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When a tornado ripped through the Lennox Manufacturing plant in Marshalltown, Iowa, it seemed all hope was lost. The factory was literally split in half, and workers feared for their jobs. But David Duracell, the head of the plant, along with consultants from Childress Engineering, and restoration firm Belfor, refused to give up. David guided us through the wreckage, outlining a formidable challenge: to get two crucial production lines back up and running within three weeks.
Accepting the challenge, we worked tirelessly, seven days a week, shoring up walls and piecing the factory back together. Just two weeks later, the first production line roared back to life, followed by the second in the third week. As the first furnace unit rolled off the line, roughly 150 people erupted in applause. The once-demolished factory was now functional again, complete with a temporary roof and bracing. The Childress Team, along with the Belfor team of disaster recovery experts, were able to keep the plant open and operational while rebuilding the structure even better than it was before the tornado.
Months later, with the town’s heartbeat restored and jobs secured, CES took on a new phase of the project: proposing a concept to redesign the office section of the 100-year-old headquarters. CES architects and engineers designed a beautiful new building that twisted and turned, mirroring the tornado’s path but also embodying the plant’s rise from the rubble.
The Childress Companies were honored to be part of the “Lennox Strong” story, not only restoring the factory but also contributing to the town’s revival. We didn’t just rebuild a building; we helped a community bounce back stronger and more proud than ever.
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When the Royal Central Tower, a stately building with a beautifully designed interior but an aging exterior, was ravaged by a tornado, it seemed like an insurmountable setback. The building owner called the experts from Childress Engineering Company to assist.
Childress didn’t just help the building’s owner negotiate a successful resolution with the insurance company; we brought an innovative solution to the table that would not only restore the building but transform it, all while saving millions of dollars. Our proposal was audacious: replace the entire facade and give the building a more modern, attractive look – for less money.
The plan involved expanding the building’s footprint with a new skin – a daring move that promised to rejuvenate the tower. The Childress team orchestrated the removal of the old glass from the interior at night so as to not disturb the tenants. In fact, throughout this entire transformation, the tenants remained in the building, their routines undisturbed.
The Childress team didn’t just save the Royal Central Tower; we reinvented it. Our expertise and innovative approach turned a disaster into a triumph, saving the client millions of dollars and showcasing the power of smart, forward-thinking engineering.
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Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas was grappling with a severe water infiltration problem. Despite engaging various consultants, the issue persisted and legal issues mounted. That’s when Childress Companies was hired to help.
Our team discovered significant facade problems requiring a complete replacement. Given the hospital’s need to stay operational during repairs, our innovative Childress Engineering Services (CES) Team devised a unique solution. They scaffolded the building and established a protective screen for uninterrupted remediation, ensuring privacy and continuity of operations.
Childress didn’t stop at just rectifying the issue. We proposed a bold transformation – removing the damaged facade and replacing it with a fresh, modern one. This not only gave the hospital a much-needed solution to their water issues but dispelled the stigma associated with old look.
Childress Engineering successfully resolved both the physical and legal issues. This project was a testament to the collaborative efforts of our multi-disciplinary team of Structural Engineers, Consultants, Architects, and Curtainwall specialists.
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In 2009, the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility was devastated by a powerful windstorm, leading to its collapse and subsequent injuries. News of the incident quickly spread, leading to an urgent call for help to investigate the structure and devise a plan for stabilization.
The insurance company called Childress Engineering to help. Our team began working round-the-clock to stabilize the structure. The initial approach was to utilize wood to support the structure in various capacities. However, this strategy was met with skepticism from other consultants who insisted on the use of steel. Doubts also arose from the insurance company funding the project, questioning the efficacy of the wooden reinforcement approach.
Addressing these concerns, CES explained that the building was originally constructed with steel. If additional steel were used to brace the unstable structure and it attempted to shift, it could potentially trigger another collapse. Wood, being softer and more pliable, would act like a spring, providing the necessary give without compromising stability.
Upon completion of the project, the wooden reinforcement strategy proved successful, earning CES praise for its effectiveness and innovation. The concept was so impactful that when a building collapsed in Chile a few years later, the same technique was employed. Today, this approach has been widely adopted by engineers worldwide, demonstrating the value of unconventional problem-solving in times of crisis.
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Suite 1000
Richardson, TX 75081
Tel: (214) 451-6630
Fax: (214) 451-6631
