Case Study: Nashville City Center

Project Overview:

Maxwell Roofing completed a full tear-off and reroof for Nashville City Center, a 27-story office tower in downtown Nashville. The 20,000-square-foot roof presented unique logistical challenges due to its height, location, and active tenants. Maxwell coordinated with Fair Lifts to overcome these challenges and to safely and efficiently lift materials to the roof. 

The project required careful planning, meticulous execution, and creative problem-solving to complete the work ahead of schedule.

Check out this video to see how our team executed this incredible operation.

A Downtown Tower and a High-Flying Solution

The client first approached Maxwell Roofing due to our reputation for high-quality work and careful coordination on complex projects. 

“We had to move thousands of pounds of material, but we couldn’t shut down the street for days, and we had tenants on the top floors that couldn’t be disrupted,” shared Kasey Fanton, Operations Manager for Maxwell Roofing. “A conventional crane just wasn’t feasible.”

Estimator Chris Vogl proposed using a helicopter to lift the materials. This approach reduced a seven-day crane process to a single day of preparation and half a day of rooftop loading.

“The prep work was critical,” Kasey explained. “One misstep could have caused delays or safety issues.”

Maxwell’s team had to secure FAA approval, city permits, and a traffic control plan approved by Metro Police and the fire marshal. Four city blocks were closed, 17 police officers were assigned to traffic management, and light poles in the adjacent parking lot were temporarily removed to prevent wind wash from the helicopter rotor.

Detailed Coordination at Every Level

Maxwell’s team split into two groups of eight, with one group stationed on the roof and one on the ground. All materials were carefully grouped and numbered, and then moved to staging areas in cargo nets. This approach allowed the team to move 22 “picks” of material efficiently and safely—each weighing 2,500 pounds. 

Superintendent Charles Lunsford and Foreman Alfonso Vasquez led the roof team and managed ground operations. Together, they executed a precise choreography that ensured the helicopter could make multiple lifts within minutes, keeping the process on schedule and maintaining safety for workers and the public.

“It took one day of preparation and half a day to load the roof. What would have taken a week with a crane, we completed in just a few hours,” says Kasey.

All personnel, including the helicopter pilot, ground crew, police, FAA, and city representatives, remained in constant communication via radios and a central command hub set up by Metro Police.

Delivering Results that Soar

Maxwell’s proactive problem-solving and teamwork ensured the project was completed within the original timeframe and ahead of expectations, demonstrating how innovative thinking and detailed coordination can overcome even the most challenging urban roofing projects.

“The combination of creative problem-solving, precise planning, and excellent teamwork made this project a success,” says Kasey. “Our client got a fully functional roof with minimal disruption to tenants, and we delivered ahead of expectations.”