City-County Building gets fitted for new roof

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

The roof of the historic Denver City and County Building is getting a much-needed face- lift.

Roofers started the $1.35 million roof replacement project last week and are working to finish on target by the end of July.

Kevin Patterson, the city's manager of general services, said the roofers are putting in long hours.

"We're working real hard to make sure we get this done as quickly as possible because we don't want to have too much disruption," he said Wednesday. "To have them there early helps, and we also want to make sure they're working later for the parts that are more noisy."

Beating the summer heat is another consideration, he said.

Terry LaVelle, executive vice president of Arapahoe Roofing and Sheet Metal Inc., which is doing the work, said the project is a big undertaking.

"We replaced Concourse B (at Denver International Airport) a couple of years ago, though, and that was probably four times as big as this," he said.

The project is being funded through the city's 2008 capital improvement budget.

"The slope part (of the roof) is what has sustained a good bit of hail damage, and it's a chance for us to address that and address the gutter replacement as well," Patterson said.

Water from rain and snow has been dripping over the side, damaging the building's stone and tuck pointing, he said.

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099