The Legion of Honor, designed as a three-quarter-scale version of the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris France, was constructed from 1921-1924. The Court of Honor is a grand entrance to the building that features classic architecture in the Ionic order. The building was surveyed in 2015, identifying the Court of Honor column capitals as a safety-risk and high-priority for repair – several loose elements were found.

Pacific Masonry Restoration (PMR) was contracted to perform masonry repairs for the Court of Honor at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, California. Historic photographs documented that the columns and capitals were poured in place with reinforcing steel. Some of the steel was set close to the surface, over time the steel has corroded resulting in the cast concrete spalls and cracks.

PMR has been involved in a multi-phased masonry restoration campaign to address deficiencies. The scope of work for masonry repairs included the following: (1) demolition and reinstallation of deteriorated column capitals, column bases, dentils, and balusters; (2) spall and crack repairs in the interior colonnade, wall return, water table, and balustrade; (3) replacement of deteriorated travertine floor paving units; and (4) overall cleaning. While the large-scale castings of the Ionic Capitals were sourced from an outside fabricator, PMR fabricated molds and cast partial details and dentils in-house. Approximately 90 percent of the Court of Honor has been restored, with another campaign planned for Fall 2019.