The grand opening of University Station in Hollywood, Florida, showcased not only a major step forward in affordable urban development but also the unveiling of a stunning architectural and engineering centerpiece: the University Station Bridge, designed, fabricated, and installed by Capitol Steel Structures.
Spanning between the residential towers and the parking garage, this custom-built curved bridge is supported by 47 tons of structural steel and two independent, V-shaped columns—a unique architectural feature that combines modern aesthetics with heavy-duty structural integrity. What sets this bridge apart is not only its function but its form, offering both connection and character to the development.
“It’s great for the community. Within the urban fabric, it has a nice structural steel element that you don’t customarily see in places like these neighborhoods. It gives a modern look and feel to this residential space,” said Ruben Diaz, CEO Capitol Steel Structures.
“It’s very satisfying to take everyone’s dreams and designs on paper and for us at Capitol Steel to turn them into something you can actually feel, look at, and walk on. We’re proud to bring these ideas into reality.”
The bridge’s structural columns are fully independent of the buildings they connect—an unusual and highly engineered design that required custom fabrication and precision installation. The V-shape columns were not only designed to carry the load of the bridge but to serve as a visual landmark within the project.
Capitol Steel fabricated the entire steel structure at its own facility, leveraging CNC machinery and advanced computer technology. The entire process—from detailed drawings to automated fabrication—was handled through fully digitized systems. Steel members were custom rolled using large-scale rolling machines to achieve the bridge’s curved geometry. After fabrication, the structure was transported and expertly assembled on-site by Capitol Steel’s installation team.
University Station itself is a mixed-use development featuring 216 apartment units, over 2,000 square feet of retail space, 12,210 square feet for educational use, and a 635-space parking garage. All units are designated for families and individuals earning between 22% and 80% of the area median income (AMI), with rents ranging from $374 to $1,634. The project was developed in partnership with the City of Hollywood and includes workforce and affordable housing, retail, and a new home for Barry University’s College of Nursing and Health Services.
Among the community amenities are a fitness center, multipurpose room, luxury swimming pool, and Capitol Steel’s curved pedestrian bridge—now a defining feature of the site.
Capitol Steel Structures is honored to have brought both technical excellence and design innovation to this landmark project, helping to shape not just a bridge, but a bold symbol of connection and progress for the Hollywood community.
