Wofford College Greek Village & Joe E. Taylor Center

Wofford College, one of Spartanburg's most respected private institutions, approached Cannon Roofing with a pair of campus roofing projects that each carried their own set of complexities and one non-negotiable requirement: both had to be completed on schedule, without disrupting campus life.

2 Buildings, 2 Roofing Systems, Zero Room for Delay

Greek Village, a collection of residential buildings central to student life at Wofford, had reached the end of its roof's serviceable life. The existing shingle system needed a full tear-off and replacement, but the scope went deeper than a straightforward reroof. During assessment, Cannon's team identified significant plywood decking deterioration beneath the existing roofing. Damaged and deteriorated decking panels needed remediation and replacement to accept the new shingles and allow for proper thermal expansion of the substrate. Without addressing the plywood condition, the new roofing system would be compromised from the start. The project also had to be completed before the start of the academic year, meaning the timeline was fixed by the school calendar, not by contractor convenience.

The Joe E. Taylor Center, an athletic facility undergoing a broader renovation, presented a different and arguably more complex set of challenges. The building was still under active construction when Cannon's involvement began, with exposed interior decking and utility lines routed directly beneath the roof deck. During the pre-construction walk-through, Cannon's team raised several concerns about interior protection. The original specification called for a mechanically fastened roofing system, which would have required overhead fasteners penetrating the deck — directly threatening the utility lines and exposed interior elements below. On top of the technical complexity, the project carried a tight deadline driven by the college's athletic schedule, leaving no margin for rework or delays caused by preventable interior damage.

Consultative Problem-Solving Across 2 Distinct Scopes

Greek Village – Steep-Slope Reroofing:

Cannon Roofing performed a full tear-off of the existing shingle system across the Greek Village buildings, exposing the deteriorated plywood decking beneath. Rather than simply recovering over compromised substrate, the team executed a thorough remediation, removing and replacing damaged plywood panels to restore a sound, structurally reliable deck. This step was critical: proper plywood replacement ensured adequate allowance for thermal expansion, which directly impacts the long-term performance and warranty compliance of the new roofing system.

The new roof system was installed using Landmark Shingles in Driftwood from QXO, a premium architectural shingle that delivers both durability and a clean, refined appearance suited to a collegiate campus environment. Every phase of the project was planned around the academic calendar, with the full scope completed before students returned for the start of the school year.

Joe E. Taylor Center – Commercial Flat Roof System:

At the Joe E. Taylor Center, Cannon's consultative approach made the difference between a routine installation and a potentially costly mistake. During the pre-construction walk-through, Cannon's team identified that the originally specified mechanically fastened system posed a serious risk to the exposed utility lines and interior elements running directly beneath the roof deck. Overhead fasteners would have penetrated the deck and risked damaging electrical conduit, plumbing, and other critical infrastructure that had already been installed as part of the building's broader renovation.

Cannon brought these concerns directly to the customer and recommended switching to a JM 60-mil TPO fully adhered roofing system; a solution that eliminated the need for mechanical fasteners penetrating the deck entirely. The fully adhered membrane bonds directly to the substrate, providing secure attachment and weather protection without any risk of puncturing the utility lines below. The scope also included a fully tapered insulation section engineered for positive drainage, metal fascia replacement, and the installation of new roof drains to ensure the completed system performs at the highest level for years to come.

Critically, this system change was executed within the customer's budget. While the fully adhered system carried increased material and labor costs on Cannon's side and raised the overall contract value, the team worked collaboratively with Wofford to manage the scope adjustment responsibly — delivering a superior roofing solution without budget disruption. The project was completed on schedule to meet a tight athletic deadline, ensuring the facility was ready for use as planned.

Assets Protected & Deadlines Met

These projects demonstrate what the Cannon Difference looks like in practice. A contractor focused solely on executing a specification would have installed the originally planned mechanically fastened system on the Taylor Center and moved on. Cannon's team, drawing on 75 years of commercial roofing expertise across the Upstate, recognized the risk during the pre-construction walk-through and acted as a consultative partner by presenting a better option and working within the customer's budget to deliver it. That is the difference between a vendor and a long-term roofing partner.

For Wofford College, the outcome is straightforward: two critical campus buildings protected by premium roofing systems, installed by a team that has been serving Spartanburg's educational institutions for three-quarters of a century.