Corrosion Prevention in Historic Concrete – Monitoring the Richards Medical Laboratories

This thesis proposes to analyze current non-destructive techniques for the early detection of factors leading to reinforcement corrosion as part of a preventive conservation strategy for reinforced concrete. These techniques were theoretically evaluated for their efficiency and compatibility of use on concrete surfaces that require a minimum intervention approach, such as found on historic Modernist buildings where exposed concrete is considered an integral part of their significance. This study considered a real case scenario; the Alfred Newton Richards Medical Research Laboratories (Louis I. Kahn, 1960). The corrosion mechanism occurring on this building was assessed to assert its probable causes and the most appropriate method of investigation.