| PROJECT IN REVIEW |
Washington D.C.
 (WJE) selected coal tar built-up roofing (BUR). As it turned out, WJE specified a four-ply coal tar built up roofing system over insulation with a top flood coat of coal tar and aggregate surfacing. Larry Meyers, the architectural firm's consultant on this project, puts it quite succinctly: "I wanted to be able to retire without having to worry about this roof again." The roofing contractor, Prospect Waterproofing Co., a Sterling, VA based firm specializing in built-up roofing installations, chose a system from Koppers of Pittsburgh, PA. Why? According to James Newcomer, Project Manager, "Koppers is always the first company we contact. Our experience with them, and therefore our comfort level, is very high." 
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Highest Ranked Roof Design Covers D.C.'s JFK Center
As the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C. was celebrating its 25th Anniversary, work was to begin on rebuilding the roof system of the nation's most visible showcase for music, theater, and dance. The starting point was to select the most appropriate roofing system available. After an exhausting analysis of six possible roofing technologies, the Chicago based architectural firm of Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates Inc.
The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C. recently replaced its leaking 25 year old roof with a four ply coal tar built-up system. Phase one began in June of 1996 with the removal of the old roof right down to the concrete deck. Because the existing roof had numerous active leaks, this had to be done in manageable sections, and it would require the immediate application of a temporary, watertight covering. Prospect and WJE jointly decided on the application of a two-ply vapor retarder directly onto the concrete as it was uncovered. |
An external elevator was installed outside the south end of the Kennedy Center, where there were no adjacent buildings. That elevator was used throughout the project to carry crews, material, equipment and debris unseen by patrons. An external elevator was installed outside the south end of the Kennedy Center, where there were no adjacent buildings. That elevator was used throughout the project to carry crews, material, equipment and debris unseen by patrons.
Meyers is generous about sharing the credit for the project. "It was a group effort," he reports. "Koppers, Prospect, Grunley - they all pitched in with ideas and no one was shy about noting concerns or problems. In my experience, as long as you don't have egos - and this group didn't - it usually works out pretty well."
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Target Store Rejuvenates Roof in Lieu of Replacement
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