The construction of an underwater room involves numerous challenges, one of which is putting the roof on. The process may not be difficult, but it is certainly tedious, requiring several steps. As this is the first time the team is constructing such a room, there is much to learn along the way.
Last year, the team completed the first “Flippening” project, which involved a much larger, flexible, and lighter piece. The new project is bigger and heavier, requiring the team to build the roof upside down on the ground to apply the support beams. However, flipping it is still challenging, especially since the steel flexed a little, requiring the addition of a few extra braces while making the flip. The team then lifted the roof until it was floating, turned it around, and used manpower to get it swung in the right direction before lowering it down.
While lifting the roof by the four contact points that they welded on, the team experienced some flexing and warping that did not allow them to align things correctly. Therefore, they had to bring it down to the floor, add some extra braces, lift it up again, and then lower it into place. With proper preparation, the team finally lowered the roof the rest of the way and welded the entire structure together to officially close the lid on the underwater room.
It’s essential to note that the flexing of the roof during suspension by the crane does not affect the structural integrity of the piece. The team built the roof with enough strength to withstand water pressure and the weight of lifting it. Once everything is welded in place, it’s entirely secure and won’t budge, buckle, or warp.
