The Almas Temple is a civic and fraternal landmark in the Pittsburgh region. Historic masonry buildings of this type, constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, present characteristic deterioration patterns that reflect both the quality of original construction and decades of environmental exposure. Graciano Corporation performed historic masonry restoration at the Almas Temple, bringing the same technical standards and material expertise applied to the firm's landmark projects in New York City and nationally.
The Pittsburgh region is home to a substantial inventory of historic brick and stone masonry buildings from the industrial and early commercial eras. Graciano has served this market since its founding in 1916 and has accumulated deep experience in the materials, methods, and preservation standards applicable to the region's historic building stock.
Historic Masonry Restoration in Pittsburgh
Civic and fraternal buildings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were typically constructed with high-quality brick, stone, and ornamental terra cotta, with craftsmanship that reflected the building's institutional purpose. Over time, mortar joints deteriorate, masonry units crack or spall, and water infiltration weakens the wall system from within. Restoration of these buildings requires careful evaluation of existing conditions, appropriate material selection, and skilled execution by craftsmen who understand historic masonry behavior.
Graciano's Pittsburgh-based workforce includes journeymen with direct experience on historic civic, commercial, and cultural buildings throughout Allegheny County and the surrounding region. The company's in-house capabilities, with 90% of all labor self-performed, support quality control from initial assessment through final completion.
Scope of Work
Services Performed
- Condition survey and masonry assessment
- Historic masonry repointing with period-appropriate mortar
- Brick and stone repair and selective replacement
- Caulking and joint sealing
- Masonry cleaning
- Compliance with applicable historic preservation standards
Serving Pittsburgh's Historic Building Stock
Graciano has been part of Pittsburgh's construction and restoration community since 1916. The company's understanding of the local building inventory, the region's climate conditions, and the regulatory requirements for historic properties gives clients the assurance that their project will be handled with both technical competence and institutional knowledge of the Pittsburgh market.
Graciano offers historic masonry restoration services from its Pittsburgh PA headquarters, as well as from offices in New York NY and Florida, and bids projects nationally. The company is bonded, licensed, and insured in all states of operation.
About Graciano Corporation
Founded in 1916, Graciano Corporation is one of the oldest and most experienced masonry and concrete restoration firms in the United States. Graciano is a WBENC-certified Woman Business Enterprise. With offices in Pittsburgh PA, New York NY, and Florida, the company performs 90% of all work with its own in-house craftsmen and follows the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties on landmark assignments.