EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY - TUFFWRAP

CLIENT
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc. 

LOCATION
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

STRUCTURE
Opened in 1829 as part of a controversial movement to change the behavior of inmates through "confinement in solitude with labor," the massive stone structure became one of the most expensive and most copied buildings in America.  More than 300 prisons worldwide are based on the Penitentiary's radial or “wagon wheel” floor plan.

CHALLENGE
Roofing work is an ongoing project at Eastern State Penitentiary.  In many cases, a permanent solution is too costly. A long-term, temporary roofing material was needed to stem the ever increasing rate of deterioration.  The Kitchen, Industrial Building, and Cellblocks 5 and 6 needed urgent attention.

SCOPE OF SERVICE
  • Evaluate the longevity of Tuffwrap, an advanced polymer plastic, as a viable temporary roofing solution for use at the site.
  • Determine which portions of the deteriorated roof prior to remove prior to the installation of the Tuffwrap.
SOLUTION
  • Install Tuffwrap roofing over the existing roofs until permanent roofing work could be funded.
  • Provide construction documents detailing the attachment methods for each of the roofs.
  • Provide construction administration throughout the installation process.
  • Monitor and inspect the roofs annually for any changes or damage to the temporary covering.
HISTORIC STATUS
Eastern State Penitentiary is a National Historic Landmark and is under consideration for a World Heritage Site nomination.