case studies Archives | Page 9 of 10

City of Hartford Dept. of Public Works

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 11:29 pm.

Challenge – Replacement of a wood structure
Solution – Hercules Truss Arch Building
Size – 72′ wide x 108′ long
Application – Salt storage
Established in 1784 and appointed the sole capital city of Connecticut in 1875, the city of Hartford covers 17.3 square miles and has a population of 125,000, making it the fourth largest city in the Constitution State. As winters become longer and more crippling, the city must quickly respond to snow and ice removal for its residents, commuters and workers that account for a general metropolitan area of over 1.2 million people.

Bob Umashankar has been the city’s civil engineer and project manager since 2005, and recently concluded that instead of replacing a roof on the city’s wooden salt shed, they would replace the building with a more sustainable solution. “Not only did the roof need to be replaced on the old structure, but we were looking for a larger area to store more material,” Umashankar said.

After conducting some online research, Umashankar learned that a fabric structure had several benefits aside from bulk material storage, and ultimately chose ClearSpan Fabric Structures, which has its home offices just 10 miles away. “We went with a fabric building due to its fast construction timeline and low cost,” added Umashankar. “We needed a new building quickly, and ClearSpan presented a good plan and was very helpful.”

The 72′ wide by 108′ long Hercules Truss Arch Building has been performing very well, allowing the city’s public works department to store an abundant supply of salt ahead of the winter season. “We’ve found that for operational and functionality purposes, the fabric building from ClearSpan has been working out much better than the wood structure,” concluded Umashankar. “It’s also very nice looking!”

Green Sand and Salt Storage Building with Dump Truck

Green Sand and Salt Storage Building with Dozer

Green Sand and Salt Storage Building

Sand and Salt storage with dozer

Green Sand and Salt Storage Building

Green Sand and Salt Storage Building with Dozer

Green Sand and Salt Storage Building

Sand and Salt storage with dozer

Green Sand and Salt Storage Building

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City of Commerce City

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 11:16 pm.

Written by clearspa_wp

Challenge – Greater salt storage capacity for a growing town
Solution – Hercules Truss Arch Building
Size – 45′ wide x 100′ long
Application – Salt storage
With the recent growth of the city of Commerce City, CO, a larger building was needed for the city’s road salt storage in order to keep the roads safe for residents during inclement weather. Leonard Dietz, the maintenance supervisor responsible for finding this storage facility, decided to purchase a ClearSpan Hercules Truss Arch Building.

He appreciated the fast delivery and installation of the building, and was pleased with all of the customizable features of the structure that were offered. He took advantage of these options by putting vents on the back panel of the building so that strong winds coming through the front would not displace the back panel.

Dietz was impressed with the durability of the structure and explained, “One of our drivers hit the top of the doorway to the structure and while the truck had sufficient damage to it, the doorway stayed up well with only minor scratches.”

Another feature of this building that Dietz liked was the minimal foundation requirements. “We had the ability to choose a more economical and temporary foundation instead of a more costly permanent one,” says Dietz. This means that the building can be relocated if necessary, so the structure has the benefits of a temporary building without sacrificing durability or effectiveness.

Satisfied with his ClearSpan building, Dietz states, “This building was the right fit for our needs and budget, and we’re really happy with it.”

Beige Round HD building

Construction of round hd building

Beige Round HD building aerial shot

Beige Round HD building covered in snow

Construction of round hd building

Beige Round HD building aerial shot

Beige Round HD building covered in snow

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City of Beech Grove Dept. of Public Work

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 11:09 pm.

Written by clearspa_wp

Challenge – Replacing decayed salt storage building
Solution – Hercules Truss Arch Building
Size – 45′ wide x 60′ long
Application – Salt storage

With an outdated salt storage building, the City of Beech Grove decided it was time for an upgrade. Explains Public Works employee Thomas Wilson, “We had a wood and metal structure that was built in the early ‘80s. The metal siding was coming off of the timbers and the timbers themselves were decaying.” After seeing a ClearSpan structure nearby, Wilson went online to do more research.

He was sold on a 45′ wide by 60′ long Hercules Truss Arch Building because of the reasonable price and wide-open design of the structure. Wilson says, “The building is installed on a 6″ roller-compacted concrete slab with a 5′ overhang on each side” to prevent groundwater contamination. He continues, “We mounted it on concrete blocks for additional height.”

One of the biggest benefits, according to Wilson, is the openness of the building. He describes, “The elbow room inside the building is excellent. We own a Case 621 Loader and it has no problem turning around inside the structure.”

“Our ClearSpan structure is working out well for our needs. I was impressed by the professional installation crew and the knowledgeable sales staff,” says Wilson.

Sand and salt storage with dump truck and dozer

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Circle W Farms

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 11:03 pm.

Written by clearspa_wp

Challenge – Extra space for a growing herd
Solution – Beef Master™ Building
Size – 65′ wide x 180′ long
Application – Dairy heifer housing

Expanding a business takes hard work and dedication. When Ron White, owner of Circle W Farms in Lancaster, WI, required additional space to house his growing herd of dairy cattle, he and his colleague, Tom Gildersleeve, consulted their FarmTek catalog and turned to ClearSpan.

White had previously housed his heifers in small pens in a steel shed, but after increasing his numbers to about 100 cows, room was running out. Gildersleeve and White worked together to research the best options for expanding Circle W Farms’ livestock housing.

Gildersleeve purchased a 65′ wide by 180′ long ClearSpan Beef Master Building in late 2008. The openness and airiness of the structure were big sellers, as well as the fact that ClearSpan buildings are manufactured in the USA.
“The natural light, large open space, and good ventilation were three features we liked about the building,” says Gildersleeve. One side of the Beef Master Building is outfitted with a 5′ high roll-up curtain, which supplies maximum air circulation to keep livestock, feed and bedding cool and dry. On the other side, a 4′ exterior overhang allows more space per heifer while keeping feed dry and fresh, away from the rain and snow of Wisconsin winters. Natural light filters through the fabric cover, even on cloudy days, keeping the building bright enough to eliminate the need for daytime lighting.

From concept to construction, the project went smoothly, says Gildersleeve. Since the farm is located about 75 miles northeast of Dyersville, IA, home of the ClearSpan manufacturing and distribution center, Gildersleeve arranged for a local trucker to pick up the building.

“The process went very well,” says Gildersleeve. With help from a local concrete contractor, Gildersleeve and White also constructed the building themselves. “This was the first type of fabric building for the contractor and us. We learned a lot!” Gildersleeve says, adding, “The ClearSpan project manager was a big help.”

For people considering purchasing a similar building, Gildersleeve offers some advice: do your research, and look at several different buildings for an idea of what will suit your individual needs. Since completing construction, the Beef Master Building sits on top of a 4′ poured concrete wall, and comfortably houses the herd of dairy heifers. “It is very open with lots of fresh air, and the natural light is very nice,” says Gildersleeve.

Beef Master System with White cover on cement blocks

Beef Master System inside with cattle

Beef Master System with White cover

Beef Master System inside with cattle

Beef Master System with White cover

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Cherry Gulch

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 10:57 pm.

Written by clearspa_wp

Challenge – Inclement weather conditions
Solution – Hercules Truss Arch Building
Size – 65′ wide x 100′ long
Application – Indoor gymnasium

Tucked amongst the shadows of the Rocky Mountains, Cherry Gulch is a boarding school for boys, providing various therapeutic intervention and prevention programs. Situated on 220 acres of ranch land northwest of Boise, the staff at Cherry Gulch was looking to expand its recreational activity programs. Outdoor facilities are ideal for various games and team building activities, but they also wanted to provide the students with year-round recreation in an indoor gymnasium.

“We’ve been utilizing an outdoor basketball court for all of our programs,” explained Program Manager Kahn Borge, L.M.S.W. “We wanted to give our students the opportunity to play sports and enjoy other activities with an indoor facility during inclement weather.” After exploring different building solutions on the Internet, Cherry Gulch ultimately selected ClearSpan Fabric Structures due to its affordability and durability. “We selected ClearSpan because of the combination of low cost and quality,” Borge added.

The 65′ wide by 100′ long Hercules Truss Arch Building was installed using ClearSpan’s in-house anchoring system. The 10’ long Helical Anchor foundation allows for minimal excavation and rapid installation of the structure. What’s more, the spacious interior has allowed the faculty at Cherry Gulch to use the indoor gymnasium in more ways than initially planned. “The building has been great and the students love it,” explained Borge. “We’ve also found that aside from recreational activities, we are also using the building for large training sessions.” In addition, Cherry Gulch also chose blue and orange for their gymnasium floor to emulate the colors of the Boise State University Broncos, which is known for its blue turf football field at Bronco Stadium.

For extreme weather conditions, Cherry Gulch also had ClearSpan outfit the building with doors and fans, to assist with ventilation in the summer months, and propane tube heaters to keep the gymnasium at comfortable temperatures during the winter. In addition to these supplemental building accessories, it’s the intangibles that have impressed the faculty the most. “Not only is the building very strong,” said Borge, “but it’s attractive both inside and out. The ClearSpan building has been a great addition to our facility.”

For more information on Cherry Gulch and their ClearSpan building, visit www.cherrygulch.org.

Cherry Gulch

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Cedar Creek Sports Center

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 10:40 pm.

Written by clearspa_wp

Challenge – Driving range unaffected by the elements

Solution – 36′ wide x 96′ long Premium Tall Boy Storage Building 20′ wide x 24′ long Storage Master Building

Application – Golf training center

Cedar Creek Sports Center in Mount Juliet, TN is owned and operated by Jim Schunk. Cedar Creek was started by his father in 1991 as a family fun center housing a mini-golf course, driving range, go-karts, batting cages, bumper boats and an arcade. In order to provide customers with golf lessons during the rain and cold, Schunk needed a driving range that could be fully operational, regardless of weather conditions.

Schunk says, “We wanted a private area that could be out of the elements and temperature controlled.” After researching his options, Schunk decided on two ClearSpan Fabric Structures because of the reasonable prices and their temporary nature. He notes, “The buildings are not considered permanent structures, so it was easy to avoid hassles involving city codes.”

Schunk is pleased with the abundant natural light the buildings provide during the day, as he is saving on the cost of light fixtures and electricity. Besides the easy installation process and heating options during colder months, Cedar Creek’s buildings have proven to stand up to even the worst of weather conditions. Schunk explains, “The buildings have gone through two major floods and withstood the strong water pressure with no problems.”

Before purchasing the ClearSpan buildings, Cedar Creek was not able to offer batting and pitching lessons. Now, they are able to offer baseball lessons, as well as provide a space for the neighboring Little League teams to practice during bad weather. Another added benefit of purchasing the buildings is the extra indoor space Cedar Creek has now. “We use the buildings for large group parties that would not have fit inside our main building,” says Schunk. Overall, he is very pleased with his decision. “ClearSpan offers excellent customer service and the buildings are working out great!”

For more information on how ClearSpan helped Cedar Creek Sports Center, visit www.CedarCreekSportsCenter.com.

Cedar Creek Sports Center

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Castleton Music Festival

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 10:30 pm.

Written by clearspa_wp

Challenge – Finding a performance facility
Solution – Two Hercules Truss Arch Buildings
Size – 72′ wide x 56′ long, 100′ wide x 170′ long
Application – Music theater

Maestro Lorin Maazel, a world-famous orchestra conductor, dedicates his life and farm to his love for classical music. Maazel trains young musicians to perform at the Castleton Music Festival in Castleton, VA. In order to hold this festival at the farm, Maazel and his team needed to build a facility that could be outfitted with systems to keep the audience and performers comfortable, yet still be aesthetically pleasing.

Director of Production John Harris was assigned the task of researching options for the venue and decided on two Hercules Truss Arch Buildings to serve as the music theater and Castleton Festival Café. Harris determined that an outdoor amphitheater or tent would not work for this application because they would not properly capture the sounds of the symphony’s music. Also, the music festivals are held during the hot Virginia summers, making total enclosure and air conditioning a must—two features a tent or outdoor theater could not offer.

The spacious interior and lack of internal supports in a Truss Arch Building provide an ideal atmosphere for a music theater. Inside the larger of the two buildings there is a stage and auditorium that seats approximately five hundred people. The building is air conditioned throughout and is outfitted with full lighting and sound systems. Harris says, “The number of trusses installed in the building to meet snow-load requirements also helped us hang lighting equipment.” The smaller building is used for gala dinner events and VIP receptions. Harris explains, “We wanted a place where the aesthetics work not just for the performance, but for the audience.” He continues, “The folks at ClearSpan were incredibly enthusiastic in trying to make this work for me.”

Harris was most impressed by the different ClearSpan teams he worked with. He says, “The design process, the engineering process, and most importantly, the construction process were all great. They worked with me right down to the very minute to get this facility up and ready in a very short amount of time.”

For more information on the Castleton Festival and their ClearSpan Fabric Structures, visit www.CastletonFestival.org.

Castleton Music Festival

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Butte Marine

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 10:21 pm.

Written by clearspa_wp

Challenge – Needed Outdoor Boat Showroom
Solution – Hercules Truss Arch Building
Size – 50′ wide x 40′ long
Application – Outdoor Boat Showroom

Behind the ownership of Bob and Janice, Butte Marine has been selling Tracker Boats to fisherman on the banks of the Rio Grande for over 30 years. Along with the Tracker boat dealership, Butte Marine also has a full service marine facility, with a convenience store for boaters and campers alike. With his headquarters located across the street from his rented boat showroom Owner Bob Owen needed a cost-effective structure for an outdoor boat showroom that he could keep on his side of the street.

“Before using our new 50′ wide by 40′ long ClearSpan building, we rented a storage facility across the street that we turned into a showroom, which was very inconvenient,” said Owen. “We needed a convenient structure on the business side of the road for our boat showroom.”

The Owen family looked into buildings that were not only cost effective, but also aesthetically pleasing. Owen discovered ClearSpan met all his qualifications. “Everyone had a metal building. We wanted something that was architecturally different and would be appealing to display our Tracker boats inside.”

When the ClearSpan building arrived Owen was very excited. “We assembled and set up the building ourselves, which was an easy, hassle-free process and we had a blast doing it,” Owen noted that the building allows a soft, natural light that makes the Tracker boats inside the structure pop.

Owen is pleased with the ClearSpan structure and how the process worked out. He mentioned, “The folks at ClearSpan were a great asset to us after the sale. They helped me every step of the way, they even kept in touch after the installation was complete.”

Butte Marine

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Burnt Chimney Dairy

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 10:16 pm.

Written by clearspa_wp

Challenge – Comfortable dairy barns
Solution – Two Hercules Truss Arch Buildings
Size – 65′ wide x 280′ long, 65′ wide x 140′ long
Application – Dairy barns

Burnt Chimney Dairy Farm in Burnt Chimney, VA is a business that emphasizes the importance of comfort for their cows and strives to provide clean, spacious areas with dry bedding and plenty of ventilation. Co-manager Daniel Gish decided on two ClearSpan Hercules Truss Arch Buildings to provide this type of environment for the farm’s cows.

Gish chose ClearSpan structures due to the low cost, easy construction and versatility of the buildings. “It was about a third of the cost of a stall barn and half the cost of a stick-built structure,” says Gish.

“We love the customizable features. We had the ability to choose the foundation, so we went with bridge timbers. We also decided to install large fans for ventilation and this has alleviated our summer heat problems for both the workers and the cows,” Gish explains. “The cows seem to really be enjoying themselves even when it’s hot and humid,” he adds.

Another advantage that Gish appreciates about the structures is the versatility. He explains, “We can fence part of the building off and use it for storage for everything from equipment to hay. We also use part of it for composting.”

The natural light and ventilation of ClearSpan structures create a healthier, cleaner and drier environment that the cows can truly thrive in. Completely satisfied with his buildings, Gish states, “ClearSpan was a great addition for us!”

Cattle Building with Giant Fans inside photo

Cattle Building with Giant Fans

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Bonk Brothers Supplies, Inc.

Posted on October 1, 2015 at 10:07 pm.

Written by clearspa_wp

Challenge – Storage
Solution – Freestanding Building
Size – 30′ wide x 15′ high x 60′ long
Application – Bulk salt storage

After experiencing a wind storm that destroyed the salt storage structure of Bonk Brothers Supplies, Inc., Dave Bonk knew he needed a building that was more structurally secure and could withstand the winds. A business down the street from them had a ClearSpan building and when Dave saw it, he knew that ClearSpan was the solution to his problem.

Dave wanted the structure to be assembled quickly because he needed his 250 to 300 tons of salt to be covered from the elements. He says, “The assembly directions were very clear and the building went together easily. All the parts fit as designed.” Happy with the results, he adds, “The building is very structurally strong. It is obvious that a lot of engineering went into the design of the building.”

Another aspect that he likes is the height of the ClearSpan structure which allows for easy access to the salt. It is convenient because the “height of the building allows delivery trucks to dump inside the building, saving time to pile the salt. It also expedites loading customers, eliminating the need to untarp the salt as you load it.”

Dave continues, “The building is visually attractive and adds to the look of our landscape supply business. It also visually tells our customers we are serious about maintaining a quality product by properly storing it.”
With his salt securely under cover, Dave is very satisfied with his building—“Excellent product, great customer service and competitively priced. You can’t make a better choice than a ClearSpan building!”

For more on Bonk Brothers Supplies, Inc. and how ClearSpan solved their storage problems, call 517.548.1530 or e-mail Dave Bonk at bonkers8855@chartermi.net.

Bonk Brothers Supplies, Inc.

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