Graciano Corporation performed masonry restoration of Lebanon Correctional Institute, a closed security prison in Lebanon, Ohio -- 12 brick housing units and an infirmary restored with full prison operations maintained throughout. Work included brick removal and replacement, repointing, masonry cleaning, caulking, stone sill resetting, detention windows, and security door installation. Completed 2005.
Lebanon Correctional Institute is a closed security prison from the early 1950s in Lebanon, Ohio. The facility contains 12 brick housing units and an infirmary, each featuring individual cell blocks arranged around a central corridor. Designed for security rather than aesthetics, the campus presents a straightforward masonry construction that by the mid-2000s required significant restoration to address deteriorating brick walls, failing mortar, and window and door units that no longer met operational requirements.
The Ohio Department of Corrections selected Graciano Corporation for the masonry restoration program, with Archatas Inc. serving as the project architect. The central challenge throughout was maintaining full prison operations -- the facility remained operational during all phases of construction, requiring careful scheduling and coordination with the institution's security operations.
"Graciano is the best contractor I have ever worked with, bar none."-- James Luckino, Archatas Inc.
Deteriorated brick wall sections were removed and rebuilt across the facility's housing units and infirmary. Repointing was performed throughout, replacing failed mortar joints with compatible material that would maintain water resistance and structural integrity for the decades ahead. Masonry cleaning restored the appearance of the brick construction where surface accumulation had obscured the original material.
Exterior fire security doors with electromechanical lock systems were installed throughout the facility -- units that meet the dual requirements of fire egress and institutional security. The existing detention windows were replaced with newly designed units manufactured by Cardinal Detention Systems. Working in a functioning correctional facility requires close coordination with security staff for access, tool accountability, and the movement of materials through controlled areas. Graciano's project manager Dave Sinclair managed this coordination throughout the work.
Stone window sills that had shifted or deteriorated were reset and properly bedded to eliminate sources of water infiltration. Caulking was applied at joints throughout the building envelope to complete the waterproofing program alongside the masonry restoration.
Founded in 1916, Graciano Corporation is one of the oldest and most experienced masonry and concrete restoration firms in the United States. With offices in Pittsburgh, PA, New York, NY, and Florida, Graciano has completed institutional and public agency restoration projects for government owners across the region. The company is a WBENC-certified Woman Business Enterprise performing approximately 90% of all work in-house with its own skilled craftsmen.
From correctional facilities to courthouses, Graciano has delivered masonry restoration programs under the most demanding operational and security constraints.