The Equitable Building

Located at 100 Peachtree Street NW in downtown Atlanta, the Equitable Building is 33 stories high and 453 feet tall. Built in 1968 and owned by America’s Capital Partners, it is one of downtown Atlanta’s oldest high rises and an iconic part of the city’s skyline.

The Challenge

The Equitable Building’s aged, anodized aluminum panels needed cleaning and repair to protect the surface from the elements and from future wear and tear. The client was seeking a comprehensive solution to protect the enduring value of the building while effectively managing future operating costs.

At the outset, the Stuart Dean façade restoration team faced a host of challenges when beginning to formulate a solution.

Technicians would not be able to use conventional cleaning and scrubbing techniques to correct areas with etched stains or corrosion that included pitting. These areas could only be lightly abraded because further abrasive cleaning would expose more raw aluminum. That aluminum would have no natural corrosion resistance due to loss of the original anodic protective layer.

The project began on July 16, 2012, and was scheduled for completion in four months. On August 1, the client requested the length of the job be cut by five weeks, which resulted in the crew size expanding from the original eight-man crew to a 15-man crew. Three additional swing stages were hung from the building to allow for these additional crew members.

Stuart Dean also had to alter its work week. Due to concerns about the odor from the coating application, associates had to limit their work on the upper ten floors to Saturday evenings and Sunday.

The Solution

Stuart Dean restored 136,000 square feet of aged, anodized aluminum curtain wall panels utilizing its modified lacquer coating system. Allied with 30 years of application experience using both hand and spray techniques, it provided a deep, vibrant color and gloss to the surface.

The application of a clear curtain wall protectant was important as a corrosion inhibitor to compromised surfaces as well as weathered yet undamaged surfaces.

In addition to the cleaning and restoration of the panels, Stuart Dean associates applied a high-performance fluropolymer coating to approximately 9,100 square feet of columns and panels on the ground and second floors.

The Benefits

Stuart Dean adjusted to a compressed timeline and modified work schedule by mobilizing a larger crew and working on Saturdays and Sundays.

Associates from Stuart Dean finished the project a week ahead of schedule and within the client’s budget.

This allowed the client to begin the glass replacement phase of the restoration ahead of schedule.

In addition, Stuart Dean’s work did not interfere with the building’s day-to-day activities.

The client, property manager and building engineer praised Stuart Dean for the quality of work and for Stuart Dean’s willingness to adjust and customize the approach to the project.

This resulted in an investment that has extended the service life of the exterior anodized façade.