HODGE, LA

The WestRock No. 5 Paper Machine project was a diverse, challenging and complex project that focused on the rehabilitation of the facilities roof and trusses.

Our Company was a subcontractor to Structural Topcor, LLC. The chemical contents of the building and the high humidity of the building caused rot to the existing steel structure.

We removed pavers, single ply roofing, vapor barrier, metal decking, and roof trusses. The next step of the project involved the GC installing new sloped steel trusses, new stainless-steel roof deck, and new parapet walls.

The trusses spanned 130-feet and each bay was 18-feet wide. Our crews had to remove two bays at a time exposing a hole to the elements of 130-feet long by 36-feet wide. Each hole would be open for a month at a time.

The building could not have any water in it and operations could not be shut down, therefore, a temporary rolling roof structure was placed by the GC on existing ceiling crane rails which transported a temporary roofing system from bay to bay while the project was completed.

Also, this temporary structure had a gutter system added that would remove water to the exterior of the building. The paper machines were able to remain in full operation while construction was in progress with no safety issues.