Custom-Designed Fertilizer Storage Facility Capitalizes on Flexibility

High performance tension-fabric structure enhances efficiency of new riverfront facility

SOUTH HAVEN, MN — Legacy Building Solutions announces the completion of a custom, 63,010-square-foot tension-fabric structure for storing fertilizer in East Dubuque, Illinois. The facility, IEI Barge Service’s first tension-fabric structure, is located on the bank of the Mississippi River. The soil conditions of the site were unsuitable for traditional structures, making Legacy’s lightweight, heavy-duty building the best choice for IEI Barge.

Joe Bitter, general manager of Alliant Energy/IEI Barge Services, said, “Regarding the design and construction phases of the building, I can say that the process went exceptionally well. When I made eleventh-hour changes to the job, Legacy handled them with ease.” He continued, “The Legacy construction crew was very professional and courteous. They finished the job well ahead of schedule, worked safely, and followed our stringent safety requirements to the letter.”

The new structure is engineered to withstand the rigors of turning over its full 27,000-ton capacity at least three times each year. With a 55-foot gable roof, the Legacy design allowed an overhead conveyor system to be installed—along with a catwalk for maintenance—that makes filling the building a quick process, one that’s far more efficient than using portable conveyer systems or frontend loaders.

The building accommodates a complete range of commercial transportation. With product being transported to and from the facility by rail, river and truck, easy access was critical. Branching out from the 77-foot x 580-foot main structure, Legacy strategically placed three lean-tos—measuring 40-feet x 340-feet, 25-feet x 130-feet, and 25-feet x 60-feet—to facilitate the flow of vehicular traffic at the building.

Legacy’s design and engineering innovations create an extremely adaptable structure, a rare quality in tension-fabric buildings. A rigid hot-dip galvanized steel frame allows openings of all sizes to be inserted into walls without compromising structural integrity. The IEI Barge project features eight framed and wrapped doorways ranging from 16-foot x 16-foot to 3-foot x 7-foot. Clad in a translucent 26-mil polyethylene 15 oz. flame-retardant fabric, the building can take full advantage of natural light and save on utility costs.

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Legacy Building Solutions designs, manufactures, engineers and installs large-scale custom fabric structures for a wide range of industries, including the aviation, recreational, military and agricultural sectors. A pioneer in the use of a rigid steel frame for fabric structures, the company was founded in 2010. Headquartered in South Haven, Minnesota, Legacy Building Solutions provides services worldwide. Committed to sustainability and best management practices, the firm has achieved ISO 9001:2008 and CSA A660-10 certifications. www.legacybuildingsolutions.com