When Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport opened to the public Aug. 29, 2020, visitors reached for their smartphones to photograph the antics of the African penguins and the experience of touching a baby shark. The 6-acre complex incorporates indoor and outdoor habitats with more than 200 species of animals and 50 plants native to freshwater and saltwater environments around the world.
The aquarium is expected to elevate Mississippi’s Gulf Coast to a premier family-friendly tourist destination. A distinct feature of the aquarium’s entrance and logo is three sails to represent the aquarium’s three pillars: education, conservation and community.
Funding for the $93 million construction project was achieved through public and private collaboration. The project’s general contractor, Roy Anderson Corp., Gulfport, a subsidiary of Tutor Perini Corp., Sylmar, Calif., selected Roofing Solutions LLC, Prairieville, La., to assist with the design, coordination and installation of the facility’s multiple roof and metal panel wall systems.
“The design-assist-build process is one of our best capabilities,” says Tupac de la Cruz, operations manager and founder of Roofing Solutions.
Roofing work
Groundbreaking ceremonies to commence construction were held May 11, 2018, and in January 2019, Roofing Solutions began on-site work. Workers set up flagging, established perimeter railings and used retractable lines, safety vests, hard hats, safety harnesses and safety ropes for the project’s duration.
Buildings 50 and 70
The Mississippi Aquarium complex consists of seven buildings. On buildings 50 and 70, the Roofing Solutions team installed an SBS polymer-modified bitumen roof system over a low-slope steel deck.
Workers began by mechanically fastening two layers of 2-inch-thick SOPRA-ISO® polyisocyanurate insulation, a layer of 1/4-inch-thick SOPRA-ISO+ Tapered polyisocyanurate insulation and 1/8-inch-thick SOPRABOARD® using OMG® No. 14 fasteners and 3-inch plates. Next, CERTA-trained workers used torches to apply SOPRALENE® Flam 180 SBS polymer-modified bitumen in the field and at flashings followed by SOPRALENE 180 FR GR SBS polymer-modified bitumen also in the field and at flashings. To complete the roof system, workers applied liquid ALSAN® Flashing at all roof penetrations.
Building 45
Building 45 consisted of a liquid-applied membrane roof system over a low-slope structural steel deck.
Workers mechanically fastened two layers of 2-inch-thick SOPRA-ISO FLAT polyisocyanurate insulation, a layer of 1/4-inch-thick SOPRA-ISO+ Tapered polyisocyanurate insulation and 1/8-inch-thick SOPRABOARD using OMG No. 14 fasteners and 3-inch plates. Then, CERTA-trained workers used torches to apply SOPRALENE 180 SP 3.0 SBS polymer-modified bitumen in the field and at flashings.
To fill surface cracks, voids and depressions in the membrane, workers applied ALSAN RS Paste followed by a coating of ALSAN RS 230 Field. Next, the Roofing Solutions team rolled out ALSAN RS Fleece reinforcement and applied another layer of ALSAN RS 230 Field followed by a mixture of ALSAN RS 287 Color Finish Base and ALSAN RS Color Pack Additive to create a white color. To complete the walkways, workers applied ALSAN RS Textured Coating in white.
Building 40
Building 40 consisted of a liquid-applied membrane roof system over a steep-slope structural concrete deck.
Workers began by setting two layers of 2-inch-thick SOPRA-ISO FLAT polyisocyanurate insulation with DUOTACK® 365 adhesive in the field and a layer of 1/2-inch-thick SOPRA-ISO+ Tapered polyisocyanurate insulation with adhesive at crickets. Next, CERTA-trained workers placed 1/8-inch-thick SOPRABOARD with DUOTACK 365 adhesive and then used torches to apply SOPRALENE 180 SP 3.0 SBS polymer-modified bitumen in the field and flashings.
To fill surface cracks, voids and depressions in the membrane, workers applied ALSAN RS Paste followed by a coating of ALSAN RS 230 Field. Then, the Roofing Solutions team rolled out ALSAN RS Fleece reinforcement and applied another layer of ALSAN RS 230 Field followed by a mixture of ALSAN RS 287 Color Finish Base and ALSAN RS Color Pack Additive. To complete the walkways, workers applied ALSAN RS Textured Coating in white.
For the flashings system, workers applied ALSAN RS 230 Flash, rolled out ALSAN RS Fleece reinforcement, applied another layer of ALSAN RS 230 Flash followed by a mixture of ALSAN RS 287 Color Finish Base and ALSAN RS Color Pack Additive. To complete the system, workers applied liquid ALSAN Flashing at all roof penetrations.
Building 30
Building 30 consisted of a liquid-applied membrane roof system over a steep-slope structural lightweight insulating concrete roof deck.
The Roofing Solutions team set 1/2-inch-thick SOPRA-ISO+ Tapered polyisocyanurate insulation at crickets and 1/8-inch-thick SOPRABOARD in the field using DUOTACK 365 adhesive. Then, CERTA-trained workers used torches to apply SOPRALENE 180 SP 3.0 SBS polymer-modified bitumen in the field and at flashings.
To fill surface cracks, voids and depressions in the membrane, workers applied ALSAN RS Paste followed by a coating of ALSAN RS 230 Field. Then, the Roofing Solutions team rolled out ALSAN RS Fleece reinforcement and applied another layer of ALSAN RS 230 Field followed by a mixture of ALSAN RS 287 Color Finish Base and ALSAN RS Color Pack Additive. To complete the walkways, workers applied ALSAN RS Textured Coating in white.
To complete the flashings, workers applied ALSAN RS 230 Flash, rolled out ALSAN RS Fleece reinforcement, applied another layer of ALSAN RS 230 Flash followed by a mixture of ALSAN RS 287 Color Finish Base and ALSAN RS Color Pack Additive. To complete the system, workers applied liquid ALSAN Flashing at all roof penetrations.
Building 20
Building 20 consisted of a liquid-applied membrane roof system over a steep-slope structural steel deck.
Workers mechanically fastened two layers of 2-inch-thick SOPRA-ISO FLAT polyisocyanurate insulation in the field and 1/2-inch-thick SOPRA-ISO+ Tapered polyisocyanurate insulation at crickets followed by 1/8-inch-thick SOPRABOARD using OMG No. 14 fasteners and 3-inch plates. Then, CERTA-trained workers used torches to apply SOPRALENE 180 SP 3.0 SBS polymer-modified bitumen in the field and at flashings.
To fill surface cracks, voids and depressions in the membrane, workers applied ALSAN RS Paste followed by a coating of ALSAN RS 230 Field. Next, the Roofing Solutions team rolled out ALSAN RS Fleece reinforcement and applied another layer of ALSAN RS 230 Field followed by a mixture of ALSAN RS 287 Color Finish Base and ALSAN RS Color Pack Additive. To complete the walkways, workers applied ALSAN RS Textured Coating in white.
To complete the flashings, workers applied ALSAN RS 230 Flash, rolled out ALSAN RS Fleece reinforcement, applied another layer of ALSAN RS 230 Flash followed by a mixture of ALSAN RS 287 Color Finish Base and ALSAN RS Color Pack Additive. To complete the system, workers applied liquid ALSAN Flashing at all roof penetrations.
Dumpster roof
The dumpster structure consisted of a metal panel roof system over a steep-slope plywood deck.
Roofing Solutions workers applied AquaBlock-50 self-adhering underlayment and attached IMETCO Series 300™ 0.050-inch-thick, 16-feet-long, pre-finished aluminum panels with striations and a batten cap. In addition, the team installed 0.050-inch-thick pre-finished aluminum gutters and downspouts and all related sheet metal flashing and trim.
Metal panel wall tiles
In addition to the roof systems, Roofing Solutions craftsmen installed interlocking square-shaped flat-lock wall tile systems on buildings 20, 30 and 40.
“Everything was unique on this project,” de la Cruz says. “From design to construction, this project was unique in many ways. You will not find many straight lines on-site, but you will find a mixture of materials married together for a visually pleasing result. The panel shapes and profile were designed to mimic the skin of fish.”
To create the distinct look, Roofing Solutions workers mechanically attached 22-gauge RHEINZINK® Flat Lock Wall Tiles in prePATINA blue-grey in a diamond pattern.
“The RHEINZINK materials came from Germany, so it was a logistical challenge for our panel fabricator, ALUSYSTEMS, to coordinate with our counterparts overseas to get them on time and on schedule,” says David Furr, general manager for Roofing Solutions’ Mississippi branch.
For the wall- and soffit-related sheet-metal flashings and trim, Roofing Solutions craftsmen installed 20-gauge RHEINZINK Flat Lock Wall Tiles in a variety of sizes: 16 by 16 inches for building 20; 20 by 20 inches for building 30; and 24 by 24 inches for building 40.
Giving life to everything
A majority of Roofing Solutions’ work was completed between January 2019 and February 2020; work on the project concluded in September 2020.
“Things took longer than expected as a result of complex coordination between trades and unpredictable weather conditions that come with working on a project on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico,” Furr says.
The Roofing Solutions team installed a total of 35,000 square feet of roof systems and 45,000 square feet of metal panel wall systems on Mississippi Aquarium.
“The size and complexity of the project was challenging with all the moving parts,” Furr says. “Most tense moments were overcome by the great leadership and interaction with the Roy Anderson team, the building owner and the architectural team. They managed to develop and maintain a team atmosphere among everyone involved, making it easier to overcome all challenges that arose.”
Thanks to the efforts of the Roofing Solutions team that is dedicated to delivering technical expertise on every project, Mississippi Aquarium can fulfill its mission to be a premier institution that delivers awe-inspiring entertainment and educational experiences that support animal research and conservation while inspiring a passion for the aquatic world.
“The end result was the most rewarding part about the job,” de la Cruz says. “Knowing our work will be enjoyed and admired by generations for many years to come is truly gratifying.”
Project name: Mississippi Aquarium
Project location: Gulfport, Miss.
Project duration: January 2019-September 2020
Roof system types: Aluminum; liquid-applied membrane; polymer-modified bitumen
Roofing contractor: Roofing Solutions LLC, Prairieville, La
Roofing manufacturers: ALUSYSTEMS, Prairieville, La.; IMETCO, Norcross, Ga.; OMG® Roofing Products Inc., Agawam, Mass.; RHEINZINK,® Woburn, Mass.; SOPREMA® Inc., Wadsworth, Ohio
Mississippi Aquarium by the numbers
Mississippi Aquarium’s current and proposed exhibits include:
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