Date/Time: July 15, 2026, 12:00 pm Central
In the coastal heart of downtown Mobile, Alabama, the 1965 RSA Trustmark Building Parking Garage serves as a critical 190,000-square-foot logistical organ for the city’s commercial and cultural life. After six decades of exposure to chloride-rich Gulf winds, forensic analysis revealed a structural paradox: sound internal concrete suffering from systemic design flaws, including a complete lack of expansion joints. Faced with either demolition or innovation, the project team executed one of the largest Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) applications in the United States—installing over 12 miles of carbon fiber laminate while keeping the facility operational throughout.
This presentation explores the engineering philosophy behind integrated system restoration: how structural strengthening, concrete rehabilitation, epoxy “healing,” and protective coatings work together rather than in isolation.
Beyond technical specifications, this case study demonstrates how a single source system approach ensures long-term durability while preserving a vital downtown asset.
Presented by:
Rick Ellingson, P.E., has ten years of experience working for manufacturers of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) systems, structural pile jacketing systems and corrosion mitigation technologies for concrete structures. He is the Structural Strengthening – Business Development Leader at MAPEI. Rick is a licensed professional engineer and a NACE-certified Cathodic Protection Technician (CP2). Rick is also an active member of the ACI 440 Strengthening Committee and ICRI 330 Strengthening Committees.
Andy Bowers is MAPEI’s Concrete Restoration and Waterproofing Specialist for Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. With 18 years of experience in the concrete repair, protection, and waterproofing industry, he has worked on a wide range of projects, including parking garages, stadiums, historic structures, high-rise condominiums, bridges, and dams. Prior to joining MAPEI in 2024, Andy spent more than a decade with BASF Building Systems and other leading manufacturers in the restoration industry.