News : Delays mean installing IBSSS shingles may have to wait until spring

Work continues on the roof of the Old Main Building at the Iowa Braille School campus.

How the roof looked after the 2011 storm.

Copper from the roof, tangled in utility lines, after the storm of July 11, 2011.

Passers-by can see the progress of the restration of the Old Main Building roof at the Iowa Braille and Sight-Saving School.

The July 11, 2011 wind storm caused significant damage to the roof, which was at that time covered with copper.

IBSSS Supervisor of Plant Services Kevin Kacena shared an update on the progress this morning:

"The center section framing had been delayed; they were waiting on details for frame connection one the east facing gable ridge and abatement of lead paint; those have been resolved," he said.

A few more building details, from Kacena:

The north structural steel is on site and setting of main trusses will begin this week. All of the masonry demo work has been complete on both the north and south sections. The new masonry work is complete on the north section and south section. The cornice and gutter jacks are being fabricated and installed where possible. The cupola repair and painting has begun and should take a couple more weeks. North end steel and decking should be done in four weeks and the south end done by October 21st.

GCI has indicated that the roof will be dried in before winter but installation of the shingles requires temps above 40 degrees, so shingling will likely have to wait until spring. The remaining work on third floor will continue after the building has been dried in. The new scheduled completion date is March 21st.