Quebrada Blanca
The Rundown
The Quebrada Blanca Copper Concentrate Storage Facility in Puerto Patache, Región de Tarapacá, Chile, is a 92,436 sq ft tension fabric structure designed and installed by Legacy Building Solutions. This state-of-the-art facility meets strict site parameters, including high wind resistance, seismic considerations, and custom features tailored for copper concentrate storage and handling.
The facility is built on a pile foundation with poured walls and includes a suspended platform for equipment, exemplifying Legacy’s expertise in engineering durable, functional solutions for industrial needs.
Feature Details
- 206.7 ft x 447.2 ft (92,436 sq ft)
- 68 mph wind load, seismic D rating, exposure C
- EpoxxiShield™ COR+ coated frames, 28 oz tan ExxoTec™ Elite fabric
- One dust collector, ten PVC-slatted louvers, three 21.3 ft x 19.7 ft TNR roll-up rubber doors, four personnel doors, one double sliding door
- Suspended platform containing a 525.5 metric ton FLS tripper system, conveyor, catwalks, handrails, and stairs; five metric ton monorail at the peak
- Pile foundation with poured walls for enhanced stability
Industry
Mining
Size
92,436 sq ft
Location
Puerto Patache, Region de Tarapaca, Chile
Year
2019
Testimonials
We were very impressed by their engineering team.
By today's standards, the buildings we're designing are of world-class caliber in the U.S. and Canada. Legacy offered several features that put them at the top of the list. They are unique among fabric buildings in that they build on a rigid steel frame. Everything looked good, from the eave and ridge ventilation system to the method for installing fabric panels. Combined with material delivery times and the time to construct, Legacy seemed like the perfect choice for our application. "The whole design is very efficient for our operations. Flexibility is key, especially when the building is a 'first of its kind' for the industry. We had one design change after the whole plan was in place, to widen our trapeze in the structure that supports the conveyor, and Legacy was able to make that change without any problem. The conveyor system fits and operates just as it was designed. "Legacy knew our schedule and saved us over 30 days of downtime. They stood the frames for the entire fabric structure in a single day, and everything - conveyors, electrical, fabric - was completed within five weeks of them coming to the site. It was a Herculean effort on Legacy's part. It was fantastic. They have a very passionate team, from top to bottom. In all respects, from design to pricing to production, Legacy is one of the best building contractors I've ever worked with. I look forward to working with them again.
We had a great working relationship with Legacy
A lot of the temporary structures in the region are fabric structures, so we mainly looked at those types of buildings. Due to the overall project timeline, the buildings had to be constructed in the dead of winter. We had a great working relationship with Legacy throughout the entire process. They supply a very high quality fabric structure, and we're certainly pleased with what we've seen from the buildings thus far.
Legacy pricing is very compatible to your competitors.
We needed something that would withstand the corrosive environment better than our current building. What first drew us to Legacy was the concept of the rigid steel frame with fabric. We feel the rigid frame will give us many more years of service than the open web structures. Legacy's attention to detail, answering of endless questions that we had and prompt response to those questions also played a role in our decision to go with Legacy. And because so many details were ironed out in the beginning we built a very good building with very few modifications to the scope during the building process. We felt you could deliver on what you were proposing. Another plus for going with Legacy was the fact you had crews who were MSHA trained and you already had an MSHA Contractor ID. Your crew worked efficiently and safely. Once we were assured the liner cavity could be vented properly, the liner option seems to be a great add on for our environment. It is very obvious this will help in reduction of dust resting on the trusses. We liked the fact this building could be built with no cables. Instead, we used hot dipped galvanized steel rods. We are very proud to have partnered with Legacy to construct our Salt Containment Structure. We feel we now have a long term solution to our salt storage needs, a building that will be around for a long time to come.
