Although outdoor temporary structures can be particularly challenging with a host of limitations and engineering requirements, QuickTruss
® stepped up to the plate for a recent roof project at Washington DC's Nationals Park and Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yard. The temporary structures would serve as television broadcasting booths complete with lighting, a complex map of cabling and electrical wires, and a weather-proof canopy to keep those commentators dry during rainy innings. The broadcasting booths were designed by Creative Dimensions, a full service exhibition and sign firm based in Cheshire, CT. Doug Carabillo, Director of Business Development, had to cover all bases when assembling experts from many different industries. He was not familiar with Milos products right off the bat, but had received numerous referrals from other vendors working on the project and decided to put his trust into QuickTruss. “Some of our most trusted partners highly recommended Milos,” Carabillo said. “After working with them, I was convinced that we would be taken care of.” As with any outdoor structure, it is important to be prepared for curveballs the weather may throw. Rain and snow, common during spring months in the area, necessitated an angled roof and custom-fitted canopy. This was particularly challenging, as the slope of the roof needed to be subtle enough so as not to interfere with the camera's perspective while still providing sufficient water drainage. Milos medium duty M290V Quatro was specified for the frame with a grid of duo cross runs braced with 2” tubing at a slight slope. The framework was pre-assembled and fitted with a custom PVC canopy in Winston-Salem before being shipped to its final destination. Wind load factors were also a major issue at Oriole Park, where the solution was creative ballasting. Custom 3,000 lb. concrete blocks were specified by the engineers and fitted to the truss. This ballasting solution turned out to be a home run. “It has already withstood some high wind situations with no issues,” Carabillo declared. “The ballpark facilities manager is very pleased and comfortable with the way everything was fabricated and installed.” Other key players include lighting designer Circuit Lighting of Green Brook, NJ, who also provided onsite assembly and fitting of the structures. To make the systems completely portable, they labeled each fixture, power supply and cable - making dismantling and reinstallation easy for the next crew. The stage platforms were provided by Quik Stage of Blaine MN while the custom PVC canopy, stage railing and ballasting were produced by SPEVCO in Winston-Salem NC. West Nyack, NY-based McLaren Engineering Group, who worked in tandem with the stadium's team of authorities, ensured the complete safety of the structures. “Milos truss made it possible for us to make an understandable ‘road map' of the entire system,” said Richard Tilley, CEO of Circuit Lighting. “QuickTruss was particularly well suited to the turnkey design.” “This is a great example of a modular system with a specialty application that was engineered specifically for the customer,” said Milos America president Jeff Broitman. “With a four to six week time frame to get it done, we managed to deliver in 9 days.” Proving that Milos products are at home in any league.
For more info, visit www.milosgroup.com