Part one of our road trip adventure began in the western North America, with part two continuing on to the Midwest.

We now take our travels to the Southern part of North America, beginning in Louisville, Kentucky. The Stallion of Steel is a beautiful, 11-feet tall, hot-dip galvanized steel sculpture of the horse's head and its pedestal. Since this is an artistic piece, quality was extremely important and the galvanizer was able to deliver a beautiful finish that would protect the sculpture for decades. Kentucky is known around the world for its majestic horses and being the home of the most exhilarating two minutes in sports - the Kentucky Derby. The Any Day Now Farm, located in the heart of horse country in Georgetown, KY, is an oasis for the equestrian enthusiast, trainer, buyer, or sportsperson. When pulling up to the barn you can see galvanized material throughout the farm. From each horse stall, stair case, fence panel, gate, the matte grey appearance complements the stone façade. The galvanized finish was used not only for the aesthetics of the rural environment to keep the rustic small town feel, but also radiates class.

Nashville, Tennessee may be the music capital, however, there are also quite a few galvanized projects to check out in the state. In Franklin, Tennessee, the FirstBank Amphitheater's decision to use galvanized steel for the construction of the risers, handrails, sign frames and other structures fits the venue's commitment to the environment that goes beyond just extending the useful life of the steel for decades to come; it also is 100% recyclable at the end of life. Head over to Gallatin, home to Tommy Garrott Aquatics Facility, an exciting place to cool off on hot days in Summer County. Hot-dip galvanizing has been used successfully in the waterpark industry for years and has now become industry standard. Powder coating over the galvanized steel adds an additional layer of protection while providing the fun, exciting visual appearance people expect out of a waterpark. Located outside the stadium doors of First Tennessee Ballpark, Ground Ball is more than a bike rack, it is also an engaging public art installation because it has to appeal to the non-cycling visitors to the ballpark as well. To prevent rusting of the underlying steel and discoloration of the art, resulting from chipping of the painted surfaces, the entire piece of art was hot-dip galvanized prior to painting. On Pigeon Forge, the Flying Ox is the world’s first cable-to-rail zip line roller coaster. The owners knew from the beginning they wanted the structure galvanized to limit the challenges and costs associated with maintenance.

In Bentonville, Arkansas, the Scott Family Amazeum Children's Museum was built to combine fun and functionality by executing a design featuring interactive indoor and outdoor learning spaces. The steel structures were hot-dip galvanized to ensure necessary durability with little or no maintenance, and add to the overall sustainability of the project. The Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas needed additional seating and an update on the north end zone. The University of Arkansas-Engineering team chose to specify hot-dip galvanizing for its unmatched durability and longevity, offering the university a maintenance-free structure that will last for generations to come.

The Huey P. Long Bridge Renovation spans across the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the design stage, the Louisiana Department of Transportation sought a coating system for the steel components of the bridge that would be cost-effective while preventing corrosion, as more than 50,000 motorists cross the bridge each day. HDG was the final choice due to its resistance to corrosion as well as the minimal maintenance requirements of the coating. Over in Kenner, LA, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport uses hot-dip galvanized steel because corrosion protection offered by hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) plays a critical role in facilitating the New Orleans International Airport to operate efficiently for Crescent City travelers.

The Lazy Magnolia Brewery in Kiln is Mississippi’s oldest packaging brewery, and the first one since prohibition was enacted in 1907. The owners specified hot-dip galvanized steel for the building expansion because of its cost-effectiveness and durability in the harsh conditions of the brewery. In Jackson, the Mississippi Museum of Art decided to go with a duplex finish for their Gallery Garden, combining the long-term corrosion resistance of galvanizing with the barrier protection and aesthetic options of paint to obtain a finished product with 1.5-2.3 times the life expectancy than the sum of its parts.

Florida has plenty of interesting galvanized projects, however a few stand out. The FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park canopy’s tube steel support structure required a protective coating that can withstand the nearby beach's highly corrosive, salt water exposed environment. Hot-dip galvanizing was selected to provide maintenance-free protection for all structure surfaces, both internal and external. In Orlando at Volcano Bay, The Universal Studio Design Team selected hot-dip galvanizing for the Krakatau volcano enclosure and total support structure, due to many years of maintenance-free service on previous water park projects. With an ever mindful eye on safety, Universal Studios realized a heightened level of security in knowing that hot-dip galvanizing offers an unparalleled corrosion protection system. Lastly, the Lauderhill Mall Transit Center opted to use a duplex system to protect the steel structures supporting the canopy against heavy rainfall and corrosive exhaust fumes, while still achieving the desired aesthetic appeal and color scheme.

North Carolina also has many galvanized projects. The Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville underwent a 40+ acre expansion. Hot-dip galvanizing excels at withstanding the wet conditions necessary in a working greenhouse. Galvanizing protects all of the steel used to support the structure of the glass houses and it performs for decades without maintenance. Stop by Chimney Rock State Park where hot-dip galvanizing was chosen when improvements and repairs were needed to the many stairways and decks on the Outcroppings Trail to protect the supporting steel from corrosion, helping protect the park’s investment, and its visitors for decades to come.

The adventure concludes in Part Four with a tour of the northeastern part of the continent.

Share your summer road trip pictures of galvanized projects with us by posting them to our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram accounts, tagging the AGA in your pictures, or using the hashtag #GalvanizeTour. Have fun out there this summer!