CoatingsPro Magazine

MAR 2017

CoatingsPro offers an in-depth look at coatings based on case studies, successful business operation, new products, industry news, and the safe and profitable use of coatings and equipment.

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Feature 38 MARCH 2017 COATINGSPROMAG.COM T Waterfront NASA Hotel Blasts Off With New Exterior BY BEN DUBOSE PHOTOS COURTESY SURMAC, INC. T he Hilton Houston NASA hotel in Clear Lake, Texas, is a crown jewel of Houston's Galveston Bay area. As Houston's only waterfront hotel and located mere yards away from NASA's historic Johnson Space Center, the 14-story building overlooks Clear Lake and represents a prominent destination for beachgoers and space fans alike. But in early 2016, the site's owners at Remington Hospitality Services knew its prime location came at a cost. Built in 1983 and last renovated in 2012, the hotel suffered from many of Houston's usual culprits. "Both the substrate and coating system had been exposed to years of oceanfront condi- tions," recalled Rick Watson, founder and president of coatings contractor Surmac, Inc. and a 43-year industry veteran. "e coating was deteriorated, and water was entering the structure." "e hotel had been damaged several times during hurri- canes, and one problem was that the sealant system had failed on windows," Watson explained. "e painting was a big part aesthetically and for waterproofing, but one of the bigger problems was that the windows really needed care." Fortunately for the hotel, Watson had a plan. Countdown Begins Watson estimated that mapping out the workflow took about six months, starting in early 2016. "We were waiting for designers to design the color scheme," he said. "It was a big transforma- tion to make it a standout-looking hotel. It's a very high-end area at NASA, right on the bay, and they had to get it just right." Besides waiting for the color scheme, Watson knew his crew would have very limited time to complete the 175,000-square- foot (16,258.0 m²) job. Because the job also included extensive work on individual room windows, it could be invasive to hotel clients. us, the hotel did not want work done on rooms during spring, due to its popularity for spring break vacations, or during the peak summer tourism season. For the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake Hotel, waterproofing the building envelope was crucial considering the leaky waterfront property. It took Surmac's 10-person crew to cover all 175,000 sq. ft. (16,258.0 m²). CONCRETE BUILDING ENVELOPE ACRYLIC

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