Forensic Investigation of Historical 15-Story Building Vault Wall Shear Cracks

Designed by Ferguson, Calrow, and Taylor Architects in 1911 and built in 1912, this historical 15-story office building in Norfolk, VA, stands almost 200 ft tall. It was originally constructed as the headquarters of the F. S. Royster Fertilizer Company. In September 2023, after the current occupants of the building reported persistent ground water intrusion through large shear cracks within its underground vault and basement area, a structural forensic investigation was performed by professional structural engineer, Donnell Duncan, P.E., S.E., to determine the cause. The investigation consisted of the following general steps: Step One: Document Review; Step Two: Identifying the Problem; Step Three: Diagnosing the Cause of the Problem; Step Four: Locating the Source of the Problem; Step Five: Recommendations.