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Radius Track Bends the Curve at New World Symphony in Miami
Radius Track Corporation (RTC), the world’s premier provider of curved light
gauge steel framing and BIM enabled 3D modeling for curved surfaces, is nearing
completion of its work on Gehry Partners’ current project, the New World
Symphony campus expansion in Miami Beach. The project is a celebration of curved
surfaces, and Gehry’s vision calls for curves in almost every space of the
106,350-square-foot project.
 New
World Symphony, the noted orchestral academy, prepares highly-gifted graduates
of distinguished music programs for leadership roles in orchestras and ensembles
around the world. Soon, its students will have access to some of the orchestral
world’s premier performance spaces and learning environments.
The exterior features an overhanging portico encompasses by Gehry’s signature
scalloped sails created by Radius Track craftsmen. Inside, a soaring 80-foot
glass wall leads into an atrium featuring playful, geometric practice and
rehearsal rooms, a high-tech box office, and a public bar with an undulating
canopy. The centerpiece of the building is a 757-seat natural acoustic
performance space featuring large, distinctive, sail-like acoustical surfaces
designed for the ultimate orchestral experience. A director’s studio and
penthouse garden top the structure.
RTC provided all the BIM enabled 3-D modeling for the project’s curved surfaces
and provided its Curved Right ™ custom fabricated steel framing members to
support the complex architecture of the building. Chuck Mears, AIA, CEO of RTC,
says this project has been one of the most challenging in company history due
the abstract and unbalanced nature of the forms that exist in the space.
“Because many of surfaces are angled, tipped or curved, traditional framing
methods do not meet our needs. The framing members had to be perfectly
fabricated with incredible precision. When you are creating surfaces like these,
every piece is different.”
RTC created several large mockups of some of the more complicated structural
forms in a nearby Miami warehouse. The entire assembly sequence had to be
tested, with all trades participating. “We perfected the knife edge precision
curves that were needed on this project,” says Mears. “We wanted to weld these
pieces together in the field, but that was impossible on this project. Even a
simple weld would warp the shape of the form, so we came up with a unique
solution. We created a tie system which holds the members together, which
enabled us to produce a smooth sharp knife edge.”
RTC has previously collaborated with Gehry Partners. New World Symphony is
expected to be completed January 2011. For additional information, visit
www.radiustrack.com,
email info@radiustrack.com or call
888-872-3487. |
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