ECC Construction Update 12.31.2025

Updates from the Etna Center for Community

Weeks of December 1 - December 31, 2025

Above. Marsa mason laying new wythe of brick at ECC's front facade.

Through snow and frigid temperatures, the Etna Center for Community construction crew plowed forward with progress on the exterior restoration and interior renovation. Midway through the month, the building was further weatherized with heavy-duty construction tarps enclosing the scaffolding to create a protected work environment for the masons. Temporary heat was distributed throughout the building to improve conditions not only for workers, but also for the performance and curing of materials such as mortar and plumbing adhesives.

New brick wythe added to the front of ECC.

1. Marsa masons placing new course of brick and ladder joint reinforcement.

2. New brick wythe with the middle brick wythe visible above.

3. Lampus delivering brick palettes to the site.

4. Discarding contaminated brick.

5-6. Replacing existing wood lintels and installing new steel lintels.

7-8. Deteriorated original wood details.

9. Raking bond visible (the middle wythe of a multi-wythe structural brick wall, where bricks are laid at an angle to increase longitudinal stability and strengthen the wall through mechanical interlock).

10. New expansion joint.

11. Rounded brick headers at the Second Floor windows.

12-14. New brick wythe meeting the existing steel beam and new storefront canopy angles.

15-19. Brick cutting area and new bricks.

As the final step in the building’s remediation process, the front wythe of brick was removed from the front facade. In August 2025, paint removal efforts revealed a layer that could not be removed using traditional chemical methods. Subsequent testing confirmed that this layer contained 33% lead by weight. As a result, neither chemical nor abrasive removal techniques were viable. Given this condition, the ownership and construction team determined that full removal and replacement of the outer wythe of brick was the safest and most durable path forward.

Front and rear facade restoration in progress.

1-2. Temporary plastic enclosure installed to create workable conditions for masons.

3-4. Several snowstorms impacted Etna in December 2025.

5-6. Scaffolding at the rear facade was removed in early December.

Relaying the front wythe of brick was a complex process. Over the building’s 150-year history, the front wall had shifted out of plumb and developed a bulge near its center. To address this, the masons installed the new brick with a multi-course corbel just above the First Floor beam and selectively cut the backs of certain bricks to achieve a plumb exterior face. Working from the bottom up, the team incorporated weeps, brick ties, new lintels, and two expansion joints—contemporary components that will significantly improve the durability and longevity of the wall.

First Floor progress through December 2025.

1. View toward the future Circulation Desk and Bathroom Hallway.

2. Bathroom Hallway.

3. Future Break Room.

4. Future Stairs and Bathroom Hallway.

5. Bathroom with drywall installation in progress.

6. First Floor sprinkler piping installation in progress.

7. First Floor view from the future Entry Vestibule.

On the First and Second Floor interiors, additional gypsum board and wall insulation were installed. Plumbing, mechanical, and electrical rough-ins continued, and installation of the fire sprinkler piping began with Pittsburgh Fire Sprinkler (more on this in future months).

Second Floor progress through December 2025.

1-2. Butler Street-facing Second Floor unit.

3-6. Locust Street-facing Second Floor unit with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installations in progress.

The Third Floor interior continued to progress, though at a slightly slower pace than the lower floors due to the truss repair rig, scaffolding, and concurrent roof work.

Photo series. Third Floor progress from December 2025.

After several months of carefully lifting the existing heavy-timber roof truss using a custom screw jack system, the truss was successfully repositioned. While the wood structure shifted into its correct place, the steel tie rods did not move with it. Each tie rod was either tightened or shimmed where adjustment was not possible. In addition, large steel plates were installed at the weakest connection points to further reinforce the truss.

Above. Wood trusses raised into place. One section has received a new steel plate, and several existing tie rods have been shimmed.

Following months of preparation—including slab installation, completion of underground plumbing, and construction of new CMU walls—the Basement level was ready for electrical work. The building will house main electrical panels and a house meter, along with individual panels and meters for each of the four apartment units. Conduit was installed with vertical distribution routes extending from the Basement to the Second and Third Floors.

Basement progress through December 2025.

1-2. Electrical panels and meters installation progress.

3. New electrical conduit.

4. Building drain and wastewater system piping.

At the close of the month, Application for Payment No. 9 was executed in the amount of $480,873.00. Change Order No. 5, totaling $91,499.00, was approved and included added basement drains, additional dumpster hauling, extended general contractor time, and winterization measures. As of December 31, 56% of the work had been completed and stored, representing a total value of $2,619,475.00, with a remaining balance of $2,045,645.00.

Future work anticipated:

• Completion of the front masonry restoration.

• Installation of the exterior windows.

• Installation of the new roof insulation and membrane.

• Continuation of wall assembly construction.

• Continuation of mechanical-electrical-plumbing installations.

Photo credits: Robert Tuñón unless otherwise noted.