Construction is set to begin on Cinderella’s Castle, one of the most popular attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. A permit was filed by Coastal Steel Inc. for updates to the iconic structure, although it did not specify the exact changes to the castle.
The construction of Cinderella’s Castle was completed in July 1971. The structure is 189 feet tall and was built with 600 tons of steel-braced framing. The use of forced perspective makes the castle appear even larger to the guest entering the park.
Despite its appearance, not a single brick was used in the construction of the castle. The exterior is made from fiber-reinforced gypsum plaster supported by metal studs. The roof of the castle is shingled with a type of plastic also used to make computer monitor shells. The plastic is attached to cones of light-gauge steel sheeting over the sub-frame.
Through the use of steel framing, the castle was constructed to withstand 110 mph design wind speeds in Central Florida with a great deal of strength in reserve.
Additional Resources
- Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort Provides an Early Example of the Benefits of Prefabricated Steel Construction
- Cold-Formed Steel Helps Frame the “Poster Child” of Complex Architecture
- Super Bowl LVI, Landmark Projects, Steel Framing all in L.A.