The Trinity Episcopal Church in Pass Christian, Miss., once stood on piers about 4 feet above grade and 14 feet above sea level. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina's 26-foot storm surge washed away the walls but left the church's laminated-arch frame virtually intact. During reconstruction the church was raised another 10 feet to assure it would withstand future storms.
The shoring crew first disconnected the floor framing from the foundation by cutting the steel bolts embedded in the short concrete piers.
The crew installed cribbing and hydraulic jacks for lifting the building.
Each jack was connected to a hydraulic manifold powered by a diesel engine.
The jacks were able to lift the 3,000-square-foot structure more than 10 feet with less than 3/8-inch difference in elevation between any of the 10 lifting points.