Architectural Walking Deck

• An architectural walking deck constitutes an elongated deck with space for walking. Walking decks appear on numerous buildings and other architectural structures, from homes and shopping malls to apartment complexes, resorts and cruise ships. The features of a walking deck vary depending upon the ultimate purpose of the deck; some walking decks contain enough space for walking and for chairs and tables for dining and relaxing, while others only possess the space for handling pedestrian traffic.
  
  

Functions

• Walking decks provide numerous functions. In buildings such as shopping malls, walking decks wrap around the facade of a structure and provide exterior access to stores and restaurants. Cruise ships contain walking decks so passengers can get exercise while confined to a boat at sea. Walking decks on private homes serve any number of functions, from providing additional deck space to affording views of areas surrounding the home and supplying space for exercise within the home environment.
  
  

Designs

• Architectural walking decks constitute complex elements of a building’s overall design. For instance, in hot regions, builders must design walking decks from materials that resist expansion in the heat, or accommodate for expansion in the design of the deck. In areas with heavy rainfall, walking decks need drainage systems the successfully remove water from the deck without dumping in on another part of the house. In areas with snowfall, walking decks must accommodate for the weight of snow buildup.
  
  

Other Walking Decks

• Walking deck may refer to the bottom surface of an exercise machine such as a treadmill or an aqua mill. An aqua mill constitutes a type of treadmill designed for underwater use. The generic term “deck” usually appears in treadmill literature, though certain resources geared toward exercising through walking rather than jogging or running, refer to this surface as a walking deck. A walking deck may also refer to the pathway built around the exterior of a submarine.