2012
Elmira, New York
Décor Roof Gives Cowles Hall a Fresh "Old" Look
When you are close to 160 years old, it is inevitable that you are going to need some parts replaced. That was certainly true for Cowles Hall at Elmira College in Elmira, New York. Cowles Hall was the very first building constructed at Elmira College, and when built in 1855 it functioned as dormitory, dining hall and classroom. It was designed to have an octagonal center 75 feet in diameter, and four wings or “arms” in the shape of the Greek Cross. (Only three of these wings were built.) The building is featured on the college seal and in the National Register of Historic Places.
Owner
Elmira College
Roofing Contractor
Charles F. Evans Company, Inc.
Elmira, New York
Roofing System
Décor Roof System using 60 mil Saranfil G410 feltback membrane in lead grey
Project Size
33,000 square feet
A Challenging Installation On Many Levels
Charles F. Evans Company, Inc. of Elmira was selected to be the roofing contractor for the difficult roof replacement. “They were hired because of their ability to provide access, safety and quality,” stated J. D. Young, vice president at Welliver McGuire, Inc. of Montour Falls, New York, the construction manager of this project. One of the biggest challenges we faced was coordinating with the school’s public safety programs,” explained Bob Pringle, vice president of Evans Roofing Company. Another issue was the weather, but the biggest challenge was dealing with the different shapes and levels of the roof.
A Roof For the Ages
So far Don Brimmer, director of facilities at Elmira College is “very pleased” with the Décor roof. “It is performing perfectly — we had our first winter since it was installed with no issues or leaks,” he stated. “I’m confident it will deliver many years of service. Eugiena Brieva, partner at QPK Design of Syracuse added, “The Décor system gives very good value to the client in terms of life cycle costs and benefits. You also need a good installer like Charles F. Evans to get the full benefits of the system.