Masonry Magazine October 1989 Page. 18
working out the details while taking into account the close tolerances that the structure would demand. With Sea World officials wanting a dramatic entrance-way, Jones/Kell built two complete models with lighting before plans were finalized. To facilitate the final construction, a mock-up was erected at the site. Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Decora glass blocks were chosen to achieve the clear sparkling look, as requested by the owner. The eye catching entrance arches have twelve inch glass block used with a tube steel structure at the column walls and at the roof of the barrel vault arches. To emphasize
The soft subdued sunlight provided by the glass block welcomes the visitor at the main entrance to Sea World of Texas.
The top of the main central arch reaches a height of 56 feet and make a more dramatic effect at the entranceway, the architects utilized imaginative lighting of neon and fluorescent lights. In addition to the glass block at the entrance arches, there are one hundred sixty light columns in the adjacent waiting areas that add to the beauty upon entering the park.
4-M Construction Services, Inc., owner Martin Weiss, general contractor for the entrance area, put the construction team together, using proven sub-contractors that included Frank Wallace Masonry. Weiss stated that doing this one of a kind project required close coordination be-
132 CTR. TO CTR.
PRECAST UNITS
HOT APPLIED SILICONE
SEALANT OVER
THERMAL FILL MORTAR
CONTINUOUS BACKING ROD
00000000000
COATED STEEL JOINT
REINFORCEMENT WITH
PUNCHED HOLES.
TACK OR SPOT HELD
TO STEEL ANGLES AT
EVERY BLOCK JOINT
4x3 STEEL TUBE
HOOPED MEMBER
SEE ENGR. DRUGS.
STRUCTURAL STEEL
MEMBER
SEE ENGR. DRINGS.
FABRICATED STEEL ANGLES
HOOPED TO CORRECT RADIUS
TO SUPPORT 12"x12"x4"
HOLLOW GLASS BLOCK
WITH SETTING CUSHION
AND SILICONE SEALANT
GLASS BLOCK VAULT DETAIL
18 MASONRY-SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 1989