When the owner of WaterStreet Plaza, a single-story mall in Boulder, CO, decided to modernize the aging glass skylight design of the existing structure, they sought the expertise of daylighting professionals at Powers. The goal was to create a skylight that could withstand heavy wind and snow loads while also serving as a beacon in the evenings to attract attention to the strip mall.

Our team of daylighting consultants built physical models to work out the design and identify how the structure would work with the parameters of Structures Unlimited, Inc. (SUI) and Katwall to develop a delegated design and turnkey approach. This approach involved utilizing existing steel beams along with new aluminum rafters, and SUI supplied the aluminum structure for the latest “pop-ups.” The new design includes Kalwall translucent panels, and snow fences with an engineered, customizable option for mounting tenant signage. At night, the sheds and “pop-ups” are backlit, creating an inviting beacon for the area.