University of West Florida
Building 73 Hurricane Ivan Repairs
Pensacola, Florida

After Pensacola was devastated by Hurricane Ivan, a Category 3 hurricane, STOA Architects was retained by UWF to provide the Architectural/Engineering services necessary to return the University’s heavily damaged Natatorium facility to pre-storm condition. Existing standing seam metal roof and wall panels were blown off during the storm, and the existing membrane roof was also heavily damaged.

With extensive firsthand knowledge of the effects of high winds on a variety of roofing systems, STOA Architects was able to provide the University with hurricane resistant designs that will allow the facility to withstand future storms. The existing roof deck had to be replaced as part of this project, and the design team selected a structural fiberglass deck which can withstand the corrosive atmosphere created by the swimming pool. The re-roof systems include engineered single-ply membrane and standing seam metal panel roofing systems specifically designed to withstand winds up to 135 mph. STOA Architects authorized testing of assembled mock-up panels for verification of fastener pull-out resistance. This warranted system requires the roof to be weather tight for at least the next 20 years and to withstand wind speeds up to 120 mph.