Oaklander Hallway

In the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, a landmark piece of architecture designed by renowned architect Benno Janssen (completed in 1911) is a monumental, barrel-vaulted hallway with a magnificent embossed, painted plaster ceiling leading from the Pittsburgh Athletic Association to the Oaklander Hotel.  The ceiling surface became dirty and discolored with embedded soot and dust and had widespread flaking paint.  

Working from scissor-lifts on the inclined ramp leading to the hotel, the painted surface was cleaned with a mild, alkaline water-based solution on brushes and then rinsed with pure water.  Flaking paint was stabilized by spraying with a water-based adhesive and was set-down with a tacking iron.  Losses in the plaster substrate were filled, and the entire ceiling was harmonized with preservation-grade commercial and artistic paints.  The cleaning and inpainting recreated delicate saturated tones and imparted greatly improved clarity. 

Client: Walnut Capital