Case Study: Fiberglass Turrets Still Crown the Orlando Skyline 30 Years Later
Image Credit: Strongwell Corporation
The urban skyline of Orlando, Florida, features four 35' high x 35' square fiberglass turrets flanking each other over the 200 South Orange (previously known as the SunTrust Center and Sun Bank Center), an architecturally-inspired crown to Orlando’s tallest building.
First conceived of more than three decades ago as steel and aluminum adornments, the fiberglass turrets of EXTREN® structural shapes and FIBREBOLT® fiberglass studs and nuts housed 20-foot-high antennae aimed at helping communications for first responders.
As a pioneer in the industry, Strongwell’s fiberglass structural products gained comprehensive approval by the L.A.R.R. This certification allowed the developer to change its metallic design to a composite one, transparent to radio signals.
Image Credit: Strongwell Corporation
Each of the turrets has four windows and frames built from EXTREN® Series 525. Three sides have 27' high x 5' wide windows, while the fourth has a window standing 10' high x 5' in breadth. Custom-molded fiberglass panels cover each of the fiberglass superstructures.
Each fiberglass structural component was prefabricated and then shipped to the relevant sites. The structures were almost entirely built at the ground level before being hauled to the rooftop with a crane. Workers then bolted the fiberglass base plates to their steel equivalents on the roof.
Starting in 1988, Florida has experienced more than 100 tropical depressions and hurricanes. The fiberglass turrets were built by project architects, Owens, Skidmore & Merill, who considered the widespread hurricanes of Florida.
Technical Data. Source: Strongwell Corporation
| . |
. |
| Product: |
Fiberglass Turrets |
| Process: |
Pultrusion |
Materials &
Sizes: |
EXTREN® Series 525
Structural Shapes:
- 10" x 10" x 1/2" wide flange
- 12" x 12" x 1/2" wide flange
- 12" x 6" x 1/2" I-beam
- 1" x 3" x 1/4" I-beam
FIBREBOLT® studs and nuts:
- 1", 1-1/2", 3/8" diameters
|
| For: |
Owens, Skidmore & Merrill Architects |
| User: |
200 South Orange |
“We spent all of this money to make the towers distinctive, and then we would have had to put antennae on the corners, and it would have ruined the design and view,” said Julio Maggi, Construction Manager for the $130 million building built by Lincoln Property Company.
The antennae were required as the 441' height of the building would have otherwise disrupted transmission of important radio signals.
For the past 30 years, the developers say they have continued to use the aesthetic superstructure’s internal space to cover signal amplifiers and that the superstructures require little to no maintenance. In fact, maintenance workers themselves report that they simply check the tightness of bolts every few years or following significant weather events.
This information has been sourced, reviewed, and adapted from materials provided by Strongwell Corporation.
For more information on this source, please visit Strongwell Corporation.