Dukes Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed, critical access hospital providing inpatient and outpatient
care, diagnostic imaging services, medical and surgical care, women’s services, emergency care and
much more.
The owner asked LMH to investigate their existing façade when the brick veneer began failing,
cracking and disconnecting from the building. We investigated the issues through our building
forensics process and determined that a lack of control joints was causing the brick veneer to bulge
significantly. As it expanded and moved over time, it weakened and broke the brick ties. Multiple
options were considered to correct the issue. We determined that a partial removal of brick veneer
was necessary, and the remainder could be repaired in place. A combination of stitch ties and
control joints were added. A portion of exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) façade was also
applied to tie the building back together, aesthetically.