Venice Costa Brava, a 2-building, 9-story condominium complex approximately 30-years old, was being prepared for the exterior painting that most buildings on Florida's west coast undergo every 5 to 7 years when an extensive amount of concrete damage was revealed. During the evaluation, it was discovered that the buildings were post-tensioned structures.

A unique challenge arose, however, because of the post-tensioning system. The buildings had been constructed using a 0.6" diameter monostrand system that is typically found in bridge systems and is very rarely used in building construction. Completing the repairs would require different materials and equipment. Fortunately, as part of Structural Group, SPS was able to call upon the knowledge, equipment, and materials of VSL and other SPS branches experienced with this type of monostrand.

The post-tensioned system repairs involved anchor replacements, plus cleaning and grouting each anchor pocket. Additionally, screen enclosures needed to be removed and replaced; rail pockets on the walkways had to be repaired; and the exterior, ceiling and mansard roof of each building required painting. Also, additional concrete repairs to slab edges, walkways, balconies and architectural features were performed.

Finally, SPS found that the steel embedded lift slab brackets on the slab edges of each floor were rusted. SPS crews chipped, cleaned, re-coated, and covered the brackets with stucco.

Another of SPS's resources was utilized while working on the high rise repairs. Technicians noticed cracking in the slabs of the buildings' adjacent parking garages - an indication of structural deficiencies. The engineer was notified and a team comprised of the engineer, the owner, and SPS developed a repair strategy.

The overall project took approximately 4 months (during which time the job was successfully and rapidly demobilized and remobilized twice because of hurricanes) and totaled over 5,000 accident free manhours. With the assistance of VSL and SPS's South Florida branch, SPS's work on the buildings' renovation was a success and an integral part of Venice's downtown revitalization.