S.J. Hauck Preserves AC Stone for Smithsonian Renovation

The South Jersey company that raised my house after Superstorm Sandy, S.J. Hauck Construction, recently won an award for rescuing the sandstone from a 168-year-old Atlantic City church, which is being used in the renovation of the Smithsonian's Castle.

S.J. Hauck was awarded Project of the Year by the ABC Excellence in Construction Awards for their work on the First Presbyterian Church of Atlantic City demolition & stone reclamation project.

The organization that presented the award, Associated Builders and Contractors, is a national trade association representing more than 23,000 members in the construction industry.

The work on this project was a painstakingly long, complex, and delicate job that S.J. Hauck said brought out every skill in their arsenal.

Here is a description of the work from an S.J. Hauck Facebook post.

S.J. Hauck was asked tasked with preserving the stones of the church’s exterior in order to restore the Smithsonian Castle, which magically enough has stones from the exact same quarry and is the only viable option to ensure the castle itself stays true to original specs for future generations.

So much more than a simple restoration. We are literally helping preserve history, brick by brick. It is an honor and a privilege to be tasked with this project and the team has been incredible every step of the way already.

AC Churches' Limestone Repurposed

The Smithsonian Institute is the world's largest museum, with close to 30 million visitors each year and over 50 museum buildings, libraries, and facilities in Washington, D.C.

But the Smithsonian Institute building, the Castle, is considered its signature building. and is its oldest.

Built in 1855, the Castle has been closed for over two years, undergoing its first major renovation in more than 50 years.

Construction of the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is expected to continue until 2028.

When it is open, the Castle is a museum and research complex, and it houses administrative offices and the Smithsonian Information Center.

The building is renowned for its Seneca red sandstone, which was quarried locally in Montgomery County, Maryland. The sandstone is known for its striking reddish-brown color and durability.

That sandstone is what the Castle and the First Presbyterian Church of Atlantic City have in common.

The First Presbyterian Church, which stood on the corner of Pacific and Pennsylvania avenues, was also built with the same Seneca red sandstone from the same quarry. It is an exact match.

The historic Atlantic City church will live on at the Smithsonian.