The Mobile Press Register was a building housing offices and production facilities for a major newspaper located in the Southeast United States. It was originally designed and constructed in 2001-2002, but suffered significant problems with water infiltration to the interior spaces essentially since being occupied. These problems were exacerbated by the experience of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, which prompted the building owner to seek a resolution. In 2006, French Engineering was hired to perform forensic investigation and testing of the building envelope and curtain wall systems. That forensic work was utilized to help settle a protracted litigation related to the original design and construction defects. In addition, French Engineering was chosen to develop construction documents related to the building enclosure remediation. Construction began in 2009 and was completed in April of 2011 for a cost of $6.2 million, which included an “upgrade” to missile impact resistant glazing on all glass and aluminum systems.

The facility consisted of 105,000 Square Feet of office space and 110,000 Square Feet of production, including newspaper press, packaging, and sorting areas, as well as all facility support areas. The entire exterior brick cladding was removed and replaced with new weather resistive barrier and flashing systems. The work of French Engineering included the initial and supplemental cladding condition survey, construction documents, contract administration, and full-time project management and quality assurance. The work involved removal and replacement of 65,000 S.F. of brick veneer, removal of approximately 10,000 S.F. of existing windows and replacement with missile-impact resistant glazing, renovation of 9,000 S.F. of three-story tall glass-and-aluminum curtain wall, and renovation of approximately 18,000 S.F. of exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) cladding.