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Inside Iowa State
July 23, 1999

Dome to get new roof

by Anne Dolan
One of the university's loftiest landmarks -- the dome atop Beardshear Hall -- is getting a new roof next month. The building's appearance shouldn't change much, though, because the green roof tiles will be removed and put back in place during the process.

Some maintenance work on the dome roof was included in plans to redo the roof of Beardshear Hall. But upon closer look this spring, deterioration of the wood substructure beneath the dome tiles was worse than anticipated, said Bob Catus, construction manager with facilities planning and management. The roof project is scheduled to wrap up around Aug. 1.

Catus said crews will install scaffolding around the dome next week, with tile removal beginning the week after. A moisture barrier and the wood substructure to which the tiles are attached will be replaced, and by late August, crews should begin to reinstall the green dome tiles, he said.

Due to cracking or excessive wear, some of the tiles have to be replaced, but most of them will be reused, Catus said. Work crews located a supply of the original tiles in the Beardshear penthouse; that supply will supplement what is being reused. He estimated the tiles to be about 6 inches by 16 inches in size and about a half inch thick.

Beardshear Hall was completed in 1906 (although not named for former President William Beardshear until 1938).

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Revised 07/23/99