Dicks Sporting Goods

Dicks Sporting Goods is a national, growing sport equipment retailer and fairly new to the Florida market. This building, located in Palm Beach County, is the first 2-story retail store in the South Florida area. The 80,000 square foot building design is based on the national prototype. However, the prototype drawings are based on a Northern location that accounts for snow and freezing areas and does not accommodate high winds and impact loads associated with flying debris.

The structural design challenge is to maintain the prototype exterior character while converting the building into a high wind compliant structure. Load bearing tilt-up panels are used for strength as well as the shear walls for the building. Brick form liner was used at the base of the panels to match the architectural brick on the exterior columns. The main entrance and side features contain curtain wall glass that required additional tube steel supports to maintain the product approval for the impact requirements. The final product reflects the overall prototype deign concept.

Adjacent to the main store are some smaller retail spaces that have a similar design feel with the brick highlights and load bearing panels. There is a feature tower in the inside corner of the center to give the center even more presence to the main traffic road.