Contributing to the metaphorical heart of Del Mar College, Ronstan Tensile Architecture provided design assistance and structural support for the concrete canopy that shades the central gathering area on the Texas campus. The canopy creates a landmark within the new 160,000-square-foot Health Sciences and Emerging Technologies Complex.
Del Mar College, a community college located in Corpus Christi, TX, previously housed its health science programs in one building, while the technology programs were scattered around campus. Richter Architects designed the new Health Sciences and Emerging Technologies Complex to consolidate the programs and allow room for expansion on the West campus. Additionally, Richter wanted to install a canopy within the development to create a shaded plaza for students – an area that has become “the focal and meeting point for campus events and student activities,” says Project Manager Sheldon Schroeder of Richter Architects.”
To carry out the canopy concept, Schroeder and team turned to specialty contractor Ronstan Tensile Architecture. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with U.S. operations based in Portsmouth, RI, Ronstan delivers end-to-end specialty contracting services and tensile architecture expertise for a variety of small to midsize projects. Ronstan is also established as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of tensile wires, rods and bars for architectural and structural applications.
“Ronstan provided useful assistance with product and engineering data during the design phase as well as recommendations for assembly techniques during the construction phase of the project,” Schroeder explains.