Projects - Structures
Special Structures: Recreation & Entertainment

Scott Carpenter
Rocket and Dishes
Boulder, Colorado

Play Environments
Longmont, Colorado

The City of Boulder approached LORIS to assist Landscape Architecture consultant Play Environments in renovating Scott Carpenter Park. The park - named to honor Boulder native Scott Carpenter, one of the original Mercury astronauts - is located by Boulder Creek and is a much-loved part of the City's recreational facilities. A 1970's playground climbing frame in the shape of a rocket is a favorite feature of the park; Play Environments re-designed the park around this feature and added space-themed elements in adjacent play spaces. LORIS' challenge was renovating this rocket to bring it in line with current playground safety codes.

First, the rocket had to be stabilized. Over time its foundation had settled and voids had opened up beneath it causing the rocket to wobble when people were inside. LORIS determined that the ground beneath the existing footing should be pressure-grouted with a sand-cement slurry to fill all the voids. After this was completed, LORIS designed strengthening plates to be welded to the rocket's fins to reinforce the severely corroded fins. Additional steel bars were welded midway between the existing steel bars that formed the rocket's "skin", so that small children could not get stuck between the existing bars.

A sound sculpture composed of two facing stainless steel reflecting dishes is another unique feature in the park. Sound is intensely amplified and focused to the central points of the dishes - a characteristic which is very popular with exuberant children. LORIS provided the engineering design for the concrete plinths and foundations.