Work on Dome of U.Va.’s Rotunda Wins Industry Award

The University of Virginia’s Rotunda is the proud owner of an award-winning roof.

W.A. Lynch Roofing Co., of Charlottesville, received two awards from the National Roofing Contractors Association for its work on replacing the landmark’s dome, which was completed last fall.

The University’s iconic Rotunda is in the middle of a multi-year renovation and restoration project to bring the building into the 21st century while retaining its 19th-century authenticity. The first phase of the project replaced the dome roof of the Rotunda. The second phase, scheduled to begin in late May, will replace the column capitals, repair the portico roofs and replace all the mechanical systems within the building.

Lynch Roofing received its awards – for the best steep roofing project and the best innovative solutions for a steep roofing project – last week during a roofing industry gathering in Las Vegas. The project required more than 4,000 individual pieces of 20-ounce copper weighing a total of six tons.

Lynch Roofing was nominated for the awards by U.Va. Facilities Management’s planning and construction division.

Jody Lahendro, historic preservation architect and senior supervisory project manager at Facilities Management, praised Lynch Roofing project manager Tom McGraw, a U.Va. graduate, for his work on the project.

“The unique challenges presented by applying small sheet-metal panels to a steep-sloped, stepped dome were identified prior to construction and thoughtfully and skillfully resolved in the execution,” Lahendro wrote in his letter of nomination. “The tremendous success of the Rotunda roofing project was the direct result of W.A. Lynch’s superior management, highly skilled and dedicated craftsmen, use of quality materials and a palpable respect for the work. Lynch’s achievement will beautifully crown this World Heritage Site and icon of American architecture and for many generations to come.”