TBT: The Heady Days of HPs

 Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s we did several dozen wooden Hyperbolic Paraboloid roofs. While going through some files we found this Architectural Case Study on the Boston College Recreation Complex published by the American Plywood Association. 

The roof is made of three layers of plywood glued and stapled together over special forms we have in our factory. The plywood covers a layer of 1×6 tongue and grove decking on the underside for a finished look.

The remarkable thing about these panels, besides that they are shipped fully finished and in 14′ wide strips, is that they are only 2-1/4″ thick! This particular project has a clear span area of 42,250 square feet. 

HPs are typically no longer apart of our of what we manufacture, as they were done through our partnership with Daniel F. Tully Associates, Inc.