BORDER ISSUES

'Game of Thrones,' Great Wall of China inspiration for some Trump border wall ideas

Rafael Carranza and Arlene Martinez
USA TODAY NETWORK
The U.S.-Mexico border fence in Nogales, Arizona.

More than 200 companies answered the federal government's call to design President Donald Trump's southwestern border wall.

Their ideas — at least the small share that are publicly known — range from utilitarian brick-and-mortar to solar panels to more fanciful plans based on China's Great Wall and "Game of Thrones."

Most bidders aren't offering publicly their ideas for a nearly 2,000-mile physical barrier dividing the U.S. and Mexico. But The USA TODAY Network spoke with dozens of contractors to find those who were willing to talk.

Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is overseeing construction of the wall, will take two weeks to review the submissions. They will then narrow the competition to no more than 20 bidders for each of two design categories — concrete and "other." The bidders that advance must submit more detailed designs, cost estimates and a 30-day construction schedule.

It's not known how many prototypes the government will build before choosing its final design. But prototype construction is slated to begin in June.

Here's a look at a few of the ideas for the wall.

A solar solution

This design submission from Advanced Warning Systems calls for a 22-foot tall wall made of solar panels, reinforced with a six-foot chain link fence 100 feet away.

Arizona-based Advanced Warning Systems' design acknowledges that the wall will cross some of the nation's sunniest terrain. The company's Evergreen Border Protection Wall is a 1,900-mile stretch of 22-foot-tall solar panels.

Gates and 24-hour surveillance stations would be positioned every five miles. The power it generates would run cameras, lights and sensors to monitor the border. The solar panels would be located 100 feet inside the U.S., with a secondary, six-foot chain link fence running on the actual border.

The company estimates the project would cost about $10 billion and would generate $300 million to $400 million in revenue from solar power.

President and CEO Lynnwood Farr said he believes the wall should be useful beyond merely providing border security.

“I just never did agree with what Trump was trying to do with this border wall,” he said.

Another company, Gleason Partners LLC of Las Vegas, has proposed a solar border wall, the Associated Press reported last week. Managing partner Thomas Gleason told the AP that revenue from the generated power would pay for construction.

"I like the wall to be able to pay for itself," he said.

Great southern wall

This design from Crisis Resolution Security Services is based on the Great Wall of China. But would not be placed on the actual U.S. border with Mexico.

Trump repeatedly promised a "great wall" during campaign rallies, and Illinois-based Crisis Resolution Security Services is using the Great Wall of China as its inspiration for an imposing proposal: a concrete wall 26 feet tall atop a berm measuring an additional 30 feet.

The concrete fortress design would not be located on the U.S.-Mexico border. Instead it would follow roads and highways such as the Interstates 8 and 10, reducing the length of the wall by about 400 miles.

The downside? A considerable amount of U.S. territory would be walled off from the rest of the country.

But CEO Michael Hari said it would not create a "no-man’s land."

“The interstate highway is already a substantial barrier to north-south crossing,” he said. “Following that existing right-of-way, it’s not only protecting people’s property rights, but it’s also preventing that from becoming another no-man’s land south of the wall.

Hari said he has lived in the Coahuila-Texas borderlands and recognizes the vitality and connections of the border region. His proposal would strengthen those ties while addressing humanitarian, environmental and economic concerns, he said.

“If there has to be a wall, ours is probably the wall design that you want,” Hari said.

Artistic retaining walls

Russell Bamgartner, president and owner of Concrete Contractors Interstate in Poway, Calif., hopes his patent-pending technology will help create artistic retaining walls along parts of the border.

The walls can be built horizontally — no scaffolding needed — which makes it “faster, cost effective and safer to build,” he said, with savings of 30 to 40 percent versus traditional walls.

The concrete walls can be “decorated like flatwork,” with the design elements incorporated on both sides, Baumgartner said. Trump’s proposal calls for aesthetic appeal on the U.S.-facing side but doesn’t mention the side facing Mexico.

While some contractors have been targeted by protesters for bidding, Baumgartner is trying to stay out of the political fray.

“I’m a builder, that’s what we do. As for the controversy surrounding the wall, that’s for the politicians to work out,” he said.

Concrete Contractors Interstate, in Poway, California, hopes to get involved with the border wall project.

'Insane building system'

Rod Hadrian has, in his estimation, a “zero” percent chance of getting selected to build the wall. But he threw his hat in the ring anyway, believing his Carlsbad, Calif.-based Tridipanel company is perfect for the project, which involves crossing treacherous terrain.

He hopes to work with a larger company more likely to be picked.

“This is an insane building system…It’s inexpensive, it’s lightweight and it’s fast,” he said.

Tridipanel, a company based in Carlsbad, California, is hoping to be involved with the border wall project.

In the middle of the panel is foam surrounded by wire mesh that runs diagonally across the panels. That core is then sprayed with cement, as thick as desired. The wall can withstand a weight of 100 tons. “The system is fireproof, tornado resistant” and has been used in sound walls and sea retaining walls, he said.

Tridipanel, in Carlsbad, California, is hoping to get involved with the border wall project.

Hadrian voted for Trump but he “loves the Hispanics,” his workers are Hispanic, and he’s building a house in Baja California. But work is work, and he’s too old to be bothered by anyone who might protest his involvement.

“I don’t care about repercussions,” he said.

Inspired by 'Game of Thrones'

The architect behind the proposal to build a wall made of ice along the border insists it's not a joke. His design is very much rooted in the popular television show "Game of Thrones."

Florida architect Keith Briggs submitted a six-page proposal modeled after what he calls “the most popular and effective wall in existence.”

The wall, however, only exists in fiction. Fans of HBO's "Game of Thrones" will recognize the colossal garrison, castles, guards and foundation of ice as patterned after the wall sheltering the fictional Westeros from murderous invaders.

“With such a wall in place,” Briggs writes, “individuals from other countries that wish to illegally immigrate to our country will have to pay for a plane ticket to Orlando and an entry ticket to Disney World.”

Briggs, 53, said in an interview that the proposal was more than a joke, but a trial run at what he hopes will become an internet-age “protest march or sit-in.”

Briggs group, called Makin’ Hay, ultimately plans to create an app to allow people to legally deluge government agencies with bids on projects.

“If you cannot stop hate,” the group’s slogan goes, “overwhelm it.”

Brett Blackledge contributed to this report.

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