Historic Breese Stevens Athletic Field will see a repair job after Madison’s Landmarks Commission approved about $25,000 for the project to redo damaged roofing at the facility.
The sports complex, which according to the City of Madison website is primarily used for high school soccer in the spring and summer, was constructed in 1925.
Charles Quagliana, a preservation architect, presented at the Monday meeting and said the red terra cotta roof tile at 917 E. Mifflin St. needs repairs. He said the last time the building was updated in 2009, only minor repairs were made which were ineffective in the long run.
He said repairs are necessary because of hairline cracks in the tiles, which let water inside the tile and cause expansion and damage.
“You can see the core of the tile and when water gets into this part it dampens it, it freezes and it just starts to blow the tile apart,” Quagliana said.
He said firms from Chicago and Madison have been contracted to assess the repairs needed, and the options being considered look to involve the least intervention with building materials.
Ald. Marsha Rummel, District 6, questioned in the meeting if the Landmarks Commission approved what she called a “shoddy job” back in 2009.
Stuart Levitan, chair of the Landmarks Commission, said in response that the labor on the 2009 project was well-done, but low-bid material was used.
Quagliana said the material costs will be small compared to the labor, and the entire roof will need to be hand-washed before repairs can begin.
