Design and Supply of 3.9-Ton AESS Brace Connectors for New Retractable Roof over Existing Stadium
CAST CONNEX was engaged by Canam’s Structural-Heavy Steel Construction division to engineer and supply 16 architecturally exposed structural steel brace-end connectors for the new retractable roof over the existing Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York. Each of the 3.9-ton, custom designed cast steel connectors is used at the bottom-side brace connection for the 38-inch diameter steel braces which form the primary elements of the seismic load resisting system (SLRS) for the new roof. Working closely with ROSSETTI, CAST CONNEX developed the connector’s shaping to meet the architect’s vision for the connection while meeting the stringent structural requirements.
The public design commission requested that the US Tennis Association employ steel castings at the column base connections given the high level of visibility of these junctions to audience members and the general public watching the US Tennis Open. The design commission suggested the use of castings as they provide significantly improved aesthetics over conventionally fabricated connections. Given Cast Connex’s industry renown expertise in delivering turnkey structural cast steel components for building and bridge structures, all three project stakeholders – the design commission, the USTA’s design consultants, and the project’s contractors – independently contacted Cast Connex to discuss the potential to incorporate steel castings at these architecturally critical connections.
According to Danny Zausner, the chief operating officer of the National Tennis Center, the public design commission has called the column base assemblies incorporating Cast Connex’s steel castings “works of art”.
Owner: United States Tennis Association
Architects: ROSSETTI
Structural Engineers: WSP
General Contractor: Hunt Construction Group
Steel Fabricator: Structal-Heavy Steel Construction
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