McLaren Engineering Group provided structural and forensic engineering services for Orlando’s College Park Community Center. McLaren was hired to analyze the structural integrity of the community center’s concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls and the exterior gymnasium stucco that had experienced severe cracking. The purpose of the inspection and analysis was to determine the cause of the cracking and to address any potential safety concerns.
The original structural drawings for the design of the building were not available. McLaren’s forensic engineering team calculated wind loads and determined expected reinforcement spacing for the CMU walls at the gymnasium site. Using infrared thermography and ultrasonic testing, McLaren was able to identify areas of the exterior walls where grout-filled cells were either missing or only partially filled. As a result of the McLaren report documenting these findings, the general contractor, who constructed the College Park Community Center in Orlando, FL, agreed to repair the affected walls at no additional cost to the city.
