The Art and Science of Masking Telecoms Towers
A mall in an upscale California coastal neighborhood is building a new clocktower. Rising from an unused patch of ground at one corner of the property, the tower is designed to match the refined architectural aesthetics of the community. As it goes up, shoppers are heard making comments like, “That’ll look great there.”
Only it’s not just a clocktower. Its main purpose is to house vital telecommunications hardware that will upgrade the area’s bandwidth and service reliability.
The early days of telecoms infrastructure gave little thought to how massive, exposed installations would affect the beauty of their surroundings. However, as technology has improved, the hardware has shrunk. Today’s 5G nodes are a far cry from the mammoth towers installed decades ago.
Inconspicuously incorporating modern telecommunications equipment into the landscape requires more than a good understanding of the technologies. It also requires a designer’s touch.
At Burge Corporation, we’re proud of the work we do for our clients in the telecommunications industry. These are some of the key pieces we find are necessary to successfully build masked infrastructure:
Planning for local requirements—and expectations.
Local permitting requirements often are not simply a matter of checking off objective criteria, like zoning rules or safety necessities. If infrastructure will be located where visual appeal matters, the permit application needs to be crafted and presented with design at the forefront.
At the permitting stage, a good understanding of local expectations is key. What are the community’s codified architectural requirements? What sightlines will the masked installation impact? How can the design anticipate the concerns of landowners and residents? By planning for these issues in advance, the team can ensure an efficient approvals process.
Attention to detail.
The purpose behind masking telecoms infrastructure is to make it look good—not just for a year or two, but potentially for decades. Contractors must take care to build structures that will hold up to sun, wind, rain, and even vandals. Finishing touches like landscaping, waterproofing, durable paint, and decorative architectural components need to be part of the plan from the start.
One of our masking projects called for building a structure in a strictly residential area. The best option was to build a house matching the style of the surrounding neighborhood. Exceptional attention to detail makes this telecom project appear to be just another house on the block.
Responsible construction.
The clocktower example highlights an important feature of masking projects: they often take place in the midst of daily life. Safety must always be the top priority in any construction project. Every professional on-site must give careful consideration to their protection and the well-being of the rest of the team and the public.
For expert telecoms masking results, call Burge Construction
As the prime contractor on masking projects, we only work with subcontractors who share our commitments to safety, quality, and transparency. Click here to see some examples of masking projects we’ve completed for our telecoms clients.
To learn more about the work we do, contact us today.