2020 Gold Circle Award Winner: Steeple Square

By Lauren White, RCS Reporter.

Thousands of pounds of copper restored a 150-year-old church steeple.

Unique roofing-related jobs, programs and services are recognized through the prestigious 2020 Gold Circle Awards program.  This elite awards program honors Roofing Alliance and National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) members for their outstanding contributions to the roofing industry.  Each year, members are encouraged to submit their best work in the following categories: Outstanding Workmanship and Innovative Solutions, and Safety Preparedness and Performance.  

At 211-feet, Steeple Square is one of the tallest churches in Dubuque, Iowa.  The church’s steeple needed a complete metal restoration, which was completed by Durable Restoration Company.  “We specialize in steeple restoration...It’s a very ornate steeple and iconic structure.  To be part of its renewal is a privilege,” shared Scott Schroer, Durable Restoration’s preservation expert.

Gronen Restoration was tasked with overseeing the restoration, in addition to finding the best contractors to help partake in this project.  Durable Restoration Company was chosen because of “the impeccable quality of their team’s craftsmanship being matched only by their impassioned commitment to honoring historical integrity,” according to Gronen Restoration. 

Steeple Square, formerly St. Mary’s Church, was originally built between 1864 and 1867.  According to Shawn Hilborn, Operations/Construction Manager for Gronen Restoration, St. Mary’s parish was, “...a gateway for newcomers to Dubuque, a hub for downtown neighborhoods, and a source of community pride.”  The church closed its doors in 2010 and was threatened with demolition before the Friends of St. Mary’s (FSM) spearheaded the restoration of this iconic church. “The building now serves as a beacon for affordable housing, education, training, and recreational programs,” Shawn shares.

General construction on Steeple Square began in June of 2018 and finished in November of the same year.  The existing sheet metal, membrane roofing, and wood dormers and trim were all removed by Durable Restoration.  They also repaired and replaced deteriorated wood assemblies that were scheduled to remain, and applied a new copper roofing system.  

More than 15,000 pounds of copper were required to create hundreds of flat-lock panels for the steeple.  “We know how copper works, how it moves, expands and contracts...We put in the time and research to find the best methods that will ensure a long-lasting copper installation.  Quality is what we strive for,” shared AJ Davis, Durable Resoration’s project manager.

Decorative pieces were fabricated by Chicago Metal Supply, using an additional 10,000 pounds of copper.  According to the project description, “Superintendent Jason Lee and his crew installed various copper pieces such as aprons, pans, valleys, fascia, vented dormers, layered dormers, gable ends, finials and gold leafing.”  The variety of these decorative pieces required the restoration crews to make constant modifications in order to match the historic essence of the church.

A crane was utilized to remove these decorative elements, which were then used as molds to fabricate matching copper elements.  Scaffolding and other lift equipment were used to “replace the existing sheet metal of the steeple and replace it with fabricated copper,” according to Durable Restoration Company.  

“The restored steeple is a step toward a restored sense of community identity to one of Dubuque’s most vulnerable neighborhoods…,” shared Shawn Hilborn.  Durable Restoration Company and Gronen Restoration worked collaboratively to complete this labor of love. They were able to finish the project on time and under budget.  Their attention to detail, superior craftsmanship, and dedication to history, helped restore the steeple that serves as a hub of community support for Dubuque.

For more information on the Gold Circle awards plus information about the Roofing Alliance contact Bennett Judson, the Roofing Alliance’s executive director, at bjudson@roofingalliance.net or visit www.roofingalliance.net.