Rising 250m above sea level, the new Malahat Skywalk, located on the territory of the Malahat Nation, is an immersive nature experience for tourists. The outdoor recreation structure is on Southern Vancouver Island, among forests, orchards and vineyards. Previously, only agile explorers could enjoy such an experience, but thanks to the new Tree Walk and Spiral Tower, now even strollers and wheelchairs can access this wild environment. A 650m long galvanized and timber “treetop walk” leads visitors from the visitor center onto the hot-dip galvanized spiral ramp which takes you up 30m to a galvanized lookout platform. There you will enjoy stunning, 360-degree views of Finlayson Arm, Saanich Inlet and Peninsula, and the Gulf Islands of Canada, as well as the San Juan Islands and Mount Baker in the United States. For those with a more adventurous spirit, you can take a walk out (or lay down) on the Adventure Net to have uninterrupted views of the lush arbutus forest and spiral structure. The arbutus has reddish bark and bear white flowers in the spring and red berries in the fall. When you are finished taking in the sights and sounds, you can opt to come down the “fast route” on a 20m spiral slide or return down the ramp.
The primary structural system consists of glulam columns with hot-dip galvanized steel bracing all around the perimeter. Galvanized outriggers from these columns create a 600m-long spiral walkway transporting visitors to the top of the structure and access to the viewing platform. A galvanized steel central spiral staircase provides emergency egress.
Hot-dip galvanizing was specified as the primary coating for the Skywalk for its natural corrosion resistance properties. With its proximity to the Salish Sea, galvanizing was the only option to achieve coating longevity while maintaining a more natural look to paint or other coating systems tying the entire structure with its natural surroundings.
The galvanizing of the decorative panels on the sides of the Woodwards Building “W” Tower project won two American Galvanizers Association awards, one in the Building & Archicture and the other in the Duplex Systems category.
Originally built in 1903, the historic Woodward’s Building completed its long redevelopment journey in 2010. The new building features the famous “W” and the windowed walls of the Woodwards Building “W” Tower are laced with columns of intricately etched decorative panels depicting tangled branches. These panels take advantage of the increased corrosion protection of a duplex system. For projects that require a particular color scheme, duplexing is a good way to get the corrosion-resistant protection of galvanizing, while allowing a structure to incorporate any color desired.
The Deltaport Third Berth Expansion project earned an award with the American Galvanizers Association in the Industrial category. The Deltaport Third Berth Expansion is a response to rapidly increasing industry demand. With projections indicating a double of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland container traffic in the next ten years, and a tripling in traffic in the next 25 years, Deltaport is planning for the future by both expanding its container handling capacity and by utilizing durable, maintenance-free hot-dip galvanized steel for corrosion protection. The Third Berth Expansion is located in one of the harshest environments, the container racks of the port must withstand the highly corrosive effects of rain, snow, and salty sea air. These hot-dip galvanized steel structures will last 50+ years with little or no maintenance, a factor critical to the ongoing operation of the facility.
This series of sculptures in Surrey, BC’s Holland Park by artist Bruce Voyce celebrates the natural and human history of our region. Very contemporary in material and fabrication techniques, the sculptures boldly explore visual art with illusive shapes that resemble 3-dimensional xrays of various flowers and leaves. The forms are lit at night with the addition of dynamic solar LeD lighting.
Holland Park Floraforms has won Hot-Dip Galvanizing Award of Excellence from the American Galvanizers Association.
This structure at the Cloverdale campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University offers hands-on learning opportunities to the students in the school’s carpentry, welding, metal fabrication, CADD/drafting, millwright and masonry courses. The Kwantlen Teaching Aid structure is comprised of various beams and connectors, all galvanized for long-term protection from the damaging effects of outdoor exposure to rain, sun, and snow.
This project earned us a Civic Contribution award with the American Galvanizers Association. and has also been featureed in the Journal of Commerce.
The Red Dog Mine in Alaska has been in operation since 1989. During its expansion in 1997 we galvanized over 60 tons of material including columns, perimeter protection plates, cable trays and end wall structural steel.
We received an award with the American Galvanizing Association in the industrial category.
Host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, British Columbia focused on allowing for the safe passage of drivers travelling from Vancouver to Whistler along Highway 99. Almost 400 tons of steel were hot-dip galvanized for use in the construction of 48 new bridges and 219 retaining walls. The long term corrosion protection and lower maintenance costs associated with hot-dip galvanized steel are a key component in a cost efficient and environmentally friendly solution to keep this beautiful scenic highway safe for generations to come.
The Whistler Sliding Centre was constructed on the southeast slope of Blackcomb Mountain for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The track is used for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton sports. We’re proud to have hot-dip galvanized the steel components used in the construction of this venue that residents, visitors and athletes can enjoy for many years to come.
The project required galvanizing a wide array of complex extrusions of every shape and size. An exciting project at one of the premier tourist attractions in Vancouver.
The Carousel Horses were commissioned by the City of Burnaby and are a part of the Living Art installation. Each steel structure has been hot-dip galvanized and then covered in live plants.
