Portsmouth, R.I.-based Ronstan Tensile Architecture provided its architectural rod systems to the San Diego Yacht Club’s new Malin Burnham Sailing Center in San Diego. The sleek steel rod systems act as cross bracing and web compression struts to brace the center’s timber roof trusses. They provide both a solid roofing structure as well as a maritime aesthetic to complement the building’s purpose.
“Our client, San Diego Yacht Club, wanted a building that would require low maintenance and long life,” says Matthew B. Wells, AIA, principal, Architects hanna gabriel wells, San Diego. “Extremely durable materials like copper, stainless steel, bronze, carbon steel and aluminum were the perfect choice to meet our client’s needs. We used the stainless-steel hardware in the Malin Burnham Sailing Center’s roof truss system to reinforce the nautical character of the building and relate it back to the beautiful yachts in the adjacent marina.”
Copper was used for roofing, flashings, gutters and downspouts. “Copper was selected not only for maximum durability in the extremely corrosive marine environment but also for its natural beauty,” Wells says. “Steel provided the strength required to minimize the sizes of the structural components like columns and connectors. The aluminum window system allowed for design flexibility and environmental durability. Stainless steel was used for the roof truss tension and compression components as well as for the balcony railing system. Many of the light fixtures were constructed of bronze and copper. Carbon steel was used for many of the building’s columns and wood connectors.”
In addition to form and function, Ronstan’s lightweight prestressed tensile cables and bars also contributed to the project’s eco-friendly objectives providing an alternative to heavy supports. The recyclable stainless steel rods add to the facility’s overall sustainability. In December 2010, the building was awarded LEED Gold certification for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The rod tension system provides a nautical character to the Yacht Club without being too obvious. Considering the building’s function, it offers an opportunity to show off the product’s beauty and versatility in a well-suited environment.
Malin Burnham Sailing Center at the San Diego Yacht Club, San Diego
Completed: July 2010
Total square footage: 6,900 square feet
Architect: Architects hanna gabriel wells, San Diego, www.architects-hgw.com
General contractor: DPR Construction, San Diego
Structural engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers, San Diego
installer: Alliance TruTrus, San Diego
Architectural Rod System: Ronstan Tensile Architecture, Portsmouth, R.I., www.ronstantensilearch.com