Gold Circle Award Winner: Renaissance Roofing Inc.

By Lauren White.

Skilled workmanship restores copper dome on Cascade County Courthouse.

In the roofing industry many companies are demonstrating their excellence and expertise.  The Roofing Alliance likes to recognize that workmanship, innovation, and safety with their 2020 Gold Circle Awards program.  This elite award recognizes Roofing Alliance and National Roofing Contractors Alliance (NRCA) members for their contributions to the roofing industry 

Renaissance Roofing Inc. out of Belvidere, Illinois received an award for Outstanding Workmanship on the Cascade County Courthouse in Great Falls, Montana.  This three-story building was commissioned in 1903 and is built in the English Renaissance Revival style. A 15-foot statue of Lady Justice sits atop a 35-foot copper dome.  According to the project description by Renaissance Roofing, “During the Second World War, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the dome was continuously used to watch for enemy aircraft.”  In 1980 the Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

“Historic courthouses in Montana speak of boosterism, pride, and strength of government,” explains Historic Architect, Paul Filicetti of A&E Architects.  The Cascade County Courthouse represents all of these qualities and stands as a landmark amidst the city skyline with its copper dome.

County Commissioners began a public bid process in 2014 since the aging roof and copper were becoming an issue and needed maintenance.  Renaissance Roof, Inc. won the bid and started working in the summer of 2016. Workers encountered 88 inches of snowfall during the winter of 2017-2018, the second-largest recorded snowfall in the area.  In their project summary, Renaissance Roofing explains, “The winter snowfall and cold temperatures—coupled with extremely high wind conditions throughout the year— caused many weather-related delays.”  

This $3.8 million-dollar project required 17,000 man-hours and 55,000 pounds of copper.  During the roof restoration, the Courthouse was fully occupied and operational. The project as a whole required, “...replacing the copper entablature and railings, copper guttering, batten seam copper roofing, fully soldered flat seam copper roofing, architectural copper paneling and detailing, as well as cast iron restoration, minor masonry restoration, and painting...Further restoration efforts included the cast iron around the drum of the tower, curved window sash and glass replacement, as well as the painting of these components,” as noted in the project description.  

Paul Filicetti, Project Architect and Historic Preservation Architect on the project explains, “Renaissance Roofing spent countless man hours field investigating and understanding historic conditions and developing field and shop mockups to ensure the new copper roof met the intent of the drawings, maintained historic building and roof conditions, and met modern installation standards.”

A&E Architects of Missoula, Montana worked with Renaissance Roofing on the copper roof removal and replacement.  Components of the roof required custom-fabricated materials that were done off-site and shipped back to Montana. According to Renaissance Roofing, “The main body of the roof is 107 squares of a rare 20-ounce copper batten seam roofing system.  This required 1,800 panels to be custom-fabricated by Renaissance Roofing in Belvidere, Illinois.” The panels were then shipped back to Montana to be used on the roof, approximately 1,300 miles away.  

The perimeter of the roof uses a balustrade system of more than 140 spun copper balusters in 12 different rail sections.  Renaissance Roofing explains, “The rail sections were redesigned to be self-supporting with a stainless-steel armature, and were assembled in the Belvidere facility before being shipped to Great Falls for installation with the aid of a 275-ton crane.”

Paul Filicetti commends Renaissance Roofing for their hard work and dedication to repairing and restoring “...one of Montana’s iconic historic courthouses…”  Renaissance Roofing’s problem-solving skills, attention to detail and use of quality products restored the Cascade County Courthouse to its original glory. They “...brought experience, manpower, expertise, and craftsmanship to this project.  Their crews did an outstanding job of problem-solving difficult conditions for numerous copper roof details to ensure the successful completion of copper dome and roof finishes,” explains Paul Filicetti. The copper dome now stands out among the Great Falls skyline. 

The Roofing Alliance wants you to submit your projects for the 2020 Gold Circle Awards.  The deadline for Gold Circle Awards is October 18, 2019.  Get additional information and access the application. 

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@nrca.net or visit www.roofingalliance.net.

About the Roofing Alliance

The Roofing Alliance is committed to shaping the industry’s future by funding education, research, scholarships and philanthropic initiatives, all for the purpose of securing the industry’s future excellence.  Composed of 169 members representing extraordinary leaders from the contracting, manufacturing, distribution and service provider communities, the Roofing Alliance has committed $13 million to enhance the performance and long-term viability of the industry and allocated more than $5 million to fund 48 research, education, technical and philanthropic programs and projects.  Serving as the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Roofing Alliance members are focused on giving back and supporting high-quality educational programs and ensuring timely and forward-thinking industry responses to major economic and technological issues. For more information about Roofing Alliance initiatives, visit www.roofingalliance.net.