Texas State Capitol restoration of foundation, stair treads, bands, sills, pool coping, bases, urns, carriage steps, caps and fountains:

The Texas Capitol is one of the United States' most distinguished state capitols and a National Historic Landmark. It was built in the style of Renaissance Revival, which is in large part based on the architecture of 15th-century Italy and is characterized by classical orders, round arches and symmetrical composition. The exterior is of "sunset red" granite, and the foundation of limestone. The structural framework is comprised of masonry walls and cast iron columns and beams.

Under the custody of the Texas State Preservation Board, the capitol underwent large-scale interior and exterior restoration of the original building. The park-like grounds of the capitol also underwent a much needed renovation and restoration. In assessing the building's condition, the board found that though the original granite was holding up well, the Oak Hill limestone was not. Damage was sustained from weather wear and the removal of portions of stone. Stromberg was commissioned to create replacements for the significantly deteriorated and missing carved stone.

To retain the original style of the carved stone, we turned to the expert advice of historians. Then, we examined sepia photographs and original building drafts. We created exact matches for the fountains, stairways and other original stone. Our pieces are more durable and weather resistant than the original stone; they will last well beyond the next 120 years. The immense success of the restoration has elicited rave reviews from historians, preservationists and the public alike, and has achieved numerous awards.

Our success in large part is thanks to the adaptability of GFRC and Cast Stone, which renders them able to replicate natural stone in color, finish and design. Because of their versatility, our materials were ideal for the manufacture of a range of architectural elements created during the restoration, including stair treads, bands, sills, pool coping, bases, urns, carriage steps, caps, and fountains.

E. Berry Prettyman Courthouse Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete bollards:

The E. Berry Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, District of Columbia is a registered historic place and enjoys federal protection under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The courthouse was expanded in 1945 from its original structure, in order to adequately house the US District Court for the District of Columbia and the Circuit Court of Appeals. The courthouse has undergone a series of installments of architectural accents, including figural sculpture, bronze plaques, granite trylon, paneling and more. For the Prettyman Courthouse, Stromberg applied their expertise in a recent addition of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) custom bollards. Our GFRC, as with all our fiber-reinforced materials, is durable, comparably lightweight, weather resistant, nearly incorrodable, and highly customizable and malleable. A variety of finishes can be applied to this material, including finishes replicating stone, wood and metal.

Gonzales County Courthouse Cast Stone cupolas:

The Romanesque Revival style architecture of Gonzales County Courthouse has remained true to the original appearance of the 1800s Gonzales, Texas building that was designed by J. Reily Gordon. The limestone and red brick structure stands tall and ornate in the Texas town of Gonzales, which is remembered as the place the Texans fired their first shots upon Santa Anna's men. The design of the building boasts arches, turrets, balconies and columns, and unlike with many courthouses that were built during the same time period, neither the original clock tower or roof were removed or replaced and the façade survived without ever receiving an application of stucco.

For its rich history and arguably richer architecture, the Courthouse has undergone many restoration efforts. Stromberg was selected to recast the building's unique cupolas. We constructed these cupolas in Cast Stone, which material is a precast concrete building stone manufactured to simulate natural cut stone, and is virtually indistinguishable from it. This material can be made to simulate many kinds of natural stone, and can be finished in a variety of colors and textures. For restoration projects, Cast Stone is particularly ideal because it can be matched so exactly to pre-existing stone. Our Cast Stone is guaranteed to weather better than natural cut stone, and is considerably stronger as well, its compressive strengths measuring up to 15,000 PSI.

Hill County Courthouse Cast Stone balustrade:

The Hill County Courthouse in Havre, Montana was erected in 1890, but was gutted by fire on New Year's Day of 1993. Famed architect W. C. Dodson designed this magnificent edifice. Its architectural style is a conglomerate of Second Empire and Classical Revival, and includes Italianate features. The three-story limestone structure includes a seven-story tower that houses a clock, Corinthian columns and a mansard roof. The night of January 1, 1993, the courthouse caught fire, and not even firefighters from more than fifteen companies could save it. The grand clock tower, the roof and the third floor collapsed.

Restoration architects struggled in their attempt to recreate the courthouse. Lacking blueprints for the original structure, architects used Granbury's 1890 courthouse, also designed by Dodson, as a blueprint, and incorporated many details from this courthouse into the reconstructed Hill County Courthouse. Also, to capture as accurately as possible its pre-existing form, Hill County Courthouse employees were interviewed regarding interior and exterior details of the structure. Stromberg was selected to re-create the ornate and functional balustrade, which we crafted in a mold of our Cast Stone material. This material is a precast concrete building stone that is made to simulate and is virtually indistinguishable from natural cut stone. This material can be made to replicate a variety of natural stone, and can be finished in many colors and textures. Cast Stone will weather better than natural cut stone, and as well is considerably stronger, its compressive strengths measuring up to 15,000 PSI.

Many teams of architects were employed in the overall reconstruction effort, and much support and funding came from the Havre community, including support from the Texas Courthouse Alliance and Hill county native Willie Nelson. We are proud to have also been able to lend our expertise for the effort.

St. Lawrence County Courthouse Cast Stone arches, sills and surrounds:

February 21, 1893, St. Lawrence County Courthouse of Canton, New York caught fire and was destroyed. The courthouse was redesigned in the Romanesque style with the use of Potsdamn sandstone and Gouveneur stone. January 1925, the courthouse was gutted by fire for a second time. The interior was re-created, the outside of the building having been preserved. The building was made as fireproof as possible, with wood materials only used in the reconstruction of the staircase balustrade. Today, the building is constructed of native limestone and trimmed with red Potsdam sandstone, laid in a broken ashlar pattern. A stone tower rises well above the courthouse's copper roof. Inside, glazed-tile Corridor walls marry quarry stone tile floors. An addition was erected in 1957 to house the District Attorney's quarters, Family Court and offices. Another addition occurred in the 1990s-a west wing, off the main county building.

Stromberg is proud to have been able to provide our expertise in recent renovation of such an historic building. For the St. Lawrence County Courthouse, we created elegant arches, accompanying sills and ornate surrounds made of our Cast Stone material. Cast Stone is a precast concrete building stone that we make to simulate, and is virtually indistinguishable from, natural cut stone. Our Cast Stone can be made to replicate a variety of quarried stone, and can be finished in an array of colors and textures. This material will weather better than natural cut stone, and is considerably stronger, its compressive strengths measuring up to 15,000 PSI. Our durable material will help this long-standing structure last well into the far-off future, protecting a legacy and historical monument of grand proportions and great importance.

Youngstown 7th District Court of Appeals Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete columns:

For the renovation of Youngstown, Ohio's 7th District Court of Appeals, Stromberg was selected to craft Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) columns. Our team of designers and artisans has extensive knowledge of the classical orders of columns, and therefore understand the strict rules of construction by which to make classical columns. As well, our artists will upon request assist clients in the design of modern or rare columns for any construction, renovation or restoration project. Our GFRC material is comparatively durable, lightweight, weather resistant, incorrodable and malleable. We are able to cast molds of GFRC in nearly any shape and size, and our fiber-reinforced materials are all highly customizable, made to be finished in a variety of textures and colors, and can even be made to simulate stone, metal or wood.

Georgetown Council Chambers cornice and panels:

Georgetown, Texas is a quaint city with a rich history and impressive architecture. Restored to its period beauty, the town square is made up of delightful gingerbread colors of Victorian-era storefronts, antique streetlights and brick walks. More than 180 National Registered Historic homes and buildings are found in this small town. Though the Council Chambers is not part of the long list of historic buildings of Georgetown, it is an architectural splendor to rival the established buildings of the town. For the Georgetown Council Chambers, Stromberg was selected to create practical yet ornate cornice and durable panels. We offer a large selection of stock designs for our cornice and other products, and as well, our artists will assist clients with custom designs. Our team of artisans and designers will match materials, colors and textures to a pre-existing structure, and always make sure that a final product is what is ideal for a given project.