The First Step

The first step in the Aslan Foundation’s restoration of the Candoro Marble Building was identifying issues with the building envelope to ensure that it was stable and to address any areas of current or possible water intrusion. Three areas of focus were identified: the roof, the exterior masonry, and the windows. The roof was replaced immediately, but during the replacement, termite damage required framing repairs. Insulation was also added to bring the building into code compliance while ensuring a cooler attic, thus prolonging the life of the structure.

The second area of focus was the pink marble exterior. WASCO, well known for its expert masonry work throughout Tennessee, worked to clean the exterior stone using a mild, chemical solution approved by the National Park Service as part of its National Preservation Standards and Guidelines. Several cleanings were required to remove years of pollution from the marble surface. WASCO also repointed the entire building. It took seven different custom mixes to match the original mortar. As you can see from these photos, the results of the exterior masonry work are outstanding. The building shines once again as a testament to the beauty of Tennessee Pink Marble.

The third area of focus was the restoration of the original steel casement windows. Local craftsmen carefully removed loose paint and rust from all of the steel frames while Bird on the Wire Studios removed, catalogued, cleaned, and repaired all of the original bronze window hardware. They also recreated some missing elements using the original parts as templates. The windows were then set with period-appropriate glass, glazed, and painted using historical photos to identify the appropriate paint color. Since several original windows were missing, Sanders Pace Architecture (the firm leading the restoration) tracked down the original manufacturer and had the windows recreated. Although known for beautiful, modern design work, Sanders Pace Architecture has a passion for historic preservation, as evidenced by their work leading the restoration of the Candoro Marble Building. Our next blog post will share the restoration work completed on the gates created by the well-known master blacksmith Samuel Yellin.