It’s not uncommon when visiting any major city in North America today to find copper used on the roof or within the wall system of a government building, academic facility or house of worship. For centuries, copper has been the go-to building material when it comes to elaborate ornamental applications or complex and multi-faceted architectural details to a historic building or treasured landmark. But why is it that we see so many major landmarks using copper?
Known as mankind’s oldest metal, copper delivers an unparalleled beauty while providing durability, longevity and malleability, making it a preferred building construction material time and time again. For centuries, copper elements have contributed to a project’s architectural significance and have been prominently showcased in the landscape of building design.
“Copper’s natural patina has a very attractive appearance as it ages, and also when it has aged,” says Nick Lardas, owner of Niko Contracting, Pittsburgh. “What makes it most attractive though, is that it’s a life-long material-a copper roof can last for more than 100 years if it’s built right.”
While copper adds a sense of grandeur to any building, it is also widely known for its durability.
Outdoors, copper and its alloys like brasses and bronzes can withstand harsh exposure to the elements and wear from constant use better than any other material. It will not rust; yet, gradually, copper attains an attractive, stable patina that enhances the appearance of statues, roofs, and other decorative and architectural applications. Sheet copper is available in various sizes and forms, and it can be applied in a number of ways: standing seam, batten seam, flat seam, shingles, and other imaginative and attractive forms.
Each year, the Copper Development Association (CDA) recognizes the most outstanding building projects in the U.S. and Canada that utilize architectural copper and copper alloys in their design. The North American Copper in Architecture
(NACIA) awards program showcases a wide range of projects, all of which highlight craftsmanship, attention to detail and architectural vision.
CDA recently honored the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, with a NACIA award for the restoration of its age-old copper roof. Constructed in 1828, the Old Courthouse is considered one of the country’s most prominent architectural landmarks, as it has been the site for several important legal cases, including the first two trials leading up to the Dred Scott decision. To preserve this important landmark, the National Park Service sought to design a replacement roof that stayed true to the building’s historic design. Because of its durability and longevity, copper was selected as the appropriate replacement material.
Longevity? Yes. While all structures experience wear and tear over time, architects and contractors can trust copper will not deteriorate or corrode with age. As a result, this metal is often used on buildings designed to last a lifetime or longer.
From New York to San Francisco, architectural copper elements can be seen on numerous buildings that were constructed as far back as the turn of the 20th century-everything from museums and train stations to cathedrals and iconic skyscrapers. And in copper-producing states such as Arizona, where the metal is abundant and revered, copper is ubiquitous on university campus buildings, courthouses and other government facilities.
Grand Central Station, which celebrated 100 years in 2013, isknown as much for its shops and restaurants as it is for the spacious marble-flanked waiting rooms, graceful architecture and the brass and bronze that decorates its doors, window frames, hardware, railings and famous central clock. In 1998, the terminal’s copper roof was restored using 40 tons of quarter-hard, 20-ounce copper, despite the contractor claiming it was still serviceable-a testament to the durability of copper.
Some copper roofs date back even further like the historic Christ Church in Philadelphia. Christ Church was built in 1727 and is the oldest known copper-roofed church in America. Additionally, the
Library of Parliament in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, has been distinguished by its magnificent copper roof since 1888. It wasn’t until 2008 that the library underwent its first major roof restoration, with the intention of giving the library an extended life span of 50 years. However, since a properly designed and installed copper roof should last upwards of 100 years or more, the next time the library needs a facelift, the copper should still be performing as intended.
Also speaking to the durability of copper is San Francisco’s Sentinel Building (also known as Columbus Tower), which has been clad in white tile and copper since its construction in 1907. Over time, the copper has weathered naturally to a lovely blue-green hue.
Copper is also often used because it is extremely malleable and formable-it can be formed, bent and stretched into complex and intricate surfaces without breaking. This makes it possible to easily create spires, steeples, domes, non-linear roofs and walls, as well as complicated dormers, fascia and the like.
In 2012, the Massachusetts State House completed a brand new roof restoration. Erected in Boston in 1795, the dome was originally covered by wood shingles and, later, gold leaf. However, in 1801, it became the first building in North America to ever apply cold-roller copper. Twenty- and 32-ounce copper adorns the majority of the State House because of its workability, aesthetics and historical significance to the building. The design creates a fully functional masterpiece that protects the contents below and preserves the historic nature of this monument to American history.
“Throughout time, because of its beauty and longevity, mankind has used copper to protect and adorn our most important, most prominent, most influential buildings-many of which in the U.S. are recognized as national historic landmarks,” says Andy Kireta Jr., vice president of CDA. “Ellis Island, the U.S. Capitol, New York City’s Plaza Hotel, the Massachusetts State House, the Old Courthouse and many others-iconic buildings that played notable roles in the birth and growth of the United States, continue to look to copper for life-long protection and lasting beauty. Because of these same attributes we continue to see copper being used in new and innovative ways, from intricate wall cladding systems to interior applications on buildings that are likely to be our historic landmarks of the future.”
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Craig Thompson is project manager and architectural applications specialist for the Copper Development Association. A registered architect, Thompson has worked in various capacities related to architecture and building construction since 1972. For more information about copper in building and design, visit www.copper.org.