Wisconsin is known for its many unique landscapes that offer up stunning displays of nature ’ s beauty . Ayres recently was part of a $ 3.7 million project that has ensured more visitors than ever will continue to enjoy one of the state ’ s most visited scenic sites for decades to come .
The project involved designing and constructing a one-of-a-kind observation tower in Peninsula State Park in Door County , Wisconsin . The 55-foot Eagle Tower sits atop Eagle Bluff along the eastern shoreline of the bay of Green Bay at 250 feet above water level . It offers spectacular bird ’ s-eye views of the state park , surrounding islands , the Upper Michigan shoreline , and the Door County Village of Ephraim .
A Quick Look Back
The new observation tower is the third to stand at the site , following the original tower constructed in 1914 and its replacement built in 1932 . The second Eagle Tower was deemed structurally unsafe and closed in 2015 , then was dismantled in 2016 .
It didn ’ t take long for talks about a third tower to begin , as Peninsula State Park lovers sought to continue the more-than- 100-year tradition of visitors enjoying the unparalleled views from Eagle Bluff . The tower had become a desired location for millions who were drawn there for annual family visits , marriage proposals , daily exercise routines and many other memorymaking occasions . The Friends of Peninsula State Park organization began fundraising to help support a study of whether a new structure could affordably be built and how that could be accomplished .
A New , More Accessible Tower : The Process Begins
In their discussions about a new tower , the Friends group and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ( WDNR ) knew a key consideration in the design of the replacement structure would be ensuring that it comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ). This requirement and the costs to fulfill it have led to similar towers in Wisconsin and other states being dismantled and not replaced .
In 2017 , the WDNR retained Ayres to provide ADA-compliant design options for the new tower . As they considered ADA options , the Ayres team also sought to meet other key objectives of the project : ( 1 ) staying on budget ; ( 2 ) providing visitors with the same majestic views as those offered by the previous towers ; and ( 3 ) making as minimal an impact as possible on the tower ’ s natural surroundings .
A Plan Takes Shape
The Ayres team discussed various design alternatives with the Eagle Tower project stakeholders , said Dan Sydow , Ayres ’ structural engineering lead on the project .
“ There really was no simple solution ,” Sydow said . “ We considered implementing an elevator system , which wasn ’ t feasible at this site due to the cost of running electrical power to the location . We had alternatives that made it look almost like a parking ramp , with a ramp circling around the outside of the tower from bottom to top , which also wasn ’ t desirable . We decided on an alternative that would provide a canopy tour of sorts as visitors follow a ramp that winds its way up through the surrounding forest .”
32 | TRENDS Ingenuity , Integrity , and Intelligence .