Project Profiles

Standing Out: Historic St. Paul’s Cathedral Highlighted by Fire Brick Red Roof

Almost two decades after the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the heavily-damaged St. Paul’s Cathedral and Parish House near the blast site finally have new, long-lasting polymer roofs overhead.

The 1904 Norman-Gothic church structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was badly damaged during the tragic Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. In the rebuilding aftermath, a roof was added that failed during the ensuing years. Now, after extensive research, the church has invested in a durable DaVinci Roofscapes composite slate roof in an attractive fire brick red color.

“Our Roof and Restoration Committee did extensive research into roof replacement options and also consulted with our architect, Mass Architects Inc.,” said Mike Murphy, a member of St. Paul’s church and a director at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. “The primary reasons we selected the DaVinci Multi-Width Slate product were the low-maintenance factor coupled with the roof’s impact- and fire-resistance features. The 50-year limited warranty available from the manufacturer and the ability to get the roofing tile in the fire brick red color we wanted really sold us on the product.”

Originally opened 110 years ago, St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the oldest church communities in downtown Oklahoma City. The church expanded dramatically in 1982 and now includes four large structures. The bombing in 1995 did substantial damage for St. Paul’s Cathedral, lifting the roof and splaying the walls outward. After two years of closure, the Cathedral was opened following a massive renovation of the entire church complex.

“The roof put on after the bombing was a hard, composite material,” Murphy said. “Over time they failed, with an abundance of breaking and leaking. Our research brought us to DaVinci, and we’re very pleased with the results. The new roofs have been up since early in 2014 and the bright, attractive red color now serves to highlight our location in the community.”

For information, visit www.davinciroofscapes.com.