John Milner Associates, Inc.- Historic Preservation and Cultural Resource Services

Terra-cotta cornice stabilization, Land Title Building, Philadelphia, Pa. (Photo JMA).

JMA’s architectural conservators provide a unique complement to traditional preservation services, working with our architects in hands-on approaches to finding practical, cost-effective solutions to real-world problems at historic properties. JMA offers a wide range of services supported by in-house laboratories and collaborative efforts with scientists, technology providers, and manufacturers. JMA's conservators seek out the best that science and technology have to offer. Innovation, creativity, and excellence are hallmarks of our work.

Preservation Technology Services

– Materials Conservation and Testing
– Paint Color and Mortar Analysis
– Materials Cleaning Analysis
– Non-destructive Evaluation
– Building Maintenance Plans and Training
– Monuments and Sculpture Treatment Plans

Representative Projects

Concrete Rehabilitation Terminal A Façade
Reagan Washington National Airport,
Washington, D.C.

Shalom Baranes Associates, PC and the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Rehabilitation of this modernist landmark incorporated both traditional concrete repairs and state-of-the-art electrochemical re-alkalization as part of a long-term conservation strategy.

This project received an Award of Excellence from the International Concrete Repair Institute, and was a cover story in Applicator, the official publication of the Sealant, Waterproofing, & Restoration Institute. It was also a featured project at the 2008 Concrete and Cast Stone conference held at MIT.

Richmond Theatre Fire Monument Documentation and Conservation
Monumental Church, Richmond, Virginia

Historic Richmond Foundation

Pollution and weathering caused severe disintegration of this marble monument which commemorates victims of the Richmond Theatre fire of 1811, resulting in the loss of detail and collapse of the urn. JMA conservators led a team of specialists in documenting, conserving, and replicating the monument. Original details were captured in high-density articulated laser scans, and computer modeling was used in fabricating a full-size marble replica. This project was the subject of Saving Grace, a full-length documentary film.

Historic Richmond Foundation Online Resources

Smallpox Hospital Ruins at Southpoint Park, Roosevelt Island Emergency Stabilization
New York, New York

Wallace, Roberts & Todd, LLC, and the Trust for Public Land & Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation

Decades of neglect and the destabilizing effects of numerous ventilation flues within original masonry construction led to the collapse of the north wall of the ruins of this 1850 smallpox hospital, designed by James Renwick. JMA and Weidlinger Associates developed an emergency stabilization program, including a casein-modified natural hydraulic grout to fill voids and steel shoring towers to stabilize and brace remaining walls without detracting from this New York City landmark’s appearance.

Fort Jackson Materials Conservation and Repairs
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana

Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Fort Jackson (ca. 1830) was completely inundated during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Trapped seawater caused tremendous salt damage to historic metals, masonry, and museum collections. JMA conservators, architects, landscape architects, and archeologists are collaborating with consulting engineers, arborists, and metallurgists on the repairs. Other JMA hurricane repair projects include work at Fort Pike, Fort Macomb, and Fort Livingston.

Corcoran Gallery of Art Stone Restoration
Washington, D.C.

Corcoran Gallery of Art

JMA conservators developed a program for cleaning and restoring the marble and granite facades of the Corcoran using a fine-water spray and custom-built misting rigs. This chemical-free process allows removal of gypsum-based soiling without harm to delicate marble. Work also includes cleaning the interior marble of the main galleria and providing architectural services for rehabilitation of the gallery roof skylights.

Photo courtesy Corcoran Gallery of Art

Olmsted Summerhouse Assessment and Stabilization
U.S. Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

The Architect of the Capitol

Frederick Law Olmsted planned this cool oasis as part of his design for the U.S. Capitol grounds. The beautiful tapestry brick “folly” features a grotto with a spring-fed fountain. JMA performed a conservation assessment of the deteriorated masonry structure and prepared a detailed program of requirements for its restoration. After approval by the Architect of the Capitol, JMA’s conservators and architects prepared construction documents for the first phase stabilization.

Kentucky’s Old Statehouse Nondestructive Evaluation
Frankfort, Kentucky

Commonwealth of Kentucky Division of Historic Properties

The Old Statehouse in Frankfort, Kentucky, was designed by Gideon Shyrock in 1830, and introduced Greek Revival architecture to Kentucky. JMA employed a variety of nondestructive evaluation techniques, including thermal imaging to understand a variety of moisture problems affecting this National Historic Landmark by observing thermal differentials. JMA has employed thermal imaging on a number of projects including the Virginia State Capitol, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Monumental Church, and the Olmsted Summerhouse.

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