Awards

2003 Award of Distinction/Honourable Mention
Special Application
Two Storey Control Station
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Square Feet: 696
Time to Completion: 27 days

Building Details

A. Architectural Excellence
The control station is elevated a storey and a half up on a structural steel mezzanine. The building itself is two stories high with the upper level significantly larger than the lower. Operators working in the station have a 270-degree peripheral 'birds eye' view of critical operations below through the window walls that are tilted out by 30 degrees. The exterior steel cladding chosen by the client, blends with the adjacent plant. The building was created in four modules: 2 - 9x17 (floor area) are placed below and the roof along with a mezzanine extension supports the 2 - 11x31 (floor area) modules above. The building contains work area with built in desktops and cabinets around the perimeter, and a bathroom for the personnel. The interior is finished with a low maintenance vinyl covered drywall, tile floors and suspended acoustical ceilings.

B. Technical Innovation
The building is all steel construction, specially engineered with structural steel that carries the loads from not only upper level to lower, but super-imposed snowdrift loads from the adjacent plant. The tilted walls prevent glare on the windows so operators have clear vision. Removable lifting eyes allow the sections to be picked off the trailers and hoisted into position without the use of slings and spreaders.

C. Cost Effectiveness/Energy Efficiency
Because the station is elevated up on a mezzanine, site building at the busy concrete plant would have been cost prohibitive. All electrical, mechanical and plumbing features were built in to the station at the NRB plant prior to shipping so it was operational quickly and easily. The building envelope and energy package is designed to meet ASHRAE standards.