The Copper Roof Replacement at Terminal 1 of Lambert St. Louis International Airport involved the removal of the original fifty five year old copper roofing system and its replacement with a new, high performance, bi-metal, cool roofing system. The purpose of the project was to stop water infiltration and to repair the damage that had occurred to the roof from multiple hail storms and the EF4 tornado that struck in 2011.
The re-roofing of this unique, historical structure posed many obstacles both to the design team and general contractor selected for this project. The copper clad materials were being manufactured at an overseas plant, an extensive environmental abatement, and the owner-established hard completion date made this project a challenge. This, along with the constructability issues that come from working safely on a domed structure above an active airport, certainly created some unique challenges.
It was apparent early in the design phase that clear, concise, rapid communication during all stages of the construction process would be necessary for the team to address each otherā€™s concerns and implement them in a timely manner. This way the project could continue at the pace necessary to finish safely and within the timelines established by the City of St. Louis, all while providing uninterrupted service to the airlines, tenants, and passengers.
Despite the difficult working conditions and challenges faced on this project the City, Kozeny Wagner, and Jacobs Engineering together were able to effectively respond to the needs of the Airport, their tenants, and the traveling public to provide a new roof on this iconic building. They did this by working together in a cohesive team, effectively managing the constructability issues, while providing a safe working environment.