Covering the Commuters

Image courtesy of Washington Area Metro Transit Authority

In large cities on America’s east coast, subways are a vital resource to efficiently transport people amid the urban traffic and congestion.

No subways run anywhere near Max Weiss Company … yet half a continent away, we’re working hard to make commuting nicer for riders in one prominent metropolis!

The finish line is nearing on a large project for the Washington Area Metro Transit Authority. It’s been a time-consuming task, full of challenging bends and hours of labor. Yet, once completed and installed, the final product will serve thousands daily.

The handiwork of Max Weiss Company’s metal bending professionals will be on display in nine new subway station entrance canopies in Washington, D.C. These gently-curved structures offer overhead protection for people walking up or down steps to the subway. If the weather involves rain, snow or a blistering hot sun, their impact on commuters’ comfort is profound!

Each canopy uses 12 to 16 pieces of type 316 stainless steel rectangular tube. All are being formed hard way; some involve a two-step forming process. Two sizes are involved: 12” x 8” x 5/8”, and 10” x 4” x 3/8”.

Max Weiss is a subcontractor on the project. Clark Construction, of McLean, Va., is the general contractor.

The metal forming itself entails significant challenges. For one, it’s off-axis bending. Another factor is that, because of the visibility of the finished product, the tubes must remain nearly pristine. The metal can’t be gouged or nicked up – not with thousands seeing the canopies every day, all year long!

To elaborate further on the latter point, using language direct from the American Institute of Steel Construction: “The decision to architecturally expose structural steel can add significant value to a building, but coordination is essential. All parties on a project – the owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, fabricators, detailers and erectors – must have the same level of expectations to achieve the best end result for a project.”

Given that these canopies will be installed in our nation’s capitol, high expectations are justified. Everyone – from powerful elected officials, to those who toil at cleaning the city’s endless offices – ride the subway. Its tunnels teem with humanity of all standing and stripes. All are protected by the canopies at its entrances.

They might never stop to consider the skills of those who helped create the infrastructure. It’s OK. We’ll do our absolute best to form these tubes precisely to spec, and right on radius. And someday when our metal bending professionals visit Washington, D.C., they’ll point to these same canopies and tell their kids, “I did that.”