Structural Investigation, Intervention

Discovery of a failed timber truss led to an emergency evacuation of the historic building during a Philadelphia Orchestra concert. Keast & Hood Co. forensic engineers investigated the cause of the failure, including core sampling of timber trusses for wood pathology assessment. An intensive 17-day emergency stabilization effort ensued, including removing the Academy's seating, constructing shoring towers to support the damaged structure, and repairing the fractured trusses with structural steel reinforcements. A second project the following year repaired a third truss over the stage.