Standing tall: An island survives a direct hit from Hurricane Ike
by Jonathan McGaha | November 30, 2008 12:00 am
A hurricane can have a devastating effect on a community. High winds and waves can destroy everything in its path. However, in some communities, metal buildings and roofs are capable of withstanding the devastation that comes with being in a hurricane’s path.
Ambergris Cay is a 1,100-acre (440-hectare) private residential island that is part of Turks and Caicos Islands in the British West Indies. Home to the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club, the island has 8 miles (13 km) of waterfront and is nearly 3.3 miles(5 km) long and 1.4 miles (2 km) wide. More than 65 percent of the island is preserved to maintain its archeological ruins and natural landscape.
Craig Dean Architecture PLLC, Raleigh, N.C., was the architect for the Sporting Club’s employee village that serves the functional and recreational needs of the 350 resident employees. Newco Structures Inc., Miami, was the builder for the project.
The first phase, completed in 2006, included a central store, laundry building, maintenance facility and water plant. Completed in December 2007, the second phase consisted of a warehouse, incinerator building and generator building. The third phase, an EMS building, was completed in March 2008. The project consisted of pre-engineered buildings from Star Buildings Systems, Oklahoma City, and 24-gauge Dura-Rib roof and wall panels in Sandstone from Star. MBCI, Houston, provided the roof panels for the waste-treatment shed.
On Sept. 7, Hurricane Ike, a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 140 mph and gusts exceeding 160 mph, provided a direct hit to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Ambergris Cay emerged with only superficial damage, while neighboring island Grand Turk had extensive damage and bore the brunt of the storm.
Newco Structures had to replace the curtains in three roll-up doors on different buildings that received some damage; replace some gutters and downspouts; touch-up minor scratches on roof and wall panels; and replace lost hoods from roof extractors.
According to Eric Newman, president and owner of Newco Structures: “Newco was directly involved with the erection of the buildings, using an experienced erection crew, and performed monthly quality control inspections during the erection. The buildings were designed to the International Building Code for 140-mph wind exposure. It is very important that every component of a pre-engineered metal building be installed as it works as a system.”
Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/projects/standing-tall-an-island-survives-a-direct-hit-from-hurricane-ike/