That’s Entertainment

This issue of Roofing spotlights hospitality and entertainment projects, and the articles on concert venues and theaters detail some fascinating case studies. They also struck a nerve with me, as perhaps no sector of the economy was as adversely affected by the pandemic. Live music and theater performances were extremely hard hit.

The good news is that many venues took advantage of shutdowns due to COVID-19 to make improvements to their facilities. You’ll see several interesting examples in this issue, including roof replacements at Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, Florida; the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, New York; and Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre seized the opportunity to accelerate its $36 million renovation while the building was closed to the public. The catch was that two stages of construction were compressed into 13 months. Advanced Roofing, Inc. was brought in to install roofs on the newly constructed sections of the facility and to repair and tie in the existing roof. Difficulties included installing multiple roof systems and navigating a bustling jobsite. “Advanced Roofing was proud to meet the challenging amplified schedule with several mobilizations, and by limiting downtime, completing the project safely, on time and within budget,” said Jessica Kornahrens, senior project manager with Advanced Roofing.

After the roof on the 16,000-seat music pavilion in Bethel, New York, was severely damaged by hail, CFE, Inc. was tapped to make recommendations and install a new roof system. The site of the original Woodstock music festival, which houses the Woodstock Museum, was a huge draw for the installers. “When you pull up to the museum building it hits you — you are on sacred ground,” said Bob Pringle, vice president of Evans Roofing Company, the parent company of CFE, Inc. Challenges on the project included being invisible to concert goers as concert season opened.

Installing the new copper roof over the stage at Red Rocks presented numerous challenges, including the mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather. Keeping everyone safe was the top priority, noted Mark Lopez, safety director for Superior Roofing, Inc., the roof system installer. “The biggest challenge was keeping all of our workers who were 80 to 100 feet off the ground from falling while protecting the park, the environment and the public,” he said. “Another challenge was running 70- to 80-foot-long panels on top of the roof while dangling a panel machine over the mountain.”

As I talked to contractors about these projects, it suddenly hit me that I haven’t been to a concert in a couple of years. I have been to a few football games, more than a few brew pubs, and several industry events over that same time period. As trade show season gets underway again, I’m looking forward to catching up with some familiar faces, meeting some new ones, and learning more about the latest products and services in the roofing industry. Now that’s entertainment. My next trip will be to the International Roofing Expo in Dallas, and I hope to see you there. I might even work in some live music while I’m in town.