How was the Alamo constructed?
It was built with blocks of locally-quarried limestone. Originally, the Alamo was designed to have two bell towers and a domed roof. Everything but the outer walls of the building collapsed while it was being built, and the towers and vaulted roof were never completed.
What is the architecture of the Alamo?
According to the Texas State Historical Association, architectural plans for the church — what we commonly know of as the Alamo today — called for a three-story edifice topped by a dome, flanked by twin bell towers, and inside, a choir loft and a barrel-vaulted roof.
How thick were the walls of the Alamo?
The walls, built of local limestone blocks, are more than 3.5 feet thick.
Why did the Alamo not have a roof?
The Alamo was rebuilt following the collapse, though a roof wasn’t added back until nearly a 100 years later, when in the mid-1800s, the U.S. Army (who had been using the roof as a storehouse) needed a roof to protect goods inside. The solution was the construction of a pitched roof.
Who was the Alamo constructed by?
Fray Antonio de Olivares
Fray Antonio de Olivares led the Franciscan missionaries who founded the San Antonio de Valero Mission in 1718. The Spanish began construction of the current stone mission complex in 1744. The complex included a chapel, a convento (priest’s residence), small dwellings, storehouses, and workshops.
What is inside the Alamo?
The Alamo covered around 3 acres of land which was surrounded with an adobe wall that was between 9 and 12 feet tall. There were buildings inside the fort including a chapel, a barracks for soldiers, a hospital room, a large courtyard, and a horse corral. Cannons were placed along the walls and on top of buildings.
What is causing the structure of the Alamo buildings to crumble?
Rising damp from the limestone foundation has led to deterioration of the Alamo Church walls, causing pieces of the stone walls to flake off and crumble, accelerating the deterioration of the historic building.
What two men shared the Alamo?
Two men shared command of the Alamo when government and rebel forces first exchanged shots on February 23, 1836.
Did the Alamo have a wall around it?
The walls enclosing the gardens behind the Alamo today, as well as the gift shop and other structures around the complex, were added a century or more after the battle.
Was the Alamo building moved?
In 1724, after remnants of a Gulf Coast hurricane destroyed the existing structures at Misión San Antonio de Valero, the mission was moved to its current location.
When did the Alamo get its hump?
The church remained in ruins for years, but the U.S. Army renovated it in 1850. The Army added a roof and the world-famous “hump,” a curved parapet in architectural terms, to the previously flat-topped facade.
What is the parapet on the Alamo?
The iconic Alamo in Texas is well-known for its shapely facade, created by the parapet atop the roof. The original design and use of a parapet was as a battlement in a fortified structure. Some of the most lasting architecture was built for protection.
Where are parapet walls used in construction?
Construction of parapet walls can be observed in buildings, bridges, and roads. In general, there will be parapet walls in almost all the buildings. Whether it is low rise building or high rise building, we need parapet walls as mostly there will be roof slabs, terrace need protection.
What are the requirements for a parapet on an exterior wall?
IBC –705.11 –Parapets shall be provided on exterior walls of buildings. • Exceptions –Fire separation distance, floor footprint, etc. • 30 inches above the roof to wall intersection. • Same fire rating as the wall assembly. • Non-combustible faces for the uppermost 18-inches. OSHA Standard 1926.502 –Fall protection systems criteria and practices.
What is a parapet?
A parapet is a low wall projecting from the edge of a platform, terrace, or roof. Parapets may rise above the cornice of a building or form the upper portion of a defensive wall on a castle.