Nestled in the Cahuenga Pass in the hills of Hollywood, the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre has a long-standing history. Originally built in 1920, the structure succumbed to a fire nine years later and reopened in 1931. Since then, the performing arts center has grown to establish a reputation that is one of a kind. Home to an array of talent in music, dance and theatre as well as showcasing films and hosting family events, the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre celebrates diversity in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Soon after it was reconstructed, the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre fell victim to severe water damage. “Waterproofing leaking created havoc, causing damage to offices, storage space and the bar area below the deck,” said Bernards general contracting superintendent Donny Berry. The damages of water intrusion resulted in a discolored, water-stained deck that was showing early signs of erosion and detracting from the natural beauty of the 1,200-seat outdoor amphitheatre.
Bernards, a nationally ranked general contractor, entered the scene to assess the problem. Seeking a trusted subcontractor with acute problem-solving capabilities, Bernards called upon Mark Beamish Waterproofing (MBW). Shortly thereafter, MBW came to the rescue.
Historic restoration is part of MBW’s repertoire. Successfully executing jobs at Dodger Stadium and the century-old Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, MBW’s crew of seasoned professionals unabashedly took on the deck-coating challenge at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre.
Using Siplast’s Terapro Waterproofing System, MBW field professionals implemented the following:
Phase 1. The amphitheatre deck was prepared by stripping the old damaged coat, exposing the raw surface for repair.
Phase 2. Primer was applied to the stripped deck for adhesive purposes, followed by the Terapro Flashing System applied around penetrations, walls and curbs.
Phase 3. The Terapro Waterproofing Layer was installed, creating a watertight seal.
Phase 4. The final phase included the installation of a Siplast Pro Color and Pro Accent Chip finish.
Operating on a tight schedule was one major challenge during this project — aside from the aggressive manual labor and precision to detail required by the above phases. “The entire [MBW] crew was very receptive to [my] instructions, understood the time constraints and were not afraid to put in long hours to complete the project,” said Siplast representative Michel Viton. MBW supervisor, Armando Ortiz, was “great to work with and very responsive,” echoes Berry.
After meeting with the L.A. County representatives and the theatre manager, Viton reported that all investors of the performing arts center “were very satisfied with the end result.”
The newly transformed outdoor amphitheatre effortlessly blended in with the beauty of its natural surroundings. The once-discolored, stained and eroding deck now sparkles in the sun, is smoothed over to perfection and most importantly, stands protected against water damage threats in the future.
One week after the completion of the project, heavy rain hovered over southern California with continuous downpour for two days. “For the first time, in a long time, there were no leaks,” Berry reported.
