Feura Bush Water Filtration Plant Sedimentation Building Renovation

PROJECT OVERVIEW: This comprehensive project encompassed the full interior and exterior restoration of the Albany Water Board Sedimentation Building located at their water filtration plant in Fuera Bush, NY. The extensive rehabilitation addressed structural deterioration while implementing system upgrades to improve operational efficiency and reliability.

RESTORATION SCOPE: The project included replacement of all steel doors with FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) doors and frames to withstand the corrosive environment. Masonry restoration addressed approximately 60% of the building façade, including brick and limestone elements. The saw-tooth roof underwent complete replacement, involving full replacement of precast plank deck with steel fluted decking, rebuilding of parapets, and installation of new roof drains with associated piping.

INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES: All existing structural steel received rehabilitation treatment and epoxy paint application to protect against moisture and chemical exposure. The exhaust system was completely updated with new fans and controls specifically designed to mitigate moisture from sedimentation basins. The project successfully completed three full plant shutdowns using stop logs and bypass pumps to facilitate engineering investigations and replacement of all 18-24" sluice gates.

CONCRETE RESTORATION: The project delivered full structural repairs to three 1-million-gallon concrete sedimentation tanks. These specialized repairs addressed deterioration caused by years of chemical exposure and operational wear, restoring structural integrity to these critical treatment components.

PROJECT CHALLENGES: The team overcame significant obstacles during execution, including the discovery of unknown hazardous materials during roofing plank demolition. Work continued through winter months to recover the original schedule. Additional complications from the COVID pandemic required adaptive management practices to maintain worker safety while meeting project milestones.