Attachment_0009__Structural_Engineers_Report_0001.pdf
PDF 6 MB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 140P5126Q0006
About this file
This is a structural engineering site review report for the National Park Service (NPS) Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (MALU) Birth Home project located at 503 Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. Prepared by PES Structural Engineers on December 18, 2025, following a site visit on December 17, 2025, the report documents findings related to a loadbearing brick masonry wall adjacent to the building's driveway.
The engineer identified that the existing brick wall rests directly on the ground without a proper footing and has been compromised by a driveway installed at a lower elevation that undermined the foundation. The masonry wall exhibits active distress cracking, particularly at the front near the porch deck and at the rear corner. Short-term recommendations include: (1) drilling and epoxy grouting #4 reinforcing bars at 24-inch on-center spacing, 12 inches long, into the base of the existing driveway slab with 4-inch embedment; (2) removing the masonry wall cap, installing vertical #4 bars at 24-inch on-center drilled into the driveway slab with 3-inch embedment, filling all cells with grout, and replacing the cap; and (3) installing new posts under the porch structure to remove load from the brick wall. Long-term solutions identified for future study include providing permanent posts behind the brick wall prior to rebuilding or installing a loadbearing masonry wall on a footing inside the existing wall followed by repointing. The report notes that observations are limited to visual inspection only, with no destructive or non-destructive testing performed, and does not warrant any other portions of the structure.
View the file
Other files
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
1852 CENTURY PLACE, NE, SUITE 201, ATLANTA, GA 30345 | 75 COLUMBUS BLVD, HARTFORD, CT 06103
770.457.5923| WWW.PESENGINEERS.COM | 860.479.1737
December 18, 2025
Carlos Hurston
National Park Service
Via email at: carlos_hurston@nps.gov
RE: NPS MALU 503 Auburn Site Review
503 Auburn Avenue – Atlanta, Georgia
PES Structural Engineers Project No.: 0250686
Dear Carlos, I performed a site visit on December 17, 2025, at the above referenced address to observe the brick wall adjacent to the driveway of the NPS MALU Birth Home project.
Based on my observation, the existing building consists of a loadbearing brick masonry wall supporting wood floor joists (see photo 5). The brick wall rests directly on the ground (see photo 2, no footing was observed). The base of the brick wall is supported by a masonry wall that appears to have been added later, likely when the adjacent driveway was installed (see photos 1,2 3 and 4). In my professional opinion, the masonry wall was constructed to support the foundation brick wall’s base because the driveway was installed at a lower elevation than the existing brick foundation wall at the
503 Auburn Avenue project, thus undermining the foundation wall.
It appears that the single wythe brick wall is showing signs of distress, especially at the front underneath the deck (see photos 3 and 4). The masonry foundation wall is also showing signs of distress at the front and the rear (see photos 1 and 4).
I recommend the following as a short-term solution:
1. Drill and epoxy grout the new driveway slab into the base of the existing driveway slab that was sawcut and is currently remaining under the existing masonry wall. Use #4 bars @ 24” o.c. x 12” long. Embed into the existing driveway slab under the existing masonry wall 4”.
See sketch SK1 attached.
2. Remove the cap of the existing masonry wall and install #4 bars @ 24” o.c. Drill and epoxy grout the vertical #4 bars into the remaining driveway slab under the wall (embed 3”). Grout fill all cells and replace the cap. See sketch SK1 attached.
3. Provide new posts under the porch structure to remove load from the existing brick wall. See sketch SK2 attached.
Long-term solutions are not part of this scope and will need to be studied further but some options are:
1. Provide more permanent posts behind the brick wall to remove load from the existing brick wall and then rebuild the wall.
2. Provide a loadbearing masonry wall on a footing inside the wall to remove load from the existing brick wall and then repoint the existing brick wall.
Observations were based only on visual observations, and no testing (non-destructive or destructive) was conducted. Testing, either destructive or non-destructive, is not a part of the scope of the work.
The review of the building is limited to visual observation, and the report is limited to the extent that it is based on the cursory examination of the building described herein at the time of the site visit. As a result of this, the conclusions and recommendations reflect only what an experienced engineer might reasonably extract from these observations and reviews. No responsibility for detection of any structural defect or problem not visible or reasonably extrapolated from such visual observation may be implied.
This report does not address any other portions of the structure other than the areas discussed, nor does it provide any warranty, either expressed or implied, for any portion of the existing structure.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely, Michael Planer, P.E., S.E.
Principal
PHOTOS:
Photo 1 - Rear of Building
Photo 2 - Rear of Building
CMU WALL CAP
GAP AT REAR CORNER
TO BE REPAIRED IN
SECOND PHASE
Photo 3 - Front of Building Adjacent to Porch
Photo 4 - Front of Building Adjacent to Porch
ACTIVE DISTRESS
CRACKING
Photo 5 - Framing of Floor Looking Toward Porch
SK1
EXISTING REMAINING
DRIVEWAY SLAB
EXISTING BRICK WALL
EXISTING GRADE
EXISTING MASONRY
WALL WITH CAP
NEW DRIVEWAY POUR
#4 @ 24" O.C. - SEE REPORT
#4 @ 24" O.C. - SEE
REPORT
SK2
EXISTING REMAINING
DRIVEWAY SLAB
EXISTING BRICK WALL
EXISTING GRADE
NEW DRIVEWAY POUR
#4 @ 24" O.C. - SEE REPORT
EXISTING WOOD FLOOR
JOIST AT PORCH
2X10 PT WOOD BEAM
(EACH SIDE) -
CONNECT TO POST
WITH (3) 1/4" DIA. X 4
1/2" LONG SCREWS
4X4 WOOD POST @
4'-0" O.C. MAX.
10 3/4" x 10 3/4"
CONCRETE DECK BLOCK
EXISTING MASONRY
WALL WITH CAP
#4 @ 24" O.C. - SEE
REPORT
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .