The Great Lakes Children's Museum was looking for a fun and interactive outdoor play area for the children who were visiting the museum. With the help of Team Elmers, Moran Iron Works and their education partner the Industrial Arts Institute a concept of building a Mini version of the iconic Makinaw Bridge, "The Mighty Mac," the "Mini Mac" idea was born. 

Team Elmers was looking for a fabricator willing to design and build the structure at no charge to the museum.  Tom Moran of Moran Iron Works thought it would be a perfect final exam project for the students at the Industrial Arts Institute.  A school he founded in 2014 to provide training in welding and steel fabrication for the young people of northern Michigan.  A severely under employed area Tom saw a need to educate those whose career path did not include a traditional college experience.  Trades are increasingly in high demand and he wanted to provide a path for those individuals who wanted to pursue that path.

Cohort 3, the 3rd class to go through the school, worked on this project in 2015 so it could be completed before winter so the install of the bridge could go forward in the spring of 2016 at the museum.  The link to the school website highlighting this class project follows.

http://www.iaiworks.com/miw-case-studies/cohort-3/

Due to the location of the museum being less than 100 ft from Grand Traverse Bay, hot-dip galvanizing was seen as the best option for long term corrosion protection of the steel. The galvanizer was excited to work with the team to donate the hot-dip galvanizing for the project and help to provide years of maintenance free enjoyment for the children who attend the museum.  Also, because of the children playing on the structure painting was not an option because of chipping and down time for repainting of the bridge in the future. 

News of the project was picked up by papers in Detroit and even by the Washington Times!

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/05/15/children-museum-mini-mackinac-bridgen/84428074/