Western Specialty Contractors – Orlando Branch is nearing completion on a year-long project to restore the façade of historic Peck Center in Fernandina Beach, Florida. The $1.2 million façade restoration project started in January 2022. The scope of work is expected to be completed by the end of February 2023.

Peck Center was originally opened by Professor Moses H. Payne in 1885 as a four-room school building for African Americans. When he passed away in 1888, Peck was promoted to assistant principal and worked to develop the high school’s curriculum, with the first senior class graduating from the school in 1891.

Today, Peck Center, which includes an auditorium and gymnasium, is used for different community events, classes, and recreational activities. It is also home to several City of Fernandina Beach offices and not-for-profit organizations. The City of Fernandina Beach contracted with Western to repair and tuckpoint the building’s entire masonry brick and stone exterior, taking care to restore the façade to its original condition.

The scope of work includes the following:

• Removal and replacement of all mortar joints, approximately 75,000 lineal feet;
• Cleaning of the brick masonry façade with a mild mortar detergent;
• Installation of new hot dipped galvanized window lintels/shelf angles;
• Treatment of existing corroded lintels/shelf angles with new dual component epoxy primer and urethane topcoat;
• Replacement of damaged/cracked bricks to match the existing color and texture;
• Removal and replacement of all failed/deteriorated window perimeter sealants;
• Removal and replacement of all failed/deteriorated vertical control joint sealants; and
• Demolition and replacement of all damaged/cracked horizontal accent stone to match the existing coquina rock finish.

For more information, visit: https://westernspecialtycontractors.com/.