The first winter storm of the season is not stalling the planned restoration of a Cleveland architectural gem.
A team from Karcher鈥攁 German company and a leader in cleaning technology鈥攇ot started as planned this week on steam cleaning the Carnegie Lorain Branch of the Cleveland Public Library.
Only six of the original 15 Carnegie-funded libraries remain in Cleveland. Funded with a gift of $250,000 and designed by Cleveland architectural firm Knox & Elliot, the library opened on March 28, 1912. The 8,400-square-foot, "Greek temple-inspired" building was constructed with three different types of stone material鈥攁ll with different cleaning requirements.
The 鈥渧ery sensitive methods鈥� using steam at between seven and 10 psi of pressure is environmentally friendly as well as building friendly, Karcher鈥檚 Nick Heyden explained.
It鈥檚 a method that will help make sure the building will stand for another 100 years, said Tim Diamond, Chief Knowledge Officer for the Cleveland Public Library.
鈥淐leveland is a harsh place, you know, and the buildings suffer a lot, environmentally,鈥� Diamond said. 鈥淎nd so with this cleaning, it鈥檚 a way to bring it back to its original glory without anything that鈥檚 too intrusive.鈥�
