Central Roofing Company and Fraser Outfit Sensory Building at Minnesota State Fair
Since 1929, Central Roofing Company has been putting roofs over the heads of Minnesota families and businesses, as well as providing design, pre-construction, installation, and maintenance services. But the family-owned business has also been quietly building something far more important: inclusion for individuals with neurodiversity.
With two children on the autism spectrum, Central Roofing Company CFO and VP Jason Stock knows from experience that sensory sensitivities can sometimes make enjoying community activities a challenge. For the past four years, Central Roofing has supported the Fraser Sensory Building at the Minnesota State Fair, as both a sponsor and as a renovation expert. The building provides a cool and calming space for individuals who become overwhelmed by the fair’s sights, sounds, smells, and crowds. It also offers an active sensory-seeking area for those who become overexcited by sensations at the fair.
While serving on the board for community mental health service provider Fraser, Stock learned of the opportunity for the nonprofit to provide sensory support at the Minnesota State Fair. A fairground building that had previously been used to sell fireplaces became vacant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the building was left with cracks in the floor, open gas lines, and exposed electrical wiring—all of which posed safety risks.
As a longtime supporter of community initiatives, it was natural for Central Roofing to combine a service opportunity with advocacy for inclusion. “My dad always told me that, as a parent, my job was to open doors for my kids. I figure if I’m opening a door, I should hold it open for others to go through,” Stock said. So he and his team stepped in to rehab the building, making it habitable and accessible for visitors of all ages by removing gas lines, adding drywall, smoothing out floors, and laying carpeting.
By August 2021, the Fraser Sensory Building, in partnership with Central Roofing Company, was opened as a respite for people with sensory differences to take a break from the bustle of the fair. It was a nationally recognized accommodation lauded for its inclusivity for people with sensory-processing differences. These issues are common in people with autism and can also impact those with anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), trauma, brain injuries, and other neurological or mental health concerns, noted Fraser sensory supports and program training manager Gina Brady.
The following year, Central Roofing Company continued the renovation, installing a new roof and skylights, adding storage, defining the active and calming areas of the building, and adding a patio and flower boxes to create a welcoming gathering area. Stock also committed to providing ongoing, annual financial assistance to support staffing and upgrades for the state fair sensory building. To reflect its legacy in the community, the sensory building now resembles the original home of Fraser founder Louise Whitbeck Fraser, who opened her doors to teach children with disabilities back in 1935.
In 2024, the sensory building drew more than 1,000 visitors each day during the state fair. Some parents commented that it was the first time they’d ever been able to bring their children to the fair. And the effort to expand inclusivity offerings across the state doesn’t end there. The partnership between Fraser and Central Roofing Company has also opened opportunities to expand sensory support to travelers at MSP Airport Terminals 1 and 2. With calming spaces that reduce the stress and sensory overload that often accompany travel, the Central Roofing-Fraser sensory rooms are scheduled to open in late 2027–28.
*An abridged version of this column appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of i+s.
