limestone cleaning trials. While on-site, I also had opportunities to assist other engineers to inspect shelf angle corrosions that relate to the historic detail designs.

The other project Lang Music Center was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola in the 1970s with reinforced concrete. Swarthmore College contacted CVM and asked for an assessment and restoration cost estimation. I was involved in the project from the beginning until the end. Since the project started with little background information, I volunteered to find existing documentation. With the knowledge I gained from the HSPV 6000 Documentation class, I discovered the original construction drawing set, specifications, marketing materials, design sketches, and representation drawings from the 1970s by archival research. These detailed drawings and specifications enabled our team to determine the version of the engineering code used and identify the concrete coverage preliminary. At the condition assessment stage, I had chances to perform carbonation tests and collect samples for chloride tests on the building directly. These are the methodologies I learned from HSPV 5550 Conservation Science. Additionally, I worked on the contractor's side to survey the structure with GPR equipment. I appreciate this internship opportunity because it pushed me to think about existing buildings beyond schematics. I saw the importance of working with water, air, and thermal in a built environment. For example, Bryn Mawr Schwartz Gym has been suffering from wood frame deterioration. I was impressed by the extensive data gathered by my project engineer over a year, aimed at analyzing the intricate dynamics of an environment that encompasses a swimming pool, melting snow, and air pockets within structural layers. These exposures can lead me to a more profound path in working with existing structures responsibly. Lastly, I am grateful for the opportunity and the office’s trust during the summer.