The twin $8 million cooling towers recently built for Georgia Power Company at Plant Hatch in Baxley, Georgia, represent a significant step forward in the design and construction of mechanical draft cooling towers. Precast, prestressed concrete products played a prominent role in rapidly building the two 12-ce/1 cooling tower structures. This unusual project was the culmination of a sound design-build partnership between Tindall Concrete and Hamon Cooling Towers. Out of this relationship came a prototype incorporating some unique and innovative concepts for blending together both standard and custom designed products and details to produce two efficient cost effective and highly durable finished structures. This article discusses the design concept, design considerations and structural innovations of the project, together with a description of the production, transportation and erection of the precast components.
