York Correctional Institution

Building Envelope Integrity Remediation and Litigation Support

York Correctional Institution is Connecticut’s only prison for female offenders. The current facility opened in 1994, and was expanded over the course of the next three years. Since that time, the concrete masonry unit (CMU) facades of the campus’ 21 buildings have shown far graver signs of deterioration than would be expected at a relatively new facility. The State of Connecticut wanted to find out why.

Hoffmann Architects + Engineers’ investigation revealed design and construction defects that defied industry standards. Poor design and workmanship had caused cracking by creating localized areas of stress. Incorrect masonry moisture content and mortar mixes, inadequate control joints, lack of horizontal reinforcement, and defective flashing systems all contributed to premature degradation of the exterior walls. Over time, moisture intrusion had not only caused leaks to the building interior, it had led to severe deterioration of the facade.

Hoffmann worked with the State of Connecticut to develop designs for the complete removal and reconstruction of wall assemblies, while providing for continuous operation at the necessary security levels. Our architects and engineers also evaluated roof conditions at the facility’s various standing-seam metal and low-slope membrane roofing assemblies and developed a program for repair and replacement, where necessary.

Concurrent with the remediation, Hoffmann provided litigation support services to the State of Connecticut in relation to the building failures and acted as the State of Connecticut’s representative on the project.