Recreation & Civil Structures

Wright provided structural engineering services for features throughout the community including pedestrian bridges and abutments, signage walls and retaining and fence walls.

Freestanding water wall and community entry feature.

This 110 lineal-feet of a 48-foot span shotcrete arch bridge was designed as a golf cart underpass and located in Pleasant Valley Country Club.  The bridge is a winner of PCA’s 2004 National Bridge Competition.

The structural design of concrete water features at a community lake including piers, faux bridges, and a 50 foot diameter roundabout feature.

Race crews and fans have easy access to the infield and track at Phoenix International Raceway thanks to a 230 foot long tunnel constructed beneath the NASCAR track. The tunnel passes under turn 4 and is large enough for two semi trucks to drive through side-by-side with room to spare. Wright Engineers provided the structural design using FE analysis of soil-structure interaction which models the soil as an integral structural component.

The Riverview development comprises the City of Mesa’s Riverview Park as well as Sloan Park, the Chicago Cubs Spring Training complex with its year-round amenities.  Wright Engineers provided structural engineering services for many park elements including entryway signage, pedestrian bridges spanning a 28-foot deep manmade lake, a circular restroom/equipment building, shade structures, climbing wall, and fishing stations.

Wright provided structural design for several double- and triple-span arched concrete footbridges in this Lennar Community.

The 122 foot tall Mickey Mouse Sorcerer’s hat designed after the cap worn by Mickey Mouse in the movie Fantasia is the main entrance and centerpiece for Disney/MGM Studios in Florida. The hat structure is composed of 69 individual composite laminate panels stitched together at the edges with steel bolts at flanged joints. The hat bears on an elevated steel ring beam at the “brim”. Wright Engineers performed finite element analysis using MSC Nastran to model the gravity and hurricane-force wind loads. The lower part of the hat is reinforced by a 3-D internal frame.

Freestanding community entry feature.

Wright provided structural engineering services for 11 cast-in-place concrete arched culverts of various shapes and spans from 12  to 48 feet.  The culverts allow natural water channels to flow under new roadways.