Special stainless steel door order makes re-opening of NYC beaches possible after Superstorm Sandy
The devastation Superstorm Sandy wrought on the beaches of New York City in October 2012 is hard to overstate.
Fourteen miles of public beaches that served as a traditional gathering point for millions of New Yorkers each summer were rendered virtually inaccessible by the storm’s powerful winds and waves. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation set an ambitious goal of having the beaches cleaned up, repaired and ready for public use by Memorial Day 2013.
And American Direct was honored to be part of the effort.
Selected by the McClaren Engineering Group to provide openings for the new, modular buildings the city’s contractors designed for the beaches, American Direct used its deep industry ties to put in rush custom orders. American Direct worked with suppliers to have temporary stainless steel doors built in time for the holiday weekend while engaging three separate stainless steel factories to help turn out enough high-quality 316-grade product to meet the specifications for the permanent replacements.
“Based on several discussions with the manufacturing industry, I wasn’t sure there would be enough 316 stainless steel in the marketplace at the time,” said John DelCollo, American Direct Vice President of Sales Eastern Region. “Working with Ceco Door Products and their partner companies, multiple stainless steel factories were employed that could generate what we needed. Coordinating the stainless steel doors shipping from three different locations was critical to our success.”
Once the permanent doors came in, American Direct coordinated the replacement of the temporary fixtures.
These modular structures will no doubt rate right up there as one of the rarest projects American Direct has ever worked on. What is not unique, however, is the synergy that emerged between project partners Deluxe Building Systems, American Direct, Garrison Architects, Triton Structural and the City of New York that put the needs of New Yorkers and surrounding areas first.
“Close collaboration with partners is key to the success of projects in the modern construction environment,” said American Direct President Byron Whetstone. “American Direct was very proud to have played an integral role in the renewal of such a special place.”