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It’s an incredible feeling…it’s the rarest of the rare. It’s a place where you can get clarity. You can hear a string quartet in there. And you can hear what they’re playing…the Minnesota (Symphonia), for example, or a small baroque group, or a chamber choir. Yet you get this tremendous tidal wave of sound with large (musical productions)…For an organist in particular, it’s as good as it gets.
Dr. Kim Kasling, former Basilica organist
PROJECT
This project was made possible in part by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008. Administered by the Minnesota Historical Society.
In past decades The Basilica did not receive the regular maintenance that is in practice today. During that time, water leaks caused major deterioration to the building’s exterior and interior. Work to repair this damage and eliminate its causes has occurred over the past 20 years, including roof replacement, window repair, piping replacement, interior painting and stabilization of failing stone. Despite this, the problems with interior stone and plaster finishes continued as evidenced by peeling paint, crumbling plaster and discoloration on stone surfaces.
Moisture testing and monitoring to determine the cause of the damage has been ongoing for several years. However, due to the difficulty in accessing the areas with the most damage – where the plaster ceiling meets the exterior walls – these areas had only been tested once previously (in 2002).
This project provided the ability to again test these areas to determine if there has been any change over the past eight years. It allows the plaster to be inspected to determine its integrity. Lastly, it provides the ability for additional monitoring as needed in the future since monitoring points will be left in place and the wiring allows remote access.
The moisture testing is supplying two sets of data to Miller Dunwiddie Architecture for analysis and provides the ability to yield additional data if needed in the future. This data will reveal how much the damaged ceiling and adjacent wall areas have dried and how quickly the remaining areas will likely dry. The project will also provide information about the soundness of the existing plaster and whether any temporary stabilization is needed.
One set of moisture sensors were placed in November 2011 and a second set was placed in April 2011. This project was completed in July 2011. Test readings can now be analyzed to determine what future work needs to be performed.
RESULTS
Now that the 30 monitoring sensors have been set, they-along with the 45 other sensors previously set can easily read what conditions the walls and ceiling are in. One set of moisture readings were taken from all sensors and reported that the plaster is remaining dry. Subsequent tests will be taken to confirm that the plaster continues to be drying out. With this information, it will be possible to determine whether the moisture in the walls, insulation, and plaster has stabilized to the point when the restoration of the Basilica interior may begin.
This work being done was a vital component of The Basilica’s long term plan to monitor the state of the ceiling plaster and utilize that information to guide future work. With this information, The Basilica is one step closer to realizing the goal of restoring the church’s interior to its original splendor allowing the beauty of this historic landmark to be enjoyed and appreciated by visitors for generations to come.
We want to give a special thank you to Miller Dunwiddie Architecure, American Engineering & Testing and Crawford, Merz, Anderson Construction Company for all their help with this project.