Western Specialty Contractors – St. Louis Roofing branch recently completed a project to replace the roof on the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO.
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is an independent, not-for-profit research institute dedicated to plant science. Founded in 1998 by William Henry Danforth, Chancellor Emeritus of Washington University in St. Louis, the center’s core facilities include bioinformatics, integrated microscopy, phenotyping, plant growth, proteomics and mass spectrometry, as well as tissue culture and transformation. The center is also home to the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels and the International Institute for Crop Improvement.
Located at 975 North Warson Road, Western was contracted in March 2025 to remove the building’s existing EPDM system down to the concrete deck, which was entirely covered in EPDM walk pads, making the tear-off more difficult. Western then installed a new EPDM system consisting of ¼-inch tapered polyiso insulation, high-density polyiso-covered board, and a 115-mil EPDM fleece-backed membrane.
“The center’s new EPDM roof system was important because it allowed us to provide the puncture-resistant surface that the customer wanted without having to install EPDM walk pads over the entire roof system,” said Western Project Manager Kyle Hardiek.
EPDM is a highly durable synthetic rubber roofing membrane widely used in low-slope commercial buildings. EPDM is available in black, gray and white and comes in a variety of widths and three thicknesses (45, 60, and 90 mils). EPDM can be installed either fully adhered, mechanically attached or ballasted, with the seams of the roofing system sealed with liquid adhesives or specially formulated tape.
Western consulted with roofing material manufacturer Carlisle to create proper details that ensured the new roof remained watertight at the roof’s challenging tie-in locations, which included limited clearance and height restrictions on existing equipment, as well as the metal façade details.
Due to the amount of equipment and limited open space on the center’s roof, Western’s crew worked closely with crane rental company Budrovich to schedule cranes to lift debris and trash off the roof and deliver new materials to stay on schedule.
“We had to have parking spots roped off, and areas closed to employees to ensure everybody’s safety with the crane’s overhead lifting to the roof,” said Hardiek.
Western was able to complete the project within budget and on schedule in June 2025 to the satisfaction of the owner.
Have a project you need completed? Contact the St. Louis branch today https://westernspecialtycontractors.com/saint-louis/
About Western Specialty Contractors
Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://westernspecialtycontractors.com.