Created by the Copper Development Association, the North American Copper in Architecture (NACIA) award program celebrates the versatility and enduring appeal of copper in architectural applications. This year’s winners include several exemplary roofing projects that demonstrate the highest standards of craftsmanship, technique, and material use, including the revitalization of a derelict train station, a striking state capital building, a challenging dome reconstruction, and an iconic government building in Canada. Each project illustrates how copper can transform and preserve historical roof systems.

Michigan Central Station (detail); photo by CASS

Michigan Central Station

Detroit’s Michigan Central Station opened in 1913 as the tallest train station in the world. Designed by architects Warren & Wetmore in collaboration with Reed and Stem, the station’s Beaux Arts style highlighted the grandeur of early 20th-century rail travel. After closing in 1988, the station fell into disrepair and became a symbol of city’s decline. Ford Motor Company acquired the complex in 2018 as part of the company’s broader plan to create a new mobility innovation district in Corktown, Detroit's oldest neighborhood.

Ford selected Quinn Evans Architects to lead a complete station restoration that included reconstructing the station’s 27,000-square-foot copper roof, a challenge undertaken by Custom Architectural Sheet Specialists. Quinn Evans began by using old photos and architectural drawings to recreate the roof specifications. Their design called for a batten-seam roof with 16-ounce copper formed to 20-inch-wide panels separated by 3.5-inch battens.

Once the roof designs were complete, the fabrication team created mockups of several tricky elements, allowing them to refine details such as the radius of the bullnose, according to Glenn Parvin of Custom Architectural Sheet Specialists. The mockups also aided in getting feedback from the owner’s representatives without having to trek up onto the roof itself, as well as showing how fast the copper would start to weather and develop a patina.

The team’s solutions retained the copper roof’s historical appeal while providing opportunities for improvement in critical areas. The roof perimeter originally had built-in gutters that were too shallow, exacerbating erosion of the façade stonework. To address that problem, the team adapted the design to divert runoff into stormwater drains.

Three pediments across the front façade created another roof issue; their tight spacing squeezed the valleys, obstructing water flow. To address this, the team adjusted the roof geometry to increase slope and eliminate constriction within the valleys. Complex geometries at transitions between stone masonry façade elements and the copper roofing required custom solutions often fabricated on the job site.

The restored station represented a great example of how copper should be used to revitalize historic structures, winning it NACIA recognition.

New York Capitol Central Courtyard; photo by Greenwood Industries

New York State Capitol Central Courtyard

Completed in 1899 after more than three decades of construction, the New York State Capitol’s Central Courtyard in Albany, N.Y., represented a smaller but equally effective restoration. Designed by several prominent architects, including Thomas Fuller and Henry Hobson Richardson, the Capitol blends Renaissance Revival, Romanesque, and Victorian styles and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A central open-air courtyard features an extraordinary passage and restaurant infill roofed and clad in copper. Bell & Spina Architects-Planners PC orchestrated restoration of this area. Working with fabricator and installer Greenwood Industries, the team not only maintained the building’s historical integrity but upgraded its performance. They began by completely removing and replacing the old roof, re-insulating it and adding structural reinforcement.

The project specifications called for 16- and 20-ounce copper panels and required complete shop drawings as well as full-scale mockups. To ensure high-quality results, the specifications also asked sheet-metal technicians to provide fabrication and soldering samples to demonstrate their level of expertise. They also called for water and wind performance testing in accordance with Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractor National Association guidelines and UL Standard 580.

Adhering to strict preservation and installation standards, the project team carefully restored or recreated flat-seam and standing-seam copper roofing and downspouts. They also replicated the project’s intricate rosettes, egg-and-dart trim, and ornamental scrollwork. The original plan called for hand-soldering joinery, but after constructing a mockup, the team developed alternate attachment details using hidden clips, rivets, and bolts to eliminate visible fasteners.

This solution gave the structure a seamless look, an extraordinary result that helped earn it an NACIA award.

Logan County Courthouse; photo by Kyle Tracy

Logan County Courthouse

One of this year’s more ornate winners, the Logan County Courthouse in Lincoln, Ill., stands as an iconic example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. Completed in 1905, its prominent dome faced significant wear over the years. The recent restoration by Durable Restoration, with the help of Heather & Little and Chicago Metal Supply, overcame a unique set of challenges.

To restore the dome’s original appearance and ensure water-tight performance, the team used complex double-lock folded copper panels. This technique provides superior resistance to water infiltration, a critical factor for dome structures.

Chicago Metal Supply and Heather & Little custom-fabricated many of the structure’s copper elements. Many intricate details required precise measurements and expert craftsmanship to achieve the desired aesthetic and functional results. Durable Restoration’s team showcased their technical expertise during installation, aligning each seam perfectly.

The restored dome demonstrated the effectiveness of traditional copper roofing techniques in achieving long-lasting, visually striking results, earning it recognition as a NACIA winner.

Canadian Parliament, East Block; photo by Heather & Little

Canadian Parliament East Block

The final featured winner, the East Block of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, Ont., is a paradigm of Gothic Revival architecture. The building has stood as a cornerstone of Canada's government since its completion in 1865. Phase one of its restoration, led by Architecture49 and DFS Architects with contractor Heather & Little, continues the legacy of outstanding architectural copper use across Canada.

East Block provides a remarkable example of copper’s long service life as a roofing material, with restoration helping preserve its historical and culturally significant architecture. Featuring copper prominently for both roofing and architectural detailing, this building required manufacturing and installing batten-seam copper roofing at the peak of the towers and standing-seam copper roofing on remaining roof elements. In some areas of the project, the team incorporated factory-patinated copper integrate with adjacent roofing elements that did not need replacement. Where necessary, they also altered aspects of the existing roof to improve its water-shedding capabilities and overall performance without compromising historical accuracy.

The Enduring Appeal of Copper Roof Systems

These award-winning projects underscore the versatility and enduring appeal of copper in roofing restoration. The comprehensive restoration of Michigan Central Station, detailed reworking of the New York State Capitol, technical execution of Logan County Courthouse dome, and legacy of the Canadian Parliament highlight the importance of expert craftsmanship, historical accuracy, and precision techniques.

Copper continues to be a material of choice for those dedicated to preserving architectural heritage while ensuring long-lasting beauty and functionality.