At first, a tight deadline was the serious challenge facing the Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Structure construction. Then, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. Despite 120-mph winds, ten inches of rain, and 20-foot storm surges, the erected precast members of the structure suffered no damage. Afterward, rapid precast erection allowed the project to be completed with minimum delays caused by site conditions. Despite the unforeseen interruption in construction, the project budget was unaffected. Tindall’s engineering, delivery, and erection teams faced some of the most complex challenges during this build. But at Tindall, that’s just another day at the office.
Owner
Port of New Orleans
Architect
CH2M Hill
Contractor
Paragon Structural
Location
New Orleans, LA
When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, the previously erected precast members sustained no damage. However, Tindall still faced the serious challenge of reevaluating the project schedule after the storm. This 367,054-square-foot elevated precast, prestressed concrete structure’s fast-track construction schedule was accelerated by dividing the design into three phases. Tindall was able to maintain the revised schedule by changing erection sequence mid-project to coordinate with foundation work. The six-story terminal/garage efficiently handles drop-offs, baggage, and customs on the ground level. Ticketing, waiting areas, and the cruise liner gangway appear on the second floor, and approximately 1,000 vehicle stalls make up the top four floors. The 1,800 precast pieces used for this project included double tees, columns, beams, spandrels, and wall panels. Deep double tees and shortened double tees handle the extra loading in the high load areas. These precast pieces are capable of withstanding the potentially harsh conditions of the Gulf Coast, providing peace of mind for the client — no matter what the weather may bring.
