Rest area was designed to look like U.S. Air Force base
Secord & Lebow Architects LLP (SLA Architects) and a design team from the Texas Department of Transportation designed the Ward County Safety Rest Area in Pyote, Texas, to match the architectural form and detail of Pyote Air Force Base, a World War II bomber training base located nearby. The historic landmark was nicknamed Rattlesnake Bomber Base.
Jackie Lebow Jr., AIA, partner at SLA Architects, was the designer of record for the project, which was completed in November 2012. “Tapered precast concrete buttresses, radius steel trusses, curved standing steam metal roof systems and corrugated vertical metal wall panels provide a vernacular reminiscent of an old aircraft hangar compound,” he says. “A control tower form near the entrance completes the theme.”
The primary goal was to encourage fatigued drivers to exit the highway for a period of time to prevent highway hypnosis. A secondary goal was to incorporate and promote local history into the design.
Standing seam roof panels and architectural metal corrugated wall panels capture the desired architectural theme of Rattlesnake Bomber Base. Long-term maintainability, sustainability, warranty and other client preferences were also considerations.
AEP Span supplied 32,322 square feet of its 24-gauge Curved Span-Lok roof system in Galvalume. Additionally, AEP Span supplied 9,292 square feet of its 24-gauge Nu-Wave exposed-fastener vertical corrugated wall panels in Galvalume.
The 15,828-square-foot project includes four buildings. The rest area features an interactive lobby exhibit that mimics a World War II bomber fuselage, storm shelters, vending areas, restrooms, an information center, public safety office, picnic arbors, nature trails and an airplane-themed playground.
Owner: Texas Department of Transportation, Austin, Texas
General contractor: AUI Contractors, Fort Worth, Texas
Architect: SLA Architects, Wichita Falls, Texas
Installer: Nations Roof, Rowlett, Texas
Metal roof/wall panels: AEP Span, Fontana, Calif., www.aep-span.com
