The official colors of Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, might be black and athletic gold, but when it comes to campus building roofs, the school prefers to see “white and green.” White, for the color of the Sika Sarnafil EnergySmart Roof® membrane, and “green” for the roof’s energy savings and environmental benefits.
“Tyler Junior College is one of the largest junior colleges in the nation, and our new college president, Dr. L. Michael Metke, wanted to make the campus ‘greener’ and shrink our ecological footprint,” explained Kevin Jones, assistant director of Facilities and Construction at Tyler Junior College. “So when we looked to replace some of the failing roofs at the college, we wanted to find a roofing system that was sustainable and good for the environment.”
Jones did some research on the Internet and found one product that would meet this criterion was the Sika Sarnafil roofing system. Unlike the dark-colored modified bitumen, ballasted EPDM, and BUR roofs previously installed on the college buildings, the EnergySmart Roof reflects 83% of the sun’s rays, thereby keeping the building cooler and reducing air conditioning costs. With an emissivity rating of 90%, the small amount of heat that is not reflected is quickly released back to the atmosphere.
“Our administration also liked the fact that the Sika Sarnafil roofing membranes can be recycled at the end of their useful lives,” Jones said. In fact, Sika Sarnafil recently became the first roofing manufacturer to receive UL recycled content certification.
Although Jones was impressed with the environmental benefits of the Sika Sarnafil membrane, he wanted to be sure that the roofing system would also perform well.
“I read that the Sika Sarnafil membrane was used on the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, so I contacted a Sika Sarnafil representative to learn more,” Jones said. “Not only did he give me a tour of the Cowboys stadium but he also showed me a 30-year-old Sika Sarnafil roof at a Southwest Foods warehouse and manufacturing facility here in Tyler — and that roof looked like it was only 10 years old. That’s when we decided to go with the Sika Sarnafil system.”
The Vaughn Library received the first Sika Sarnafil roof at the junior college in 2010, and the Wagstaff Gym was next. The school has been very pleased with their experience with Sika Sarnafil. Subsequently, Sarnafil® roofs were chosen for the campus Information Technology Building, the Genecov Science Building, and for the college’s Hudnall Planetarium.
“We wanted a roofing system that wouldn’t need any attention for a long time, and to date we have never had a single call or issue with any of the Sika Sarnafil roofs,” Jones said. “In fact, our goal is to install Sika Sarnafil roofing systems on all of our flat roofs.”
He added, “Sometimes following a green initiative is not economically feasible, but that’s not the case with the Sika Sarnafil roofs. They have a durable, long-lasting, energy efficient product backed up by a worldwide company.” BD+C
Related Stories
Government Buildings | Mar 24, 2023
19 federal buildings named GSA Design Awards winners
After a six-year hiatus, the U.S. General Services Administration late last year resumed its esteemed GSA Design Awards program. In all, 19 federal building projects nationwide were honored with 2022 GSA Design Awards, eight with Honor Awards and 11 with Citations.
Transportation & Parking Facilities | Mar 23, 2023
Amsterdam debuts underwater bicycle parking facility that can accommodate over 4,000 bikes
In February, Amsterdam saw the opening of a new underwater bicycle parking facility. Located in the heart of the city—next to Amsterdam Central Station and under the river IJ (Amsterdam’s waterfront)—the facility, dubbed IJboulevard, has parking spots for over 4,000 bicycles, freeing up space on the street.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 22, 2023
New Jersey’s new surgical tower features state’s first intraoperative MRI system
Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center recently opened its 530,000-sf Helena Theurer Pavilion, a nine-story surgical and intensive care tower designed by RSC Architects and Page. The county’s first hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, a 781-bed nonprofit teaching and research hospital, was founded in 1888.
Project + Process Innovation | Mar 22, 2023
Onsite prefabrication for healthcare construction: It's more than a process, it's a partnership
Prefabrication can help project teams navigate an uncertain market. GBBN's Mickey LeRoy, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP, explains the difference between onsite and offsite prefabrication methods for healthcare construction projects.
Women in Design+Construction | Mar 21, 2023
Two leading women in construction events unite in 2023
The new Women in Residential + Commercial Construction Conference (WIR+CC) will take place in Nashville, Tenn., October 25-27, 2023. Combining these two long-standing events aligns with our mission to create an event most impactful for women in the $1.4 trillion U.S. commercial and residential design and construction industry.
Mass Timber | Mar 19, 2023
A 100% mass timber construction project is under way in North Carolina
An office building 100% made from mass timber has started construction within the Live Oak Bank campus in Wilmington, N.C. The 67,000-sf structure, a joint building venture between the GCs Swinerton and Wilmington-headquartered Monteith Construction, is scheduled for completion in early 2024.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 17, 2023
Aurora, Colo., recreation center features city’s first indoor field house, unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains
In January, design firm Populous and the City of Aurora, Colo. marked the opening of the Southeast Aurora Recreation Center and Fieldhouse. The 77,000-sf facility draws design inspiration from the nearby Rocky Mountains. With natural Douglas Fir structure and decking, the building aims to mimic the geography of a canyon.
Architects | Mar 16, 2023
HKS launches partner diversity program to create a more diverse workforce and partnership network
Design firm HKS has launched a new partner diversity program that will work to build a more diverse AEC ecosystem. The HKS xBE program will give xBE firms (a term encompassing all disadvantaged businesses) and their members “access to opportunities to build relationships, pursue new work, and bolster innovation within the architecture and design professions,” according to HKS.
Sustainability | Mar 16, 2023
Lack of standards for carbon accounting hamper emissions reduction
A lack of universally accepted standards for collecting, managing, and storing greenhouse gas emissions data (i.e., carbon accounting) is holding back carbon reduction efforts, according to an essay published by the Rocky Mountain Institute.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 15, 2023
Georgia State University Convocation Center revitalizes long-neglected Atlanta neighborhood
Georgia State University’s new Convocation Center doubles the arena it replaces and is expected to give a shot in the arm to a long-neglected Atlanta neighborhood. The new 200,000 sf multi-use venue in the Summerhill area of Atlanta is the new home for the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and will also be used for large-scale academic and community events.
