Bok Tower Restoration: Extending the Life of a Historic Structure with ICCP
Services Applied by VCS Engineering
Summary
The Historic Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Florida, is a 205-foot masonry-encased steel structure completed in 1929 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Following corrosion-related deterioration of the steel frame, a discrete Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) system was installed in 2007 to mitigate corrosion of the embedded steel while preserving the tower’s architectural integrity.
Since 2020, VCS Engineering has been involved in evaluating and monitoring the system’s ongoing performance, ensuring that it continues to deliver effective corrosion mitigation nearly two decades after installation.
Scope
Our scope of work included:
- Conducting a detailed inspection and verifying ICCP system functionality across all monitoring zones.
- Reviewing system data to confirm proper polarization levels and corrosion protection.
- Developing and implementing long-term monitoring and maintenance protocols.
- Training Bok Tower personnel on data collection and performance tracking.
- Providing annual system evaluations and recommendations for continued operation.
Solution
VCS Engineering ensures that the ICCP system continues to function effectively, keeping the tower’s steel frame in a passive, non-corroding condition. The team also implemented improvements to streamline monitoring and guide future maintenance activities.
The Bok Tower ICCP system still remains active and effective nearly 20 years after installation. The project’s performance and stewardship have been recognized with the ICRI Award of Excellence for Longevity, underscoring the impact of ongoing collaboration, monitoring, and maintenance.
