OUC St. Cloud Operations and Maintenance Center
Net-Zero Energy Campus DesignED by Jacobs
The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) Operations and Maintenance Center, designed by Jacobs Architecture, opened May 16, 2024. This net-zero energy campus spans 24 acres in St. Cloud, Florida, and meets stringent sustainability standards, including LEED Gold, the WELL Building Standard, and Fitwel certification.
Jacobs Architecture engaged Promenaid to resolve handrail and guardrail technical challenges for the architectural centerpiece of the new facility –– a ¼-mile outdoor illuminated pedestrian bridge. Read more about these challenges and the project results below.
CHALLENGE:
Jacobs Architecture specified Promenaid Handrails to address two critical design challenges:
1. Handrails and Guardrails on an Outdoor Pedestrian Bridge
Suspended ¼ mile long curved walkway
Architectural centerpiece of the facility
Walking surface with variable depth of concrete pour on a steel pan
Sloped across width, grade changes along length
Electrical conduits buried beneath concrete surface
Core drilling or pre-set forms for posts not structurally sound
Necessitated surface mounting with minimal, small diameter through-bolts
Achieving vertical post orientation had to offset compound slope angles
2. LED Lighting Integrated in Handrails
Architectural feature and life-safety element
Initial solutions problematic due to high costs, sourcing difficulties, and poor aesthetics
Installation of conventional LED lighting would be difficult, time-consuming, and costly
solution:
Jacobs Architecture specified the Promenaid Tekpost™ handrail and guardrail system with integrated Channelux™ LED lighting to meet all requirements: elegance, affordability, simplicity and sustainability.
Tekpost™ Handrail and Guardrail System
Simplifies installing vertical posts on sloped surfaces
Base rotation offsets the compound slope of the pan, ensuring a precise and secure fit
Secures to surface with a single through bolt, crucial for the variable concrete thickness and avoiding electrical conduits
Channelux™ LED Lighting
Aligns perfectly with the project’s sustainability goals and design vision
All-weather LED lighting system designed specifically for Promenaid handrails
Eliminates coordinating with multiple manufacturers
Streamlines procurement
Accelerates installation
RESULT:
The OUC St. Cloud Operations and Maintenance Center demonstrates how thoughtful design, and the right choice of materials can overcome complex construction challenges.
Supported by Promenaid team support, instructional videos and custom shop drawings, Ajax Building Company executed the installation without requiring specialized subcontractors, reducing costs and speeding up the timeline.
The TekpostTM system surpassed aesthetic and functional expectations, while the integrated Channelux™ LED lighting enhanced safety and visual appeal, contributing to the campus’s sustainable design.
The OUC St. Cloud Operations and Maintenance Center now stands as a model of innovative, sustainable design, with Promenaid handrails playing a key role in its success.
