04/14/2026
🏗️ B&O Building Renovation ~ Wheeling, West Virginia 📍
Built in 1908 as a Baltimore and Ohio Railroad terminal 🚂, the 53,000 square-foot B&O Building now serves as the home of West Virginia Northern Community College 🎓. Over time, water infiltration through open joints damaged the cornice and entablature 💧. Restoration work included cleaning, repointing, and repairing granite, limestone, brick, and terracotta 🧱. The six grand windows were restored with custom‑milled wood trim and refurbished cast‑iron grillwork 🪟. The original cornice and marquee, long-since removed, were reconstructed using historic photos and drawings 📜.
During construction, it was discovered that 16 beams over the grand windows were in danger of failure and were replaced with new galvanized beams 🏗️, requiring demolition and reconstruction of the terracotta soffit and entablature. Needle beams were installed to temporarily support the structure from the scaffold 🚧. New pieces were cast from original units and were installed once the beams were replaced ✨. Special care was taken to make sure the original terracotta lettering was salvaged and reinstalled in their original positions 🔡.
Proud to work alongside an incredible project team to preserve this beautiful building! 🤝
The Project Team:
🏛️ Chapman Technical Group (Architecture & Design)
🏗️ CAS Structural Engineering (now Arrow Engineering)
(Structural)
👷 StoneMile Group (General Contractor)
🧱 Mariani & Richards (Masonry)
🪟 Smith Family Workshops (Windows & Carpentry)