Ewing Young Concealed Wireless Rooftop Cupola, Newberg, Oregon
This 2.5-Ton, 16-Foot-Tall, RF-Transparent Cupola Houses Nine Antennas While Seamlessly Blending Engineering, Precision Fabrication and Optimized Performance
When Experience Matters
Retrofitting an 8’ x 8’ x 16’ tall concealed wireless structure on top of an existing building presents a complex web of challenges: weight distribution, RF transparency, structural penetrations, material choices, and performance modeling. At best, it’s a successful collaborative effort between engineer, fabricator, wireless carrier and installation contractor — professionals with decades of experience creating safe, durable and high-performing wireless infrastructure. In the case of the Ewing Young cupola project, we called on 26 years of wireless infrastructure knowledge, and the services of North Ridge Wireless with whom we’ve worked many times. That combined experience, and the continuity it affords, allowed us to anticipate the challenges of seamlessly integrating steel structure, RF transparent materials and RF equipment to satisfy the aesthetic and performance demands in this upper-tier suburban community that places a premium on architectural cohesion.
“Steelhead understands the construction process and they’re incredibly proactive in their communication. In fact, in the course of this project, I was never the first to reach out, as they consistently made contact to notify me about pre-assembly inspection; to ask me when I needed modified steel truss saddle mounts; and to schedule delivery of the various cupola structural elements. On complex projects like Ewing Young, we appreciate Steelhead’s ability to integrate steel structures, RF transparent materials and RF equipment — and to deliver them when and where they’re needed.”
Ryan Dunham, Owner, North Ridge Wireless
Integration By Design
A nine-antenna, six radio configuration carries significant weight. Supporting it requires a stable steel base capable of distributing loads evenly across the modified roof structure. However, every added pound translates into new stresses for joists, trusses, and load paths not originally designed for telecom infrastructure. The 3,800-pound steel cupola base at rooftop level is the unifying element between the re-engineered and modified building and 1,800-pound RF transparent superstructure that rises above. To support that considerable weight, the building’s foundation was reenforced and glulam beams were installed from foundation through the height of the building, then tied to the cupola steel base at rooftop level — a design integration challenge that required identifying, and allowing for, all sub roof steel attachments, roof penetrations and integration of the RF superstructure.
“We have great confidence in North Ridge Wireless because they’re truly a “turnkey” wireless infrastructure contractor with the ability to buildout heavily modified host buildings like Ewing Young, and to then integrate concealed wireless structures, RF materials and RF equipment to the most exacting standards.”
Damon Johnson, Sales Manager, Steelhead Metal & Fab, LLC
We deliver superior concealment products across a wide range of applications. Our concealment solutions include monotrees, faux water tanks, church and clock towers, light and flag poles and a wide variety of architectural features. Our clients include the nation’s major wireless carriers, wireless real estate firms, project management companies, mechanical, electrical and engineering contractors, co-location providers, states, counties, municipalities and others. Over the past two decades, we’ve amassed an extensive database of “like projects” as reference models to streamline our engineering and detailing processes that can be used to benefit you and your company's next project.
If you’d like to discuss your next project, please reach out. We’re here to help.