Paul & Alejandra Foster Baylor Basketball Arena
Waco, Texas

2024 Golden Hammer Award 

Paul & Alejandra Foster Baylor Basketball Arena | Waco, Texas

2024 Golden Hammer Award 

When Baylor University set out to build a world-class basketball arena on the banks of the Brazos River, they needed a roofing partner that could match the project’s scale, complexity, and visibility. They called Anchor Roofing Systems.

From the very first site walk, it was clear; this wasn’t a typical job. The Paul & Alejandra Foster Baylor Basketball Arena presented major logistical and installation challenges that demanded next-level coordination, craftsmanship, and creativity.

Anchor delivered.

Scope of Work

• 645 squares of TPO roofing
• 1,100 squares of 22-gauge, 16-inch wide, 140-foot seamless standing seam panels
• 700 linear feet of internal gutter systems
• 406 squares of wall panels (standing seam, insulated, and modular systems)

Tight site constraints made this project a logistical puzzle. Bordered by I-35, existing buildings, and new development on all sides, the arena left no room for staging. Anchor Roofing Systems executed a just-in-time delivery strategy, managed off-site material storage, and coordinated precision logistics to keep the site moving.

Innovation in Motion

The project’s crown jewel, its 140-foot seamless standing seam roof panels, posed a serious challenge. The site didn’t allow ground-level roll forming, and the structure itself couldn’t support a roof-mounted machine. Anchor’s answer? Suspend the roll-forming machine from a mobile crane and form panels in the air. The result: long, uninterrupted runs of roofing panels with perfect fit and finish.

This approach wasn’t just innovative, it was critical. It allowed Anchor to execute the design as envisioned without compromise, while maintaining control over safety and quality under pressure.

Precision and Control at Every Elevation

In addition to the low-slope roof areas, steep slope transitions on the east and west elevations required installation crews to work from custom lifeline systems. At the same time, crews had to ensure perfect alignment of standing seam panels across four elevations—something visible from ground level and unforgiving in appearance.

Every detail mattered. Every panel had to land just right. Anchor’s field team executed the alignment with millimeter-level precision, maintaining a seamless look across complex transitions, slopes, and materials.

Why Anchor Was Chosen

This wasn’t a job for a contractor chasing volume. It was a job for a team that understands how to problem-solve at scale, work within constraints, and deliver a finished product that holds up to scrutiny, from the design team to the university leadership to the public walking past on game day. Anchor’s ability to self-perform, control fabrication, and manage complex site logistics made the difference.

A Statement of Strength and Skill

The Paul & Alejandra Foster Baylor Basketball Arena stands today as one of the most modern, striking athletic facilities in the country. From court to roofline, the design reflects excellence, and at the top of it all sits the craftsmanship of Anchor Roofing Systems.

Anchor Roofing Systems
Complex projects solved with precision.