Hamilton Smith Hall, UNH

Nature's Finest Roof for One of New England's Premier Universities

Hamilton Smith Hall — home to the English Department at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH — is one of New England's most distinguished academic buildings. When the university undertook a comprehensive roof restoration, the project team turned to Newmont Slate and the QWIK Slate® patented installation system to deliver a roof worthy of this landmark building.

The project team — UNH, DiMella Shaffer Architects, Hahnel Bros. Co., and Skanska Group — specified Vermont Black Slate graded to ASTM C406 S-1, installed using Newmont's patented QWIK Slate® hook-fixing system. QWIK Slate® utilizes hook fixing, a method recognized around the world as the hallmark of exceptional slate installations. The system is safer, faster, and longer-lasting than traditional nailing, with the added benefit of easy future repairs.

QWIK Slate® hook strips are applied with a standard nail gun, dramatically increasing productivity on large institutional roofing projects. All hooks are 12-gauge 304 stainless steel, anodized black for maximum corrosion resistance. The completed roof carries Newmont's 100+ year warranty — a testament to the quality of Vermont hard slate and the precision of the QWIK Slate® installation system.

Hamilton Smith Hall joins a growing list of landmark academic and institutional buildings protected by Newmont Vermont Slate — a roof that will serve generations of scholars to come.