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Mies van der Rohe's modernist architecture is characterized by the exposure of the steel structural system on the exterior of the building facades. Mies practiced in Chicago between 1937 and 1969, and as the buildings he designed have reached 50 years of age, they have increasingly been identified as historic landmarks by the National Register of Historic Places.1
The coatings on the steel facades of these iconic buildings are not only important to the buildings' aesthetics, but also provide protection for the exposed steel components. Over time, the exposed steel in buildings designed by Mies has typically experienced several recoating campaigns as part of ongoing maintenance.
When recoating is required, a careful condition assessment should precede the selection of an appropriate project approach. Design of a recoating system requires chemical identification of the original and existing (exposed) coatings, evaluation of the original surface preparation, assessment of the existing and previous coating systems including the extent of corrosion and adhesion, and selection of appropriate preparation techniques and recoating systems to achieve the desired performance and appearance.
Based on the condition of the given coating, exterior steel structures can often be effectively overcoated several times prior to removal and replacement of coatings; however, depending on the number and condition of extant paint layers, coating removal may be required or may be more cost-effective than overcoating. Other project-specific issues that need to be considered include hazardous materials that may be present in the existing coating system, specific exposure to weather of the building facades, and the desired durability of the new coating system.
This article examines the coatingsrelated issues involved in restoration and preservation of Mies van der Rohe's landmark steel and glass structures, as illustrated by two case studies of recent preservation work in Chicago. The firm of Krueck & Sexton Architects (K&S) served as architect of record, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. (WJE) served as technical preservation and coatings consultant to K&S for the projects.
The architect
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) was born in Aachen, Germany, and practiced in Berlin during his early career. Mies quickly achieved international renown for his modern work, including the Weissenhof Apartments at Stuttgart, Germany (1927); the H. Lange House at Krefeld, Germany (1928); the Tugendhat House...