Historic Structure Report: Riggers Loft, Richmond Shipyard Number Three, Richmond, California

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

The PDF of the Historic Structure Report for Riggers Loft featured here does not include Appendices D and E. Executive summary: "The Riggers Loft was constructed as part of Richmond Shipyard Number Three, one of the four shipyards constructed in Richmond between 1941 and 1942 as part of the push to provide ships for the war effort. The Riggers Loft, which also housed the Sheet Metal Shop and Paint Shop, was one of the ancillary buildings that provided support to the prefabrication and assembly of the ships in the adjacent graving yards. The Riggers Loft is a contributing building to the Richmond Shipyard Number Three Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is significant under criterion A, as an important link to the period of World War II, and its association with the overall National war effort; and under the criterion C, for its association with the new shipyard designs that were developed to speed the construction of ships. The Riggers Loft is of a streamline moderne design consistent with the overriding design aesthetic established for all the buildings in Shipyard Number Three. The utilitarian materials, including the continuous band of industrial sash windows and doors low on the facade and the corrugated metal siding, are the character defining features of the building. The interior is dramatic in its simplicity, defined by the exposed wood frame walls and the exposed wood trusses. The Riggers Loft retains a high degree of integrity, and retains its ability to convey its significance as defined by the National Register. However, many original exterior materials, including the sheet metal siding, the metal sash, the metal rollup doors, and the metal clad pedestrian doors, have undergone significant deterioration. On the interior, the lack of exterior maintenance has allowed for water intrusion, causing a roof collapse in the Paint Shop, and the failure of additional roof trusses in the Sheet Metal Shop. These conditions should be addressed, repairs made, and long term maintenance performed in order to preserve the building. Structurally, the design of the Riggers Loft is adequate to support gravity loads, however water intrusion and wood decay, and the deterioration of one, and possibly additional wood piles have severely impacted the load carrying capacity. If these issues are addressed and repairs made, the structural system will not require additional strengthening of the gravity system. The wood trusses and wall frames are adequate to brace the building laterally with the addition of connectors that will transfer the loads to the stronger elements... The Riggers Loft is a valuable historic component of Shipyard Number Three, and is worthy of rehabilitation." Project funding was provided in part by a 2009 Save America's Treasures grant to Rosie the Riveter Trust (grant number 06-09-ML-0908) administered by the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The Federal Save America's Treasures grants program began in 1999 and helps preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections that convey our nation's rich heritage to future generations of Americans. Since 1999, there have been almost 4,000 requests for funding totaling $1.54 billion. In response to these requests, $315,152,000 was awarded to 1,287 recipients. Grants were awarded to Federal, state, local, and tribal government entities, as well as non-profit organizations through a competitive matching-grant program.

Historic Structure Report: Riggers Loft, Richmond Shipyard Number Three, Richmond, California

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