Historic Roofing Renovation

When considering what roofing product to use in renovating the 150-year-old Stock House building on the Bethlehem Steel campus in Bethlehem, Pa., the obvious choice was a steel standing seam roof. The Stock House was built in 1863 for the old Bethlehem Iron Co., and is the historic Bethlehem Steel site’s oldest remaining building. Renovated to stringent historical standards, it became the new Bethlehem Landing Regional Visitor’s Center in 2012. Tourists to the Lehigh Valley can now get an up-close look at the steel blast furnaces and learn about the rich history of the former industrial giant, while also finding out what the area has to offer today.

The architects for this Stock House project sought local materials for the restoration, which led them to ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa. Approximately 2,100 square feet of ATAS’ Dutch Seam steel roofing panels in 24-gauge Classic Bronze were installed on this building. In addition to its timeless appearance, the Dutch Seam panel has an integral lock and seam with no seam caps to install. This highly engineered panel design guards against wind-driven rain and wind uplift, while still allowing for air permeability. The metal is precision leveled at the factory prior to forming the panels, which improves the quality and consistency of the finished product. As well, the PVDF finish of the panels will ensure that the color maintains its integrity over time, for this historic structure’s continued service to the community.

Originally, the Stock House was used to store steelmaking supplies at the foot of the blast furnaces. Steel produced by Bethlehem Steel was used to construct some of America’s greatest landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building, and the Hoover Dam, to name a few. Today, visitors to the Stock House can participate in interactive displays highlighting the history, culture, recreation and attractions of Bethlehem and the surrounding Lehigh Valley. Offered daily are films and walking tours about Bethlehem Steel, and recently a guided tour of the new Hoover-Mason Trestle has been added.

The Hoover-Mason Trestle is a 1,650-foot elevated linear park and pedestrian walkway on the reclaimed industrial site of Bethlehem Steel. The trestle is 46 feet high and was originally an elevated narrow gauge rail line for raw materials, built around 1905. The 1/3-mile-long railway trestle provides an easy connection between Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and the SteelStacks entertainment complex, all located within the historic Bethlehem Steel campus.

Regarding the environmental impact of such a project, as stated by the American Iron & Steel Institute: In addition to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, “Restore” is the newest “R.” The North American steel industry, once again, is in a leadership role in redeveloping land where it once had operations, commonly known as the development of brownfield sites. This process of replacing shut-down steel facilities with light commercial and/or retail establishments is currently taking place all across the country. These efforts continue to win consumer support, local government awards, and the environmental community’s endorsement.

In 2013, the Stock House and the Bethlehem Steel complex won a Preservation Pennsylvania Construction Project Award in the Industrial Properties Category, for outstanding preservation and restoration. Preservation Pennsylvania is a nonprofit dedicated to the protection of historically and architecturally significant resources, and since 1979, has honored individuals and organizations that have exhibited excellence in the field of historic preservation.

This completed building has great meaning to Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley. Many local people and their family members worked for Bethlehem Steel, and are excited to see the campus renovated, without sacrificing the history and importance of it to the area. The revitalization of the Bethlehem Steel campus is a must see for both area visitors and residents alike and will continue to be, as it expands in the future.

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Lee Ann M. Slattery, CSI, CCPR, LEED AP BD+C, is the sales support manager at ATAS International Inc., based in Allentown, Pa., and is also the current president of the CSI Allentown chapter. To learn more about ATAS, visit www.atas.com.