Clark University Kneller Athletic Center

ABOUT CLARK UNIVERSITY KNELLER ATHLETIC CENTER

The center of athletic life on the Clark University campus is the Kneller Athletic Center. The building encompasses the Hurst Courts – home to the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as women’s volleyball and has seating for 2,000 spectators.

In addition, there is an area for indoor badminton, baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, running, soccer, softball, tennis, four racquetball courts and two squash courts.

Also housed in the building is a six-lane, 25-yard competition-sized pool with one- and three-meter diving boards and home to the highly-successful men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.

The University’s Department of Athletics coaches and administrative offices as well as conference rooms and athletic training facilities are also in the Kneller Athletic Center.

PROJECT DETAILS

Tecta America New England completed the installation of a 48,000 sq. ft. Soprema Sopralene modified bitumen roofing system at the Kneller Athletic Center on the campus of Clark University in Worcester, MA.

The existing modified bitumen cap sheet and base were removed down to the wooden deck before installation of the new system. Tecta worked tirelessly with the staff at Clark for months in advance to prepare for a successful project. This included everything from determining the full system, working out a complicated pattern that would match the existing look, creating a plan and obtaining all permits to work with an open torch to install the system, and staging all edge conditions to allow for a safe job for the workers and the general campus traffic. This roof received a 20-year full system manufacturer’s warranty from Soprema, Inc.

CHALLENGES

This building has a shape similar to a circus tent, as it spans athletic facilities including a basketball arena. This presented many challenges to the crew, including:

• Constant changing slopes
• Unusual angles
• Dangerous edge condition