The Prairie Island Indian Community, located on Prairie Island in southeastern Minnesota at the confluence of the Mississippi and Vermillion Rivers, has been home to the Mdewakanton people for many generations. The Community Center is a large multipurpose facility containing the tribal council chambers, a medical clinic, a fitness center, a gymnasium, and a special education school arranged clockwise around a central outdoor courtyard. The exterior facade features clay brick masonry veneer, translucent strip windows, and EIFS-clad medallions and accents. Steep-sloped standing seam metal roofs cap the council chamber, fitness center, and gymnasium, with the remainder of the building covered by a low-slope EPDM roof.
RRJ was retained to investigate water infiltration issues and highly visible deterioration and staining of the masonry and EIFS facade elements. Water testing was conducted to determine the origins and pathways of water infiltration into the building, investigative openings were made at several locations around the building, a review of relevant drawings and specifications, and interviews with Prairie Island staff.
Findings from the investigation identified numerous masonry workmanship issues and poor detailing at the interfaces between the building enclosure components. RRJ’s repair design consisted of full replacement of the standing seam metal roofs and roof underlayment and replacement of the ballasted EPDM roof with an adhered EPDM roof. Other repairs included modification of the roof profiles to redirect water runoff away from the building, and installation of new flashing at wall bases, roof-to-masonry interfaces, window heads and sills, and around EIFS facade elements.
RRJ performed site observations and contract administrative services throughout the duration of the two-year construction repair schedule
