Boy how the tide has turned! No longer do I hear, “I don’t want to go to school today!” Instead I hear, “I can’t wait until we get to go back to school!” Kids across the country are gaining a new appreciation for how important it is to physically be able to enter their school buildings to learn. We have been very fortunate to be involved in a number of projects at schools across the nation including custom spiral and circular staircases, curved steel signs, curved steel artwork, curved steel canopies, and more!
Todays Highlight: Curved Steel at our Nation’s Schools & Universities
“We have to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles and work. Or waffles, friends, work. But work has to come third.” Leslie Knope Parks & Recreation Quote Ha!
Todays Highlights: Curved Steel in our Parks & Recreational Facilities
“In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges and the foolish build dams.” -Nigerian Proverb We are choosing build bridges, figuratively and literally. Today’s Infrastructure Highlight: Curved Steel for Bridges
The use of cold formed steel as a construction material dates back into the 1800’s and has been the primary building block for America’s infrastructure. The one word I think of when I hear the word “steel” is “strong” and when we are building with steel, we are building a “Strong America.” This week, I will be highlighting a few of the projects we have been a part of over the years that shows how strong we were, how strong we are, and how strong we will continue to be. Today’s Highlight: Hospitals & Medical Facilities (Special shout out to those on the front lines. We thank you for all of your efforts!)
Albina recently bent 8 Pieces of 6" Sch80 pipe bent to 90°+ on a 5 foot radius to help create a beautiful canopy for the San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo, CA. The curved steel pipe pieces provided the structural supports for the overhead canopy. The San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church is located in Alamo, CA.
Albina recently completed 233 pieces of 4" SCH40 A53B ERW bent in a Double 90° configuration on a 9" centerline radius for bollards for the back area of the new SoFi Stadium-Home of the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers (loading dock, VIP parking, etc.) The bollards will be used for protection of the main structural columns at the stadium.
Albina elliptically bent 50,000# of 14" XH pipe, all material exposed, to extremely tight tolerances for the Wagon Creek Pedestrian Bridge in Mt. Shasta, California. The McConnell Foundation partnered with Siskiyou County by awarding a $600,000 grant for the Wagon Creek Bridge, and the bridge is considered the crown jewel of the Lake Siskiyou Trail.
We recently completed a unique curved stainless steel art project for Camelback Commons in Arizona. Albina Co., Inc. bent 8 pieces of 3" SCH40 T304 Stainless Steel. All parts were bent to a full scale layout and all points needed to be hit +/-½”. The tightest radius was a 36” centerline. Camelback Commons are multi-level buildings with an open atrium for businesses as well as apartments, just walking distance from the high-dollar Arizona Biltmore. Photo Credit: Creative Machines., Inc.
Albina recently had the pleasure of teaming up with Ed Carpenter and his team to help create the Barbara Walker Crossing Wildwood Trail Bridge at West Burnside in Portland, Oregon. The bridge is 178’ long measured at the center of its curving deck. Its basic structure is a tri-chord truss of rusting and painted steel, Carpenter’s design evokes imagery of the sword ferns and vine maples lining the entire length of the Wildwood Trail This is a project of the Portland Parks Foundation in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), and Metro. Albina bent 3½" SCH80 A847 and 5" SCH40 A847 all rolled to various radii, as well as 1" SCH40 A53B, 1½" SCH40 A53B, 1½" SCH80 A53B all rolled to various radii. Bridge Design and Photos by Ed Carpenter.
“It is so fun to drop in!” Sherwood Skate Park just opened and it is awesome! Filled with kids every day! Albina was thrilled to be a part of the project bending 4 lengths x 20 ft. Tube Steel 2" X 2" X .188" WALL A500 GR B to a 42 ft radius and a 46 ft radius, as well as 3 lengths x 21 ft.: 2" SCH40 A53B ERW bent to a 12 ft radius and a 5 ft radius, for the lip/rail that runs the perimeter of the park as well as for the benches kids sit and skate on.