A building’s lateral system is the part of the structure that keeps the building stable and safe under wind and earthquake forces, and choosing the right system affects cost, constructability, and architectural flexibility. Proprietary lateral systems such as DuraFuse, SidePlate, and CoreBrace are often selected because they offer a highly refined, thoroughly tested, and performance-driven solution for resisting lateral loads. Rather than relying on a one-off custom detail, the project benefits from a system that has already been engineered, validated, and optimized through extensive development and real-world application. Especially in high seismic regions, that can translate into better energy dissipation, more reliable behavior, and a safer building overall.
These systems can also create meaningful project advantages beyond seismic performance. Because they are standardized and purpose-built, they often improve efficiency in both design and construction. They can reduce steel tonnage, simplify connections, improve erection speed, and help minimize field complications that lead to delays and change orders. For owners and developers, that can mean a more cost-effective structure when total project cost is considered, not just the line item for one specialty component. For architects and builders, it can mean cleaner coordination, better constructability, and greater confidence that the lateral system will perform as intended.
While proprietary lateral systems are especially valuable in western seismic markets, their benefits are not limited to those regions. Better predictability, cleaner detailing, improved quality control, and reduced fabrication and installation risk are advantages on almost any project. The goal is not to pass off design responsibility, but to select the best structural solution for the building. When used appropriately, proprietary lateral systems are often one of the most efficient, economical, and dependable ways to achieve that.
WRIGHT ENGINEERS OPENS FORT WORTH OFFICE
Wright Engineers is pleased to announce the opening of its Fort Worth, Texas office. Located on Ray White Road, the new office reflects the firm’s continued growth in the Fort Worth area and provides clients with a truly local presence backed by local knowledge and relationships.
While Wright Engineers has long served the region from its Dallas office, the Fort Worth office establishes a dedicated presence within the community. With professionals who live and work in the area, the office strengthens the firm’s ability to serve Fort Worth clients with responsive service, local expertise, and the support of a broader regional network.
COLD STORAGE FACILITY IN FORT WORTH, TX
Construction is underway on a new 140,000-square-foot cold storage facility in Fort Worth, TX, for an international food, agriculture, and industrial products supplier. The project includes freezer space with large flex rooms capable of maintaining temperatures ranging from -10 to 40 degrees. Each flex room required an isolated, independent structural system to provide a complete thermal break. The roof system was designed to support CO₂ skid and gas cooler units with a combined weight of approximately 100,000 pounds, requiring careful coordination of structural loading and support.
Additional project features include a 42-foot clear height, a 70-foot-deep cold dock, and 24 dock doors. Ware Malcomb is the architect, and Scannell Properties is the developer. Wright Engineers is pleased to provide structural engineering services.
THE OSCAR, LAS VEGAS
Cedar Street Companies recently broke ground on the Oscar, a seven-story, 236-unit apartment complex in the Las Vegas Medical District. Named after former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, the 275,000 square foot development, constructed of six stories of wood over the podium structure, will offer a live-work-play environment for doctors, medical students, and others serving the district.
The project is part of a broader City effort to expand housing options in key areas of Las Vegas. In her recent State of the City address, Mayor Shelley Berkley also highlighted ShareWESTSIDE and the Arts District Apartments as examples of this effort. Wright Engineers is proud to have provided the structural engineering services for all three of these projects. Booth Hansen is the architect for the Oscar and The Arts District Apartments, and Novus Architecture is the architect for ShareWESTSIDE.