Elevating an Icon: How Precision Foundation Repair & Concrete Lifting Rescued the Kimbell Art Museum’s Sinking Stairs

At Precision Foundation Repair and Concrete Lifting, we pride ourselves on tackling the most complex and challenging concrete leveling projects, delivering innovative solutions that traditional methods simply can’t match. Recently, our expertise led us to a truly iconic location in Fort Worth, Texas: the magnificent Kimbell Art Museum. It’s not every day you get to contribute to the preservation of such a celebrated cultural landmark, but when their grand entrance stairs began to sink, they called upon our specialized knowledge to provide a precise, efficient, and non-invasive fix.

As Scott Willingham of Precision Foundation Repair and Concrete Lifting, I personally had the opportunity to assess the situation at the Kimbell. The museum, a masterpiece of modern architecture, features two distinct buildings seamlessly connected by a beautiful courtyard. This isn’t just a surface-level aesthetic; beneath the serene greenery and inviting pathways lies a crucial piece of the museum’s infrastructure: an underground parking garage, completed in 2013, years after the original museum was constructed in the 1970s. This unique, layered construction presented a significant challenge for what appeared to be a straightforward case of sinking concrete.

The Problem Unveiled: Sinking Stairs at a Fort Worth Landmark

The beautiful, inviting landing and stairs leading into the museum had been gradually sinking for a number of years. While visitors might not immediately notice, the team at Kimbell certainly did. We observed that the original silicone lines, indicating where the stairs were meant to align, were off by approximately two and a half inches. This wasn’t a static problem; it was progressively worsening, leading to noticeable consolidation and, critically, the development of fractures within the concrete slabs themselves. What might start as a subtle slope can quickly escalate into widespread cracking and even significant breakage, compromising both the aesthetic integrity and, more importantly, the safety of the structure.

The root cause of this subsidence wasn’t a mystery, but rather a common issue exacerbated by the Kimbell’s unique construction. Above the concrete roof of the underground parking garage, a substantial six feet of soil had been laid, presumably during the courtyard’s landscaping and the construction of the garage. The critical oversight? This substantial layer of soil was not compacted properly when it was originally installed. Over time, and compounded by less-than-perfect drainage in certain areas of the courtyard, this uncompacted soil began to consolidate and settle. As the supporting soil beneath the stairs shifted and compressed, the heavy concrete slabs above had no choice but to follow suit, leading to the gradual, yet persistent, sinking that the Kimbell team was experiencing.

Without immediate and effective intervention, this issue had the potential to become a far more extensive and incredibly expensive repair project. The visible cracks were merely symptoms of a deeper structural vulnerability that needed to be addressed with precision and care.

The Unique Challenge: Why Traditional Methods Simply Wouldn’t Work

For many sinking concrete problems, a common (though often less ideal) solution is to demolish the existing concrete and pour new slabs. However, at the Kimbell Art Museum, this traditional approach was entirely unfeasible due to the presence of the underground parking garage. The sheer weight and invasive nature of heavy concrete trucks were incompatible with the structural design of the garage below.

Imagine the logistical nightmare of a traditional tear-out and re-pour:

• Massive Labor: It would require days and days of manual labor to painstakingly tear out all the existing concrete.
• Logistical Hurdles: All the removed concrete would have to be hand-trucked out of the courtyard, and all new concrete would need to be hand-trucked back in. There would be no possibility of using heavy machinery for transport, greatly extending the project timeline and increasing labor costs.
• Extended Shutdown: Such an invasive project would necessitate a complete shutdown of the museum’s main entrance for a week or more. For a cultural institution like the Kimbell, visitor access is paramount, and extended closures translate directly into lost revenue and diminished public engagement. The associated costs with such a prolonged disruption would be astronomical.

This scenario underscores a crucial aspect of our expertise at Precision Foundation Repair and Concrete Lifting: understanding not just what needs fixing, but how to fix it in a way that minimizes disruption and maximizes efficiency, especially for commercial properties where downtime directly impacts the bottom line. Our clients, whether businesses or homeowners, rely on us for solutions that respect their operations and their property.

The Precision Solution: High-Density Polyurethane Concrete Lifting

Faced with such unique constraints, our high-density polyurethane concrete lifting solution emerged as the clear, superior choice. This advanced technology offers a non-invasive, fast, and highly effective alternative to traditional methods.

Here’s how we approached the Kimbell project:

1. Small, Precise Injections: We drilled a series of small, strategically placed holes (typically dime to penny-sized) through the concrete slabs.
2. High-Density Polyurethane Injection: Through these small holes, we injected our specialized high-density polyurethane foam. This material expands rapidly upon injection, filling voids beneath the concrete and creating controlled hydraulic pressure.
3. Precise Lifting: As the foam expands, it gently yet powerfully lifts the concrete slabs back to their original, level position. This process is monitored carefully to ensure accuracy and prevent over-lifting.
4. Rapid Cure Time: One of the most significant advantages of polyurethane is its incredibly fast cure time. Within seconds of injection, the material solidifies, making the lifted concrete ready to be walked on. Within minutes, the patch holes can be completed, and the area is ready for full use.

For the Kimbell Art Museum, this meant we could complete the entire project in approximately 4 to 6 hours. This incredible speed and efficiency were crucial. While they are closed on Mondays, making it a perfect day for the bulk of the work without public foot traffic, our method’s speed would have allowed us to even tackle the project during operational hours. We could have blocked off one side of the entrance at a time, completing one section quickly and opening it for use while working on the other. This flexibility is something we “deal with quite a bit in commercial projects,” where businesses cannot afford even a single day of closure.

The difference in approach is stark:

• Traditional Tear-Out: Weeks of disruption, heavy machinery issues, immense labor costs, and a huge mess.
• Precision Polyurethane Lifting: Hours of work, minimal disruption, cost-effective, clean, and immediately usable.

Beyond the Museum: The Value for Homeowners and Businesses

The Kimbell Art Museum project perfectly illustrates the power and versatility of high-density polyurethane concrete lifting. What worked for a major cultural institution facing complex logistical challenges works just as effectively for homeowners and other businesses in Stephenville, TX, and the surrounding areas.

Whether you’re dealing with:

• Sinking driveways or sidewalks that pose tripping hazards and detract from curb appeal.
• Uneven pool decks that are cracking or collecting water.
• Sagging interior concrete slabs in garages or basements.
• Commercial properties that need rapid, non-disruptive repairs to maintain operations.

Precision Foundation Repair and Concrete Lifting offers the same innovative, non-invasive solutions. Our goal is to provide a headache-free experience, saving you the significant cost, labor, and disruption associated with outdated tear-out and re-pour methods. We understand that your property, whether it’s a cherished home or a bustling business, is a valuable asset that deserves a precise and lasting solution.

This line of work truly takes us to some pretty cool places and allows us to provide innovative solutions that protect your investment and restore your peace of mind. If you’re in the Stephenville, TX area and notice sinking concrete or any signs of foundation distress, don’t wait for the problem to escalate. Just like the Kimbell Art Museum trusted us with their valuable entrance, you can trust the local experts at Precision Foundation Repair and Concrete Lifting to provide a detailed assessment and an effective, efficient solution. Visit our website at precisionlifting.us or give us a call today for a free estimate.