Cincinnati Union Terminal repairs estimated at $120M

Repairs to Cincinnati Union Terminal will cost $120 million, according to Cincinnati Museum Center president and CEO Douglass W. McDonald.

Since 2005, the Cincinnati Museum Center has been undertaking an extensive study of the structure, including the use of thermography, radar, and ultrasound to create a type of "building MRI".

The study revealed corrosion to structural steel that has caused water damage and stone and brick wall displacement, a failing flat roof system, deficient flashing details, inefficient mechanicals, and failed replacement windows.

"They're things that were surprising to us," McDonald says.  "You can actually see through the imaging technique how pervasive the problem is all the way through the building."

The most complex and costly problem to remedy will be the repair of the structural steel, which will require removal of the building's structural skin and architectural elements.

"Historically, concrete was a very new construction material in the 1930s," McDonald says.  "They knew the structural integrity, but they didn't have the experience to know the relationship between concrete and steel, where it was a good application and where it was a challenge.  They didn't understand expansion joints."

McDonald says that they're exploring public-private partnerships, government grants, and even a tax levy to raise funds for the restoration.

"We're considering all sources of funding," he says.  "We don’t think a ballot issue will provide all of the funding necessary.  And we don't think that this is a time when we should be asking anybody to increase their taxes, so we think it's important that we do this in a careful way that has a stable, non-increase for taxpayers, but also creates the revenues necessary to fund the restoration of the building."

Funding is already in place for "Project One", the full restoration of the Cincinnati Dining Room and its adjacent rooms.

When completed later this year, that project is expected to inform the repair process for the rest of the building.

Without rapid intervention, the deterioration is expected to accelerate exponentially.

"We believe that this building is so important in our community that we really need to preserve the building and to make sure that it's here for future generations," McDonald says.

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Sources: Douglass W. McDonald, president and CEO, Cincinnati Museum Center