Most excellent

NRCA's 2004 Excellence in Design Award was presented to MAGCO Inc., Jessup, Md., for the Renaissance Center, South River Colony, Md.

When building new or renovating old roof systems, building owners must weigh the benefits of building according to material costs, product quality, personal design preferences and other considerations. Arthur Birney Jr., owner of The Brick Cos. and Atlantic Golf, was building a new headquarters in South River Colony and wanted the building to have a green roof system. Birney has environmentally conscious ideals and desired an environmentally responsible building.

As Birney investigated material options and planned the roof system design with the architect, DR Brasher Architects Inc., Columbia, Md., he learned about the project's high cost and came across some obstacles. The application process was daunting and obscure; Anne Arundel County, Md., authorities were reluctant to grant building permits; and pleas to expand the site's existing storm water management system were declined. Birney was discouraged by the process but proceeded with the green roof system plan knowing it was what he wanted.

MAGCO reviewed the plans and made the project feasible and more economical for Birney by reducing the project's cost by 30 percent by installing a TectaGreen™ system. Birney now has the largest privately owned, self-funded green roof system in Maryland.

Roof system installation costs were cut in part because MAGCO's workers installed the green roof system; subcontractors were not needed. In addition, the company redesigned the plan by eliminating the use of proprietary products.

Roofing workers installed an extensive green roof system consisting of a 22-gauge type B steel deck; 2 2/3-inch- (66-mm-) thick Firestone polyisocyanurate insulation; Firestone TPO membrane; AmeriGreen 50 Roof Garden drainage/water storage; 4-inch- (102-mm-) thick growth media mix of 70 percent expanded shale and 30 percent recycled organic Laurel Valley Soils; and Sedum plugs.

"The roof not only contributes to storm water management, water quality, heat reduction and decreased energy cost but also provides employees with an aesthetically pleasing dimension to the work place," says Mark Gaulin, president of MAGCO.

MAGCO created the environmentally friendly building Birney desired for less money and changed the thinking of Anne Arundel County. The county now endorses and recommends the installation of green roof systems to design firms and contractors.

In addition, four finalists were selected. Following is information about the finalist projects:

Inspec Inc., Minneapolis, for Rush City High School, Rush City, Minn.

Independent School District #139 in Rush City hired Inspec as a roof consultant to investigate the school's existing leaking metal roof system. Among the various problems Inspec discovered were moisture entry into the building, insulation shrinkage and an improperly sealed vapor retarder. As a result, the roof system was discharging water onto the ground adjacent to the building, creating a pond around the building's perimeter.

Inspec's design solution included the following (among other things):

• Removing the existing steel deck in isolated areas and installing new structural steel beams through the existing roof
  
  
• Removing the existing roof system and installing high-density rigid insulation and a two-ply asphalt vapor retarder
  
  
• Installing three layers of staggered fiberglass insulation over the vapor retarder followed by a rigid insulation cover board
  
  
• Installing a four-ply built-up roof system with gravel surfacing
  
  
• Removing skylights and installing a fully welded condensation pan and new gaskets
  
  
• Providing an air stop at existing eave conditions, gutters and downspouts to discharge water into catch basins
  
  
• Installing a parapet wall and fascia at eave conditions to accommodate a new internal roof drainage system that would discharge water into an underground drainage system

Keystone Roofing Inc., Oceanside, Calif., for La Jolla Shores Summer House, La Jolla, Calif.

For this new construction project, Keystone Roofing faced a complex metal roof system installation. The company's installation included the following: tile work, standing-seam panels, radius standing-seam panels, radius tapered and curved soffit panels, radius fascia and gutter systems, custom tapering buttresses and ventilation caps, custom-made dormer louvers, and custom trim and flashings, among other details.

RTE Technologies Inc., Overland Park, Kan., for Crittenton Center, Kansas City, Mo.

For this reroofing project, RTE Technologies was asked to reduce the building's energy costs for its air-conditioning use. To meet this end, the company's design specifications included removal of the existing EPDM roof membrane to reveal the 3-inch- (76-mm-) thick polyisocyanurate insulation board; installation of gypsum board over the insulation; and installation of a mechanically attached TPO membrane.

Because the design called for reuse of the existing insulation, tear-off debris was reduced. In addition, the TPO membrane bears the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's and Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR® label.

Southern California Roofing, Downey, Calif., for Frito-Lay Distribution Facility, Los Angeles

The facility's existing built-up roof system was in need of replacement, and the building owner determined the building needed an energy-efficient roof system to reduce the amount of cooling costs associated with the Los Angeles area. Southern California Roofing was asked to install a solar electric roof, which was composed of a TPO roof membrane and flexible photovoltaic panels. The panels were heat-welded onto the roof membrane, and electrical wires convert the DC power generated by the panels into AC power for the building.

This Web exclusive information is a supplement to Receiving recognition.