Stifel Center Roof Project Nearing Completion

Photo by Derek Redd

WHEELING - Those driving past and coming to the Stifel Fine Arts Center on National Road are seeing a lot more of it these days.

The scaffolding that once fully encompassed the building has started to disappear. Oglebay Institute President Danielle McCracken said the roof restoration project, which was the reason for that scaffolding, should be done by mid-July.

Some of the scaffolding remains, McCracken said, because there was a section of the roof that needed a closer inspection and more detailed repair. A structural engineer was called in to look at the matter and more supplies needed ordered for the fix.

The project began in the fall of 2021, McCracken said.

"It's a total roof replacement," she said. "We repointed a lot of brick on the building. We did some chimney work. The front columns, there were cracks in those that have all been addressed. And there was some plasterwork done. There was leaking affecting other parts of the building and the brick as well."

The project, being handled by Durable Slate, will cost around $1.1 million. The company has installed a new Ludowici tile roof to match the historic tile roof, installed decorative copper caps on all the chimneys, fixed the flashing on the chimneys and added copper venting, among other things.

The building, which was finished in 1912, originally was the Stifel family home. The family donated the building to the Oglebay Institute in 1976 to be used as a public art center. Since then, the Stifel Fine Arts Center has housed numerous art displays, art classes and summer camps, dance classes and more. It also has been used for social functions like weddings and receptions.

The Oglebay Institute wants all that to continue for a lot longer, McCracken said, so she's very happy to see the progress made on the restoration project.

"We're just really thrilled to get back to normal," she said. "Really, there's also the peace of mind that we've made such an important investment with the support of the community to accomplish this.

"It's not just about the structure," McCracken added. "It's about what happens within the structure which is so very important to the community. We're grateful and have the peace of mind that future generations will be able to continue to enjoy the Stifel Fine Arts Center."

The center's restoration is part of an overall OI capital campaign that includes projects at Towngate Theatre, capital and education endowments and OI-wide exhibit development and audience engagement priorities. Anyone interested in learning more about or contributing to the capital campaign can visit www.oionline.com/capitalcampaign or contact Oglebay Institute at 304-242-4200.