Kaley Center

The Kaley Center at 53 14th Street, formerly known as the Riley Law Building, was designed by architect Charles W. Bates and built by contractor Ralph Kitchen, the same two men who designed and built the Capitol Theatre. It is the third tallest building in Wheeling, standing at 132 feet. Constructed in 1922, the building's architectural style is known as "Chicago School." Architect Bates, a graduate of Wheeling's Linsly Military Institute, also designed other prominent Wheeling landmarks including the Fort Henry Club, Windsor Hotel, Stifel Fine Arts Center, the former Ohio County Public Library, Ohio Valley General Hospital, and the Central Union Building.

 

The 39,000 square foot building has recently undergone extensive renovations by the owners, Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal. The name Kaley was derived from the names of the two principals, John Kalkreuth and Jim Hurley, who purchased the building in 2011 to consolidate corporate employees. The restoration took 18 months and included the masonry exterior, the brick exterior, windows, HVAC system, plumbing, new sanitary system, a new roof, and a sprinkler system. 

 

The company dates back to 1920, when John Kalkreuth’s grandfather and his grandfather’s brother started their roofing company in Wheeling. The business stayed in the family throughout the years, until Kalkreuth and Hurley were given the opportunity to take over in 1984. Since then, it has grown to be one of the largest roofing companies in the country, with offices in Wheeling; Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Frederick, Maryland; and Lexington, Kentucky. The company was featured in the February 2015 issue of Roofing Contractor in an article entitled “A Sign of Success: Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal Grows from Humble Beginnings.”