The Oklahoma City company specializes in building jet engine test cells for the U.S. government but is diversifying by taking on more architectural metal working projects, including part of the Skydance Bridge.
Standing on the city's new pedestrian Skydance Bridge, you might notice hundreds of stainless steel feathers that contribute to the landmark's unique look.
Each was crafted by skilled metal workers at Swanda Brothers, an Oklahoma City steel manufacturing company. The 665 feathers, fabricated from 19 tonnes of stainless steel, were hand finished and welded to the bridge's frame.
Architectural projects such as the pedestrian bridge, as well as exterior features at Whole Foods Market and Chesapeake Energy Corporation's corporate campus, are a somewhat new direction for the 110 year old company, which takes pride in providing high quality steel work.
Mr Chuck Cooley president of Swanda Brothers said that "The more complex and difficult the project, the more we like it. It suits our company."
When Swanda Brothers began in 1902, the company was mainly building bulk storage containers and well buckets. In the 1950s, it diversified by taking on a project building a war fighter test cell for the US military work the company is still most known for.
On a recent afternoon, workers were installing acoustic pillows into part of a jet engine test cell destined for Tinker Air Force Base. Cooley said he was enjoying the opportunity to work close to home. In its history, the company has designed, constructed and installed more than 100 jet engine test facilities on four continents for the Navy and Air Force.
Mr Cooley said that not many companies understand the complexity of the test cell work and Swanda Brothers can build one turnkey, from start to finish. A test cell is a sound suppression chamber used by the military to test its jet engines. He added that "The war fighter effort for the military, we feel like we're a part of that."
The company's other work includes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and chemical industry equipment.
Working with Oklahoma City architect Rand Elliott has given the company an opportunity to expand into building complex steel structures and architectural landmarks. Swanda Brothers has done projects at the Classen Curve shopping center, including Republic Gastropub, Balliets, Uptown Kids and Whole Foods Market.
Its work is also found throughout the Chesapeake Energy campus, on office buildings and structures used by the company's day care center and parking garage. Swanda also built a data equipment storage facility for Devon Energy Corporation that could withstand an EF5 tornado, Cooley said. And the company recently won a bid for work on Project 180, the downtown beautification project under way, said Allen Croxton, Swanda's project engineering supervisor.
Being involved in such specialty work requires having good welders, he added, and Swanda Brothers strives to retain its employees.
Mr Cooley said the company has had 10 people retire with 40 years of experience, demonstrating the longevity of its staff, which ranges from 60 to 120 workers. He added that "We've established a really good team that blends well together."
(Sourced from www.newsok.com)
