The Lambert Airport in St. Louis proceeded with the expansion of its East Terminal by adding 12 new boarding gates for Southwest Airlines. This 650-ton project consisted of over 1,400 open web short span joists, 72 standard joist girders, and 24 special barrel trusses composed of double-angle chords. Each barrel truss measured eight feet deep by 191 feet long and weighed 15 tons. Per project requirements, these were shipped in three sections and assembled on the job site with perfect-fit bolted splices. Original bids calling for pipe trusses came in over budget. Canam and Structal-Heavy Steel Construction have proposed economical alternatives, helping to reduce costs of the roof steel. Project architects and engineers used a unique pairing layout that grouped the trusses two by two in order to accommodate the building loads and yet achieve an open aesthetic look.

• Owner: St. Louis Airport Authority
• Engineer: David Mason & Associates
• Architect: Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum Inc.
• Tonnage: 650 tons
• Fabricating plant: Washington, MO