Photo Credits: MiTek
Construction is underway for the new Great Wolf Lodge South Florida, the company’s 21st resort in North America. Located in Naples, the 7-story family-focused resort includes a 90,000-square-foot indoor water park and a 60,000-square-foot adventure park.
The project features Ultra-Span® cold-formed steel (CFS) trusses from SFIA member MiTek. The pre-assembled trusses were recently delivered to the site and installed. They provided a non-combustible and lightweight structural roof solution, which helped to accelerate the construction schedule.
1,200 Tons of Steel Installed
The 20-acre resort east of the city of Naples represents an investment of more than $250 million by Great Wolf Lodge’s shareholders, Blackstone and Centerbridge Partners.
Steel represents a major component of the project. According to the Naples Daily News, a total of 1,200 tons of steel were installed to construct the 500-room resort, a figure that includes the CFS trusses.
CFS roof trusses are among the most efficient systems in mid-rise and multi-family construction. Throughout the lifecycle of a project, they provide architects, developers and contractors with many advantages over other framing systems.
Compared to conventional framing systems, CFS roof trusses offer significant advantages, including faster shell completion time, improved flexibility in spatial layout and increased durability.
Compared to conventional framing systems, MiTek Ultra-Span trusses offer significant advantages, including faster shell completion time, improved flexibility in spatial layout and increased durability.
‘Strongest’ CFS Trusses Available
The MiTek Ultra-Span trusses for this project were built by Above All Trusses and installed by their sister company Brannon Specialties, both based in Miami, Florida.
Ultra-Span trusses are developed with a proprietary shape that provides buildings with the strongest CFS on the market, according to MiTek’s website. Each Ultra-Span roof truss is designed to take advantage of the greatest strength per pound of any CFS product available.
The strength of CFS, along with the power of MiTek’s design software, provides buildings that are stronger, last longer and offer greater resiliency for the duration of its design.
The 500-room Great Wolf Lodge South Florida is expected to open on October 1, 2024.
Tube Slides, Raft Rides, MagiQuest and More
Great Wolf Lodge South Florida is expected to open on October 1, 2024.
Once complete, the park will feature:
- Indoor water park, heated to 84 degrees, with body and tube slides, raft rides, activity pools and splash areas
- Family entertainment center with attractions, including MagiQuest, a live-action adventure game where players use interactive magic wands to battle goblins and dragons
- Collection of activities such as Yoga Tails and evening events such as the Hustle & Howl dance party and Story Time
- Dining options with culinary styles like pizza, burgers, upscale dining and ice cream
“Ultra-Span has been part of several Great Wolf Lodge projects, most recently in Maryland and Connecticut,” says David Boyd, MiTek’s director of steel framing systems.
More information: MiTek (Aegis Metal Framing).
Additional Resources
- CFS Trusses by MiTek Steel Framing Accelerate Construction Schedules
- Achieving Architectural Vision With Steel Trusses: Q&A With Dennis Elledge, P.A.
- eBook: Cold-Formed Steel Trusses: Design, Performance, and Advantages