ASUI–Kibbie Activity Center

University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho

Completed October 2001

Engineer: Simpson Grumpertz and Heger Inc., San Francisco, CA

Architect: Associated Architects, Moscow, Idaho

Roof system types:

• The Garland Company’s R-Mer Lite insulated steel roof system for the barrel areas (chosen for its ability to withstand wind uplift and thermal expansion. The product can also be unrolled like a membrane.)
• Stevens EP TPO roof membrane for the concourse area’s low-slope roof system

Scope:

• 14-story facility with a 160,000 square foot barrel roof.
• Complete removal of existing roof systems.
• New roof insulation and metal roof system.

Key Components:

• New fall protection system
• Accelerated schedule
• High profile sports complex
• Outstanding safety record
• Excellent inspection rating

PROGRESS PHOTO

WORKERS RAPPEL DOWN THE SIDES OF BARREL-ARCH ROOF

Challenges:

• Removal of existing roof system—mechanical roof cutters were used to cut 2- by 2-foot pieces of the upper portion of the existing BUR system, material carts were used to transport pieces to a staging area. A 230-foot lattice crane using skip boxes then lowered BUR materials to the ground for disposal. Workers rappelled down the sides of the existing barrel-arch roof to remove the three-tab composition shingles by hand and lower them to the concourse area’s low-slope roof below. Workers then put the shingles into skip boxes that were emptied into dump trucks.
• Safety—The barrel-arch roof’s slope varied from 1-in-12 to 10-in-12.  The top roof area perimeter required perimeter warning lines and safety monitors. Full body harnesses, rope grabs and safety lines on the barrel arch sides were used in accordance with OSHA standards.
• Access to the roof was from inside the building—walking across the ceiling on a 2- to 3-inch (51- to 76-mm) radius plank deck, proceeding  through steel and wood scissor trusses to the end of the dome, then climbing a 10-foot (3-m) ladder and exiting through a small hole to the roof.
• Reroofing the barrel arch roof was complicated because both sides needed to be simultaneously removed and reroofed to prevent structural distortion of the roof during installation.