Project Stats
Building Size: 35,000 sq ft
Roof Size: 20,000 sq ft
Completed: March 2025
Warranty Coverage: 20 years
Construction Team
General Contractor: Skanska USA
Architect: Emersion Design
Roofing Contractor: Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal
Cincinnati Public Radio’s new headquarters, known as the Scripps Family Center for Public Media, opened in April 2025 and is the first two-story mass timber building in the Midwest. The 35,000 sq ft building includes numerous performance and on-air interview studios, an office space and open area for public events.
Throughout its design and construction, sustainability was a core value amongst the project stakeholders. Cincinnati Public Radio stated that “the focus is on occupant well-being, a healthier space that uses less water and energy and creates less waste.”
The sustainable design was evident from the decreased carbon emissions of the mass timber structure to the energy efficiency of the roof. The 20,000 sq ft sloped roof utilizes a 3-ply hybrid built-up roof system, which includes a 60 mil white TPA membrane cap sheet, two plies underneath that, as well as roof insulation, leak detection mesh, coverboard and vapor barrier. The reflective nature of the white roof surface mitigates the Urban Heat Island Effect and helps keep the building cool in warmer months.
Due to tight timelines and little lay-down room, on-time product delivery and precise scheduling was critical to complete this project on time. The roofing contractor, Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal, Inc., even implemented a phased approach to the roof install to expedite construction. They first applied the initial Tremco roof layers for a water-tight system to dry in the building and enable subsequent trade work. The exposed SBS membrane could withstand the abuse from the other trades better than alternative single-ply roofs. A few months later, the roofers came back and adhered the TPA cap sheet for a clean, white finish.
The roof of the Cincinnati Public Radio is also VR-ready, meaning it has the waterproofing and structural strength needed to hold vegetation and pedestrian walkways. A vegetated roof, also known as a green roof, has many benefits for the owner and community. In addition to serving as beautiful, usable space for staff and guests, the greenery on the roof also absorbs rain to minimize stormwater runoff and urban flooding.
The roof design itself also posed some challenges, as vegetative roof systems are not typically done on sloped roofs like this one. And since the green roof components were slated for after the main construction period, the roof included a tie-back system so that vegetated roof elements (planters, drainage, etc.) could be easily installed at a later date without having to disrupt the already warranted roof system.
To assist with these complexities, Tremco’s technical support was available throughout the job for guidance and quality control. Chase Cupryk, Senior Project Manager for Kalkreuth, explained that “having them on site everyday was great. It helped keep the project moving at a fast pace, because we could resolve any problems right away.”
Through sustainable building design, precise planning and teamwork, Cincinnati Public Radio’s new headquarters equips them with a functional, eco-conscious space for long-term success. This one-of-a-kind structure even stands green roof ready to streamline adoption of this architectural and environmental feature in the future.
