Two very different businesses looking for distinctive roofs to complement their corporate image found the answer in metal roofing systems. When an engineering firm and a sporting goods store wanted to develop signature roofs, they turned to Petersen Aluminum Corp., Elk Grove Village, Ill., and the manufacturer provided the materials for the unique finishing touches contractors applied to their buildings.

The headquarters of Bolton & Menk Inc. in Mankato, Minn., features 1,500 square feet of PAC-CLAD metallic Copper Penny Flush Panels installed horizontally on the walls.


More than 60,000 square feet of PAC-CLAD 22 gauge 18-inch steel Snap-Clad panels finished in Forest Green were used to roof this new Cabela's store in Buda, Texas.

Two very different businesses looking for distinctive roofs to complement their corporate image found the answer in metal roofing systems. When an engineering firm and a sporting goods store wanted to develop signature roofs, they turned to Petersen Aluminum Corp., Elk Grove Village, Ill., and the manufacturer provided the materials for the unique finishing touches contractors applied to their buildings.

In the first case, a new building to house the headquarters of Bolton & Menk Inc., a civil and environmental engineering firm located in Mankato, Minn., utilized Petersen roof, wall and soffit panels to create a unique look that suited the engineering firm.

"We were dealing with a simple shape overall," said Bryan Paulsen of Paulsen Architects, also located in Mankato. "The challenge was how to take a ‘box' and give it a distinctive identity by adding verticality and visual interest." The focal point of the design centered on the main entrance area of the 20,000-square-foot building.

Utilizing approximately 1,500 square feet of PAC-CLAD® metallic Copper Penny Flush Panels installed horizontally on the walls and complemented with large entry awning "wings" utilizing Snap-On Panels also finished in Copper Penny, the building "shimmers during the day and tends to glow at night," according to Paulsen.

The entry area roof utilizes 3,700 square feet of High Snap-On Silver Metallic Panels and features a prominent overhang with PAC-750 no-vent soffit panels also finished in Silver Metallic. Coordinated Silver Metallic window frames were used for accent. In addition, an eight-stall detached garage was also covered with 3,500 square feet of High Snap-On Silver Metallic panels.

Installation of the Petersen panels was completed by Kato Roofing Inc., Mankato. "The roof was pretty straightforward," said project manager Bill Macgregor. "The biggest challenge was dealing with 30-degree-below-zero wind chill while installing the horizontal panels in 43 foot lengths. But we persevered and got a great looking job that everyone is really pleased with."

Topping Cabela's Stores

More than 60,000 square feet of PAC-CLAD 22 gauge 18-inch steel Snap-Clad™ panels finished in Forest Green were utilized to provide the signature green roof on the new Cabela's store near Austin in Buda, Texas.

"That's a lot of green," says Pat Gallagher, project manager for general contractor Kraus-Anderson Construction, Circle Pines, Minn. Kraus-Anderson has continued as Cabela's design-build contractor since being involved in the retailer's expansion launch in 1997. Today, Cabela's has eight stores throughout the Midwest with more under way.

"I had my doubts about meeting the tight time frame, given the particularly wet spring we had," Gallagher said. "But the roofing contractor brought in a large crew and did a great job under adverse conditions."

K Post Co., Dallas, installed the Petersen roof and also constructed numerous decorative interior applications using PAC-CLAD flat stock. It was a challenging job, according to Steve Little, K Post's president. "There were six different length panels up to 60 feet long and five different slopes on the structure. The Hill Country winds definitely made handling the longer panels interesting." All panels were fabricated at Petersen's Tyler, Texas, manufacturing facility. K Post fabricated trim items and custom soffits at its shop in Dallas. "It's a great-looking job," Little said, "and we're delighted to be associated with great names like Cabela's and Petersen."

The architectural firm of Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates in Mechanicsburg, Pa., has been involved in the design of Cabela's last six stores. "The green metal roof and its distinctive shape is an iconic image that people relate to when they think of Cabela's stores," according to project manager Brian Haines. "The green obviously relates to what Cabelas's is and also provides a lodge feel. The shape of the roof is an attempt to add interest and bring the size of the building down to more of a human scale."

For more information on PAC-CLAD, contact Petersen Aluminum Corp. at 800-722-2523 or visit www.pac-clad.com.