Cellular South Calls Ceco to Storm-Proof its Critical Switching Center

When Hurricane Katrina tore through the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama coasts, regional cellular service provider Cellular South sustained severe damage throughout its Mobile, AL, service area—including its critical switch site, the “nerve center” of Cellular South’s entire Mobile operations.

The Challenge:

In an effort to lessen the possibility of future weather-related service interruption, Cellular South decided to protect its vital operations inside a state-of-the-art switching station strong enough to withstand 250 mph winds and virtually impermeable to water. To pull it off, they relied on Ceco Building Systems.

The Solution:

A Double-Strength Roof System
Unlike pre-engineered metal building systems, Ceco Building Systems are custom-engineered to meet specific challenges—like the ones facing Cellular South. That flexibility allowed Metal Construction Resource, a Ceco Authorized Builder, to respond with a unique solution for maximum protection against wind and water: a double roof system and an internal gutter system, supported by an advanced leak protection system.

The double roof system ensures that Cellular South’s important equipment inside is safe from threatening weather. The shallow-pitch, 22-gauge Galvalume® B Deck interior roof is protected by DensDeck, a fiberglass roof panel. This roof is separated from the exterior PBR roof panel system by three feet.

A FEMA-Tough Wall System
In addition to a virtually waterproof roof system, the PBR wall system provides superior weather protection as well. All openings—louvers, doors and windows—are rated for 250 mph winds. All doors are FEMA-rated.

As Metal Construction Resource CFO and partner Terry Harmer says, “Everything in this facility was chosen to protect the contents of this building.”

Harmer served on the project team alongside Mike Clark of Ceco Building Systems, White-Spunner (general contractor) of Mobile and Gulf States Engineering in Mobile.

Structural Modifications for a Higher Wind Rating
Modeled after Florida building codes, the 47’ wide x 103’ long clear span building sports several unique features, including wind columns placed every 10 feet, and an especially tight screw pattern, to name a few. Harmer explains, “There is much smaller space between screws. And there are twice as many fasteners, girts and purlins.”

The Results:

A virtually weatherproof switching center to keep Cellular South customers connected, rain or shine—helping the regional carrier provide service its customers can depend on, especially when they need it most.

“I’ve never before seen a building like this,” commented Terry Harmer, CFO and partner in Metal Construction Resource, which constructed the new steel building system for Cellular South. “The contents of this building have to be protected. This building will just shrug off debris. It would withstand Armageddon.”

About Metal Construction Resource
Metal Construction Resource designs competitive and unique buildings for clients, ranging from barns to complex buildings. They can provide building materials only, or include the concrete and erection through its network of pre-qualified builders. Its contractors are licensed, insured and bondable, perform first-rate work and usually cost less than owner-furnished companies.