JB Williams Plaza

FabriTec Structures, Dallas, Texas, United States

The project was designed to cover two single outdoor escalators and one double one, as well as to control water runoff from them during rain. California law changed in 2008, making it mandatory to cover outdoor escalators.

The client wanted something different from the traditional barrel-type covers often seen on these applications. The covers also needed to look light and reflect existing design elements. This structure is in downtown Oakland, Calif., and the environment changes drastically after office hours. The client wanted a highly translucent fabric so security guards could see what was happening underneath the structure at night.

Due to high water tables in the Bay Area, the project presented many challenges regarding the footings. The building code states that the structure must exceed the dimensions of the escalators by 15 degrees. Existing conditions such as walls made this a challenge. Controlling the water runoff from the structures also presented some challenges, but were resolved successfully.

The structures make the area cooler and people tend to spend more time at the stores on the plaza. It also softens the area and gives it a more finished, covered look.