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Historic Berkeley City Club Facing Near Inoperable Water Quality and Flow
Turn to ACE DuraFlo's® ePIPE® Systems for Restoration Solutions




January 2010 - Julia Morgan is an American legend in architecture with a career spanning 50 years and over 700 buildings to her credit including the Hearst Castle, the reconstruction of the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel and the Berkeley City Club. 

Originally opened in 1930 as The Berkeley Women’s City Club, the present day Berkeley City Club is located next to the UC Berkeley campus and is a magnificent blend of Romanesque and Moorish styles of architecture. Not only did Morgan design and oversee construction of the seismically reinforced structure, her personal touches are also reflected in the ornate light fixtures, classic furniture, beautiful plunge pool and distinctive fireplaces.

Unfortunately, the decades of use slowly took their toll on the internal systems in the building, particularly the original galvanized domestic water piping system that was buried in the ornate columns and walls.  Fortunately, the Landmark Heritage Foundation,  was established with a mandate to protect the Berkeley City Club building and return Morgan’s “Little Castle” it to its’ former glory.  In 1977 the Berkeley City Club (BCC) was added to the National Register of Historic Places and was granted official status as a California State Landmark. “The Landmark Heritage Foundation (LHF) works very closely with Club management to enhance and integrity of the building”, explained Mary Breunig, current President of the LHF, “we are all extremely proud of our very special building.”


THE PROBLEM and SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION

From a practical operation standpoint, the water piping project was critical since the water quality and impaired flow was approaching inoperable. To find a solution the BCC and LHF called upon committee of experts from BCC membership to evaluate the problem. “In a community like Berkeley, we are very fortunate at the City Club to have a wide range of professional talent amongst our membership” explained Breunig, “so we involved a number of industry experts in the committee to evaluate the problem and explore possible solutions. In a property with the historic significance of the Berkeley City Club which features original architectural surfaces which were cast into the thick concrete structure of the building, it was clear that pipe replacement was inconceivable.”

The challenge to address the failing pipe issue was daunting since the piping all originates in the basement level and extends upwards to the guestrooms within the ornate concrete columns and walls of the main floor. “After investigating in-place restoration and developing a Request for Proposal,” continued Breunig, “we received bids from multiple contractors. Only ACE DuraFlo had the expertise with numerous heritage projects, and the tremendous references to go with those projects. The professionalism and personal attention to detail by ACE staff made them a clear choice for the piping remediation project at the Berkeley City Club.”

The project itself involved restoration of the entire domestic hot and cold water piping system including guest rooms, kitchen areas, pool shower rooms, hair salon, common areas bathrooms, and the water mains supplying the entire building. “In order to maintain operation of the facility during the restoration of the mains,” explained Murray Greenwood, Regional VP for ACE EnviroTech, “a
temporary bypass was installed to provide water service to all areas of the building. Another challenging element to the project,” continued Greenwood, “was the replacement of the original tub/shower mixers in this 77 year old building, to a modern but period appropriate fixture.”

“After 77 years of continual use, the piping system was in dire need of some help,” explained Nancy Johnson, General Manager of the Berkeley City Club. “Our guests and residents love this building as much as we do, and they are so appreciative to now have clear flowing water and to take a full pressure shower.”

Now, the Berkeley City Club now has a water delivery system worthy of the building’s unique heritage, and its’ spectacular view over San Francisco Bay.



About Pipe Restoration Technologies, LLC and ePIPE®
Pipe Restoration Technologies, LLC (PRT) directly and through its subsidiary ACE DuraFlo Systems, LLC,  provides "in-place" epoxy pipe lining products and authorized ePIPE plumbing services in the US, Canada, Europe, Mexico and Latin American under the brand names ACE DuraFlo, ePIPE, eLINER and miniE. Since 1998, PRT has been a leading innovator in the field of pipe restoration and has been awarded multiple US patents involving epoxy pipe lining methods that restore and protect piping systems "in-place." The result is an epoxy lined pipe called ePIPE. ePIPE, a "green product," is a proven and commercialized alternative to a conventional plumbing repipe. Information on ACE DuraFlo and ePIPE may be obtained by calling 888-775-0220 or by visiting www.aceduraflo.com.


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Contact:
ACE DuraFlo Systems, LLC
United States and International Headquarters
1370 Reynolds Avenue
Suite 112
Irvine, CA  92614

1-888-775-0220
Outside of USA 1-949-724-0323
Fax 1-949-263-8771
http://www.aceduraflo.com/
[email protected]
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Also See: ACE DuraFlo®, ePIPE® team nominated for National Medal of Technology and Innovation / June 2009

Seattle's Fairmont Olympic Hotel Applauds ACE DuraFlo® ePIPE® for Efficient and Timely Restoration / April 2009

ACE DuraFlo® Nears Completion on $2.2 Million, 50,000 Foot ePIPE® project for Seattle Sheraton; Hosting Hotel Engineers Luncheon and Project Tour / March 2008

The Regal Biltmore Discovers a Long-term Solution to the Problems Associated with Replacing a Piping System Within a Historical Building / Jan 2001

A Hidden Time Bomb - Corrosion of Piping Systems / The Causes of Corrosion in a Piping System, Traditional Repair Methods and the Modern System of Pipe Restoration / Jan 2000

Priyan Jayetileke, Director of Engineering at Vancouver’s 385 room, Four Seasons Hotel, Tackles Corrosion of Copper Water Lines Servicing the Hotel / Jan 2000
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