Success by Design

Designed by Larkin Associates Consulting Engineers Inc.

Located at Cox Plaza II, Larkin Associates provided structural design and construction observation services for this project. The most economical solution for shielding the exterior environment from any inadvertent radiation emission involved using massive structural concrete walls and roof elements with varying thicknesses from 30 to 76 inches.

The foundational support for such a heavy structure and the radiation equipment which weighs up to 13,000 pounds per piece presented quite a challenge given the typical Ozarks karst topography. Other special requirements included shoring design to bring the heavy equipment in through other, lighter parts of the completed structure, spanning the control area over an existing driveway and ventilation shaft, and designing unique, cantilevered roof framing to avoid adding load to the existing building framing system. Stephen Retherford, AIA, of Butler Rosenbury & Partners, was the project architect.