Serving a coastal community, the Lincoln City, Oregon Police department recently found itself having outgrown its station and in need of a new facility. Because of its location, where powerful waves, rain, and wind are commonplace, the department needed to consider placement and resiliency when thinking about building a new one.
“On the Oregon coast there is a lot of concern about earthquakes, and rain and wind are constant,” says Ian Gelbrich, AIA, partner of Portland-based FFA Architecture & Interiors, which was hired by the department to design the new station. Gelbrith and his team not only addressed weather resistance in the design of the station but also drew directly from the aesthetic and durability of the rugged coastal landscape, as well as law enforcement itself, for inspiration. What they came up with was nothing short of unique.
“In addition to considering the police profession, we looked to nature for examples of what portrays resiliency, focusing in on the rocks in the surf nearby, that get pounded day in and day out,” says Gelbrith. “The station’s design structurally and visually mimics those solid rocks.”
The site of the new station was hand-picked because it sits outside of the region’s tsunami inundation zones. The new 18,000-square-foot-facility was constructed by Emerick Construction Co. of Tualatin, Oregon, and features something out of the ordinary – Newpoint™ Concrete Roof Tile featured not only atop the roof but as full exterior cladding applied all the way around the facility.
“We were looking for a cementitious material that could be used for the full exterior,” adds Gelbrith. “We needed something durable to withstand the coast’s relentless weather and decided on concrete roofing.”
The concrete tile is known for its enduring, lengthy lifespan. The material gains strength over time and, on the roof, typically last 3.75 ties longer than asphalt shingle. It also outperforms asphalt shingle in energy efficiency capabilities, is Class A Fire-rated, and is notably manufactured utilizing abundant, naturally occurring geologic material. It may also be recycled at the end of its long life.
Gelbrith explains his team’s unique approach to the roof design and how it addressed the copious amounts of rain endemic to the location. “We took the typical gable form and selected two points on each façade where we wanted water to flow down into the gutter system and express off the façade,” adds Gelbrith. “We then lifted up each corner from that point, which added complexity but makes the roof unique.”
The designers specified Westlake Royal Roofing Solution’s concrete tile in Stone Mountain Blend, which emulated the color and texture of the rocks in the Pacific Ocean.
Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions takes pride in conducting in-depth research into trends impacting architecture, roofing, and roof color preferences. “Our product offerings result directly from our findings and we continuously refine and expand our color options,” says Ann Iten, director of marketing for Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions.
CC&L Roofing Co. of Portland completed the roof installation. “Lincoln City is prone to high winds and, with our experience working in this climate, we knew the right way to install the tile so it would be able to survive the coast,” says Dan Cornwell, president, and owner. Notably, concrete tile can withstand high-force winds when properly installed in accordance with the Tile Roofing Institute Installation Manual for Moderate Climate Regions.
The installers started by applying not one, but two layers of Westlake Royal™ Ply 40, an all-season SBS-modified fiberglass reinforced underlayment, with the material half-lapped and weaved at the valleys over plywood sheathing. Next, CC&L covered the underlayment with a single layer of Westlake Royal™ TileSeal™ HT, a premium self-adhered high-temp underlayment with a modified asphalt core. “We know this is a different approach, but the benefit is that if there is any issue in the future it can be repaired without removing sheathing,” says Cornwell.
CC&L then installed Westlake Royal Roofing Components™ 1×3 Elevated Battens over the self-adhered membrane on the roof, as well as over the structure’s weather resistive wall system, before finally adorning it with the tile. “We had never installed concrete tiles as wall cladding, especially on a three-story structure,” adds Cornwell. “But what resulted is truly a standout facility.”
On additional attributes that make the new police station unique, Gelbrith added: “A lot of police stations are bunkerlike in appearance, however, this one fits with the community and its natural surroundings. It’s open, inviting, and doesn’t say ‘keep out.’”
