UC Berkeley
Soda Hall
Salas O’Brien identified the source of chronic leaks and designed a cost-effective solution to prevent further damage.
Our client
University of California, Berkeley is a public Tier One research university founded in 1868 and serves as the flagship campus of the University of California. With a student population of about 40,000 students, it is ranked one of the top public universities in the United States and a top-ten university in the world.
Their challenge
This concrete and steel building experienced chronic leaks due to the aging single-ply TPO. The membrane had multiple holes, and much of the roof insulation was saturated with water. The university needed a consultant to design a new, cost-effective waterproof roof to prevent further damage.
Our solution
Our team evaluated several flashing, plaza deck waterproofing, and re-roofing membrane material options for the roof replacement. With our help, the university implemented cost-effective options to replace the worn-out roofing, choosing to use torched-on, hot, rubberized asphalt and single-ply PVC membranes.
The results
All of the leaks were corrected, and railings were replaced or added where parapets were less than 42 inches. As a result of our work, 20-year warranties were issued for the roofing and waterproofing systems.


