Thanksgiving morning in Ely was cold and snowy this year. That did not deter the roofers putting the finishing touches on the new roof at the Centennial Fine Arts Center during the snowstorm when most people were putting their turkeys into the oven to roast.
“I was really surprised to see them up there on Thanksgiving Day,” said Lori Drew, treasurer of the White Pine Community Choir Association.
“We were leaving for a family dinner out-of-town,” she continued, “and there the roofers were, working despite the weather.”
Contractor Paul Jauch confirmed that his crew was determined to complete the roof before cold weather, for which White Pine County is known, set in. “I gave my guys the option to come back to Las Vegas for the holiday,” he told the choir, “but they really wanted to beat winter’s arrival.”
The dedication and craftsmanship of the Fong Construction crew are now on full display at the Centennial Fine Arts Center.
This complex project has been three years in the making. It involved a specialized crew to remove the top layer of asbestos-containing shingles. Then the Fong Construction crew removed the next two layers, installed the plywood sheeting, and put the new shingles on.
Once the shingles were in place, the specially-milled cornices were installed. These cornices are historically accurate, with impressive intricacy and visual appeal. The cornices were then carefully painted so that water entry will be prevented.
Next the new fascia band was installed. Finally, the roofers added the gutters and the downspouts to complete the job.
Dante Amato, the architect who designed the roof project, made a site visit to the Fine Arts Center on Saturday, December 9. After inspecting the roofing and details such as cornices and fascia, he expressed his approval of the quality of the work as well as the building’s new appearance. “The impact of the rehabilitated fascia band is remarkably transformative,” he commented.
The roof project has received funding from Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency and its Brownfields program, White Pine County Commissioners, City of Ely, White Pine County Tourism and Recreation Board, KGHM Mining, Calibre Mining, E.L. Cord Foundation, William Hohlt, and the Ely Rotary Club, with technical assistance provided during the entire course of the project by BEC Environmental.
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