Strongwell Products Make A Big Splash With Houston Aquarium
Landry’s Restaurants, Inc.’s Downtown Aquarium in Houston, Texas offers patrons fine dining while viewing exotic saltwater aquariums ranging in size from 2,000 to 200,000 gallons. Behind the scenes, Strongwell’s fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP) products are helping the restaurant chain to maintain the underwater show. Kirksey Architects, the firm in charge of the restaurant’s design, chose FRP in the construction of diving platforms and safety rail systems because of the strong corrosion resistance and low maintenance features that composites offer. Stainless and galvanized steel were not viable options because these metals would eventually corrode from the constant exposure to saltwater.
Corrosion became a major factor in the construction of the diving platforms and safety railing because of their attachment to the different aquariums. Access to the tanks was necessary in feeding the marine life as well as upkeep of the aquariums.
Using an FRP solution, Strongwell distributor I.M. Pena designed and installed diving platforms and safety rail systems for Landry’s using SAFRAIL™, EXTREN® Series 525 beams and channels, and DURADEK® I-6000 1” grating.
“The restaurant liked how strong the materials were and how well they worked in a corrosive environment,” said I.M. Pena Vice President Vince Pena.
Landry’s is so happy with the results that composites will again play a major role in the construction of a second Downtown Aquarium restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee.