by Drones above the Bay
The iconic Publix birthday cake water tower, affectionately known as “hydrocake,” was the ingenious concept of Publix President Joe Blanton. As Publix expanded its industrial complex, encompassing dairy and bakery facilities in the late 1970s, the need arose for a new on-site water system to accommodate the company’s growth. Seeking to fulfill this requirement while simultaneously creating something distinctive, Blanton embarked on a mission to transform the conventional water tank design, resulting in the birth of the hydrocake.
The remarkable steel fabrication project was successfully completed in the year 1982. At that time, it was regarded as a unique structure of its kind, meticulously designed in the form of a birthday cake. The Steel Plate Fabricators Association duly recognized Publix’s exceptional engineering design for the hydrocake by presenting a commemorative plaque in 1983, dedicated to both Joe Blanton and Publix’s esteemed founder, George Jenkins.
Despite its illusion of suspension, the hydrocake possesses considerable structural integrity. Allow me to elaborate on its specifications:
• The tower stands at an impressive height of 147 feet.
• The water supply system is capable of delivering 250,000 gallons of water per minute.
• The tower’s construction comprises 2.25 million pounds of steel and 170 cubic yards of concrete.
• The top, third tier of the tower is adorned with 11 candles, each measuring 8 feet in height.
• The combined weight of the candles is 1.37 tons, with each candle weighing 250 pounds.
• Each of the 10 candles symbolizes five years in Publix’s 50-year history, while the middle, 11th candle represents the company’s future.
Location of the Water tower birthday cake:
3260 New Tampa Hwy, Lakeland, FL 33815