May 30, 2025 • Brown Brothers

Pressure-Washing Underway as Crews Preserve Unpainted Brick at Brown Brothers

Crew member pressure washes brick. — A worker pressure-washes exposed brick on the Brown Brothers façade.

The exterior restoration of the historic Brown Brothers Building continues as crews move forward into the pressure-washing phase. Paint stripping is active along the west façade, where non-original coatings are being carefully removed to expose the underlying masonry.

Early into the process, the team discovered that most of the brick on the building’s front façade had never been painted. This original brick will be preserved—highlighting the craftsmanship of the 1924 structure. The remaining painted areas are undergoing a methodical pressure-washing process to ensure a clean and stable surface for further restoration work.

Close-up of historic mortar joints revealed after paint removal. — Original mortar joints exposed during the cleaning process.

Partially cleaned east façade showing washed and painted brick. — The Brown Brothers’ west façade partially cleaned, showing contrast between stripped and unstripped surfaces.

The work is part of a broader effort to restore the building’s historical masonry by removing later alterations to allow the original architecture to speak for itself.

Learn more about the full restoration plan for the Brown Brothers Building.