“A fifteen-minute decision affects that district for the next twenty to thirty years,” said Chris Coryell, CEO and founder of Coryell Roofing. “Shouldn’t we help people understand what it is they need and what it is they’re purchasing?”

Coryell Roofing, Roofing Contractor’s 2024 Commercial Contractor of the Year, said the center is intended to help facility directors and school board members better understand roof system options before reviewing major proposals. Visitors also learn about FM standards and the importance of building beyond minimum code requirements.

“We feel a duty and a responsibility to help promote higher standards and the right roof system,” Coryell said. “The only way to do that is to get people into an environment where they can experience it.”

Ken Wells, president and general manager of Coryell Roofing, said the center reflects the company’s broader emphasis on education.

“We are investing in education because informed clients make better decisions, and better decisions protect the communities we serve,” Wells said. “This is the first center of several planned, and it reflects where this company is headed.”

The Franklin center was equipped in partnership with Duro-Last, extending Coryell Roofing’s collaboration with the manufacturer and FM on commercial roofing standards. The company said the facility brings training that once required travel to a manufacturing plant closer to schools and facilities in its service area.

The grand opening included school superintendents, facility directors, community members and industry partners. Williamson Inc., the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce, hosted the ribbon cutting.

Coryell Roofing said the Franklin Experience Center is the first of several planned as the company expands its education-focused approach across its service area.