Several major roofing projects underway on campus

The structures receiving new roofs are the Student Center, Edna Work Hall, Edna Work Wing, Kent Hall, Andrews Hall, and the breezeway between High Rise and the Gold Room.

Last week, the east wing of Kent Hall was completed and work is progressing on the north and south wings currently.

Crews shoveled the rock off of the current roof then removed and replaced the roofing sheeting and rubber covering below the rock. The rock is referred to as ballast because it keeps wind from whipping the lighter weight roofing material underneath it.

The new roofing is polyisocyanurate – a special type of white foam sheeting with a thin, gray, fire-rated facing on both sides, according to Twin City Roofing owner Terry Schank, who was on site inspecting the work. He said about 30 of his employees were on campus last week.

Work on the wings of the residence halls moves fairly quickly. Progress slows when the workers trim and fit the new roofing around the base of the cooling towers located where the three wings of the residence halls join, Schank said.

Materials were moved into place for Andrews Hall this week. The last time the residence halls’ roofs were replaced was following the historic hailstorm of 1986.

Schank said two layers of roofing - one from the 1970s - are currently being removed from the Edna Work Wing roof, down to the original 1960 construction. New drains and tapers are being installed as part of that project.

Although the original bid was for half of the Student Center, Brennan said the costs were reasonable enough that a change order was submitted to replace the entire roof.

Each half of the Student Center roof is original to their construction - 1989 for the east half and 1991 for the west half. Brennan said materials for the fully adhered Student Center roof will be arriving next week.

The Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees approved the expenditure at their January 2013 meeting.