Beautiful Building Transformation
The Hager Building, built in 1910-19111 on West King Street in downtown Lancaster was designed by the notable local Architect C. Emlen Urban. The 5-story steel-frame structure is clad in terra cotta in the French Renaissance Revival style. Upon extensive investigative services by The Witmer Group, it was found that the building façade was at a critical point where repairs were required immediately. The Witmer Group began by cleaning the façade to remove atmospheric and biological staining. Many of the terra cotta pieces were broken, chipped and/or cracked. These pieces were repaired, replaced, or rebuilt of repair material that was carved to the shape of the original piece. Deteriorated mortar joints were removed, prepped, then replaced to be water tight. All terra cotta surfaces were thoroughly cleaned at the completion of restorative work, followed by a careful re-glaze to resist the elements. The Hager Building is a cherished highlight of the vibrant downtown Lancaster, adjacent to the legendary Central Market. The building is an elegant representative of the complexities of decorative terra cotta.
