Quote:
Originally Posted by dmacc
My minimal understanding of building code is that everything is essentially grandfathered from the moment a building is constructed to the moment it is changed. It would be unfeasible to require a building constantly meet various building codes as they are ever evolving. This building has been relatively unchanged for quite some time and has not had to update many features to be compliant.
Once you open a wall however, is where things being to really snowball. everything behind that wall now has to be brought up to code as it exists today. since this whole building will be renovated, that could mean re wiring the entire building, redoing all of the plumbing and ventilation.
Now imagine if there is any foundation or structural issues that are revealed, that is where this could all balloon pretty quickly.
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The City has some accepted work arounds for reducing the amount of "bring it all up to Code" issues with Heritage Buildings.
At least they do in the Exchange district, where things like heavy timber construction and some exiting would be cost prohibitive to bring up to current codes.
As for the Bay - there is really no can of worms to deal with. The structure is cast-in-place concrete. Walls are stone clad and not insulated, so mold and water related issues will not be a concern.
The biggest issue "envelope wise" with that building (besides the roof), is that the basement extends about 10-feet beyond the exterior wall footprint along at least the north and west sides of the building, which required some waterproofing repairs in the not too distant past. This is also why the sidewalk below the canopy stays clear and dry all winter (heat loss melting the snow)...