Mid-State Industries installs DaVinci Slate roofing at SUNY

Look at the eight buildings that create the Smith and Mohawk Residences at the State University of New York (SUNY) campus, and you're liable to tilt your head. That's because the structures all feature unique mansard roofs that reach from the top of the buildings down more than four stories to the lawn below. The dormitories, which house 850 students, were originally built in 1968. While the students were away for the summer, Mid-State Industries, Ltd. tackled the project of removing the existing steep concrete shingle roofs and replacing them with 352 squares of DaVinci Slate synthetic roofing tiles. "We're used to working on steep slopes for roofs, but nothing like this," said Michael Lucey, president of Mid-State Industries. "This was an almost straight vertical application that required us to use special scaffolding for installation. For the team at C Companies, the selection of a synthetic roof came as a result of extensive research. "We liked everything we saw about the DaVinci product," said Jenny Schumaker, senior designer at C Companies. "The reinforced ribbing on the back of the product, combined with the product's resistance to curling and insects were all positive aspects. Yet, our decision was really made when we learned of the different width varieties and colors available for the tiles. These factors, all combined with the guaranteed 50-year warranty, sold us on using synthetic tiles for the mansard of these residence halls."