New Orleans, LA
Structural Glass Design Engineering
Mississippi Meanders – Structural Glass Bridge Walkway, NOMA Sculpture Garden
JEI Structural Engineering & Drafting Overview
Nestled in the expanded Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Mississippi Meanders bridge is a stunning example of structural glass engineering and drafting for custom works of art. Spanning 70 feet in length and 6 feet in width, this fully walkable, all‑glass bridge offers visitors a “walking on water” experience over the garden’s lagoon .
Design & Materials
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Laminated tempered glass panels with vibrant ceramic‑frit detailing trace the sinuous historic meanders of the Mississippi River, inspired by Harold Fisk’s mid‑20th century cartography .
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Aluminum and steel subframe supports provide structural rigidity and discreet anchoring points below the glass deck, enabling the seamless “floating” aesthetic.
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Landscape architecture by Reed Hilderbrand complements the structure with indigenous Louisiana plantings, and integrated drainage ensures water runoff doesn’t pool on the surface .
Engineering & Drafting Excellence
Our team at JEI played a key role in structural support engineering and detailed drafting:
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Precise structural analyses validated load paths from glass panels into the steel/aluminum frame, optimizing safety and performance.
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Drainage modeling was incorporated into the design drawings to channel water through openings in the deck’s steel framework, preventing standing water on the slippery glass surface.
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Close collaboration with glass fabricator Pulp Studios and glass engineer William Logan (Vidaris) ensured panel tolerances supported the custom ceramic frit pattern and the structural load requirements .
Art Meets Function
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The swirling frit lines not only delight visually—they also help minimize glare and enhance pedestrian safety.
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Visitors cross the lagoon via literal “canal‑link” glass panels that dip below the waterline, blending function and optical drama .
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As both a functional pedestrian connector and a sculptural artwork, Mississippi Meanders exemplifies the power of structural glass engineering for secure viewing environments – perfect parallels to projects like the Liberty Bell pavilion, zoo enclosures, or museum keeps areas.
Why This Matters
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Keyword-rich for structural glass engineering, drafting for custom works of art, museum walkway design, secure viewing area systems.
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Demonstrates JEI’s capabilities in structural glass bridge engineering—spanning: concept, structural support design, drainage detail, draft deliverables, and coordination with architects, engineers, fabricators, and installers.
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A shining showcase of how glazing contractors, architects, and general contractors can capitalize on refined glass engineering to elevate both infrastructure and visitor experience.