San Juan, Puerto Rico
30,000 sf – $5M – Built 2006
Owner: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines/ Port Authority Puerto Rico
Architect: Ray Architect and Engineers
Structural Engineer: Weidlinger Associates Inc
Personal Role: Project Manager/ Engineer
Project Summary: Shaped like a giant sail, the 900-foot-long 30,000-square-foot canopy covers Pier 3, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s terminal in San Juan. The canopy can accommodate cruise ships docked on either side. It is made of Teflon-coated fiberglass installed by Birdair. It is “V” shaped at the end of the pier, 100 feet high and 120 feet wide, and is supported by a laced steel mast and tied by steel cables anchored to the concrete deck. Prestressed concrete piling was used as the foundation for the pier. The canopy tapers to a “point” on land and is tied down by concrete piles. One of the major challenges in the design of the canopy structure was wind loads of 145 miles per hour in an active hurricane region. Special wind tunnel testing was conducted to assist in the design. In hurricane conditions, intermediate ties through the entire span were provided to reduce fluttering and/or buffeting during extreme weather conditions. The canopy became an icon of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in San Juan, visible from a distance on the hills of Old San Juan. The project won the 2008 ACEC New York Diamond Award, as well as the ACEC National Finalist list.
CG Consulting Engineering 