Nestled in a fork of the road that runs through one of Birmingham, Alabama’s choicest residential/commercial neighborhoods is the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. As a leafy green retreat within the city it attracts hundreds of visitors each year to admire the Conservatory, the Japanese Garden/Bonsai collection as well as the Southern Living Garden and Rose Garden.

Several years ago to enhance the Rose Garden’s setting and encourage its’ appreciation a small wooden and glass pavilion was erected. Soon it became apparent this structure was a successful addition to the gardens. There was just one problem. Moisture began to cause the structural support columns to rot. After much consideration it was decided to replicate the pavilion in fabricated aluminum and glass. This would enable the supports to remain visually thin and elegant with no fear of decay. Furthermore the use of metal would ease the installation and waterproofing of the glazed roof.

Robinson engineer Bryan Carr was called upon to re-design the piece to meet several requirements. The entire roof assembly needed to be shipped as one piece. The existing metal components comprising an ornamental roof cresting, finials and interior brackets were to be retrofitted to the new design. Complex glazing stops were to be fabricated to specific compound angles. Bryan’s design delivered on all accounts.

Robinson’s expert fabrication team headed by father/son team Glenn and Joe Hutchinson, worked with Bryan’s drawings to develop the various components required to build the pavilion. To the major framing of the cornice they added the roofing members and glazing stops. The entire roof assembly was lifted in the shop and the columns attached. All the detail components were fitted, disassembled and finish painted. Then Robinson’s crew loaded the material on a Robinson flatbed truck for delivery and installation in Birmingham. Glazing with laminated safety glass was accomplished by Sylacauga Glass of Sylacauga, Alabama on site after erection of the metal structure.

Joe Hutchinson makes one of the many connections required to secure the purlins to the soffit.

Preparing to apply a bituminous coating to the column anchor plates.

Loaded

Pulling out.

The completed pavilion installed on site in the gardens.

At last- it stands in the shop!

Each piece of the original ornamental cresting was used in the new construction.

Delicate tie rods assist the structure.

The complex corner brackets make for an interesting interior.

Glenn Hutchinson fits waterjet cut end plates to the ridge beam.

The roof assembly receives a finish coat.

Painting the detail.

A dentil detail decorates the soffit.