Alcatraz Island (U.S. National Park Service) – San Francisco Bay California

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Glazing Systems Used

Hope’s Steel Windows, Jamestown New York, custom stainless steel window sections, traditional putty glazing, CRLaurance Windscreens, bullet resistant glass

General Glazing Highlights

The work on this iconic and historic island included many different glazing projects in one. Do to the amount of rust and structural damage from the elements we were tasked with removing the bottom sill section of many windows to get back to solid steel. From here we produced custom stainless steel replacements that matched up to the existing layouts and welded them to the windows in place on site. The lack of space and site conditions made for special challenges such as welded by mirror, and contorting into tight spaces to complete the replacement. Once in we re-glazed these frames with new double strength glass and applied steel sash putty to keep the historical authenticity of the structure. In many more locations we did traditional hack outs of broken glass and replaced in kind with glass and putty as with the sill replacements. In multiple doors and in several viewing locations around the island we replaced broken security glass with matching bullet resistant glass as it was when the prison was first built. For several of these we welded new steel retaining covers to replace those that had deteriorated. On the West facing wall of the old cafeteria four windows had to be removed entirely which we replaced with new matching steel from Hope’s Windows. One window we glazed complete with all new glass and ‘puttied’ with custom color match silicone to mimic the look of the old windows while providing modern day weather protection. Within this window we installed a gun hatch to match what the guard’s used while watching over the inmates when an exterior walkway had once existed. The last action taken was to install dozens of aluminum and glass windscreens in front of the existing steel windows. Once we had caulked the frames it provides protection from the relentless weather the island seas in an attempt to slow further degradation. Portions of the cellhouse building were left in their aged condition do to historical relevance but the work done will hopefully protect the building for years to come.

Additional Photos

Skills

Posted on

August 3, 2020