Benjamin Barben

Experience

Benjamin Barben specializes in the repair and restoration of existing buildings and structures, including institutional, commercial, residential, and historic landmarks. He has performed structural investigations, condition assessments, structural repairs and rehabilitation services, load testing, and construction observation services for concrete, steel, and wood structures and building materials, including concrete, granite, limestone, and cast stone.

Before joining WJE, Mr. Barben worked at Gannett Fleming in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, where he was a structural designer concentrating on the design of steel structures and steel connections.

 

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

Stone Cladding

• National Presbyterian Church (1969) - Washington, D.C.: Condition assessment of historic limestone panel facade, roof and plaza water leakage investigations; document development for preservation of historic limestone facade; related construction administration services
• Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building (1992) - Washington, D.C.: Development of facade protection system (netting and panel stabilization), stone panel anchorage design, contract document development, and construction administration services
• Robert C. Weaver Federal Building (HUD Building) (1968) - Washington, D.C.: Stone panel anchorage design, contract document development for historic stone panel preservation, and construction administration services

 

Repair and Rehabilitation

• 2134 G Street (1901) - Washington, D.C.: Brick masonry facade repair document development, submittal and shop drawing reviews, and construction administration services
• Silo Point Condominiums (1924, 2009) - Baltimore, MD: Facade and parking garage condition assessments, water leakage investigations, comprehensive concrete facade repair document development, isolated parking garage repair document development, and construction administration services
• The Vue Condominiums - Baltimore, MD: Cast stone condition assessment, cast stone repair document development, shop drawing reviews, and construction administration services
• Willoughby of Chevy Chase (1969) - MD: Water leakage investigations for historic aluminum windows and occupied spaces below courtyards and planters, comprehensive concrete facade repair document development, retaining wall condition assessment and repair document development, and construction administration services

 

Historic Preservation

• Virginia General Assembly Building (1912) - Richmond: Condition assessment of limestone facade
• Thomas Jefferson Building (1897) - Washington, D.C.: Condition assessment of historic granite facade

 

Instrumentation/Monitoring/Load Testing

• Substrate Anchor and Ground Screw Testing - Multiple Locations, US: Proof load testing of concrete expansion and ground screw anchors
• Facade Access Anchorage Consulting and Testing - Multiple Locations, US: Development of contract documents, construction administration services; proof load testing of new OSHA-compliant facade access anchorages in multiple directions using in-house reaction frame

 

Failure/Damage Investigations

• Washington Commanders Training Facility - Ashburn, VA: Investigation of inflatable training facility collapse
• Gilliam Hall - Baltimore, MD: Failure and distress investigation of manufactured acoustic ceiling panels in an auditorium

 

Wood Structures

• Senior Residential Community - Lake Frederick, VA: Condition assessment and evaluation of framing conditions in multiple homes

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Steel Construction
Association for Preservation Technology

Registrations

Professional Engineer in DC, MD, and VA

Education

The Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering, Structures Option, 2010
Master of Architectural Engineering, Structures Option, 2010
Minor in Architecture Studies, 2010