As electrical power and communication demands increase, suburban and rural communities are seeing an expansion of transmission lines, but still don’t have the density to justify the cost of undergrounding. In response, WXY worked with NV5 to develop innovative transmission structure prototypes to meet increased demand while being reliable, resilient, cost-effective, and beautiful – garnering the appreciation of the communities they serve.

In addition to improving the current distribution and communication lines, proposed structures must become taller to accommodate new transmission lines. Through establishing code compliant and best practice design criteria, NV5+WXY have accommodated the full electrical system needs while refining transmission structures to minimize visual impact. 

Two unique structures, the “Stem” and “Branch” poles, form a family of tree-like structures. Their subtle bends and branches create pole variety with a shared formal language. The Branch Pole echoes neighborhood street trees, and the Stem Pole design bends gradually to frame arterial corridors and help reduce tree trimming. Together, these thin steel structures and optimized cable systems elevate the image of forward-looking power grids.

The poles enhance transmission aesthetics and design excellence at all scales. A linear electrical configuration helps to declutter the overall cable system. Refined crossarm and insulator details streamline structures, giving the poles a sense of visual lightness. Shaped with maintainability in mind, the proposed designs can bolster system reliability and resilience in the long-term.