A repair team has placed a massive Ohio flag on the roof of the 50-year-old Rhodes State Office Tower in downtown Columbus in a cost-saving initiative to stop leaks that also shows state pride and spirit.
Due to its age, the skyscraper’s concrete roof had fallen into disrepair and caused water leaks. Replacing it was expected to cost about $4 million, according to the Ohio Department of Administrative Services’ Property and Facilities team.
Unwilling to break the bank, the Department of Administrative Services [DAS] team researched alternatives. What they landed on was a polymer overlay that would seal the roof, costing about $234,000. The alternative helped save millions of dollars on labor, concrete and debris removal, waterproofing and the installation of new concrete on top of the 629-foot, 41-story building.
The state originally planned to use a consistently gray color on the roof but later had the idea to depict the Ohio Burgee, the nickname for the state’s unique pennant-style flag with a swallowtail V. Ohio is the only U.S. state whose flag is not rectangular.
The polymer sealant is expected to last over 30 years without fading, and comes right in time for the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4.
“I am constantly challenging our team to come up with innovative ideas, and they hit this one out of the park — or should I say onto the roof,” DAS Director Kathleen C. Madden said in a prepared news release. “This is a creative and cost-effective way to keep the Rhodes Tower in top shape for years to come, while proudly displaying its Ohio spirit.”
The architectural firm responsible for the project, Schooley-Caldwell, drafted the designs for the Ohio flag pattern for free in collaboration with local muralist Mandi Caskey.
Dispatch reporter Lilli Malone can be reached at lmalone@dispatch.com or on Instagram at @lillimwrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Leaking Rhodes State Office Tower roof ‘flagged’ for repairs, saving millions
Reporting by Lilli Malone, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lilli Malone, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
