Simulation can be better than the real thing. That’s true when making movies about death and mass destruction. It also can be true for solving some problems — such as concealing radio antennas for cellular phone systems.

At Mullins United Methodist Church, art and architecture com­bined in one such solution. A specially designed fiberglass ex­tension painted to look like real brick and limestone was built and attached atop the church’s 80-foot bell tower. The 8 ft. by 15 ft. extension contains antennas between the steel frame­work and painted fiberglass panels. The antennas had to extend above the brick-and-limestone tower to function because those materials would block the radio frequencies. The solution is one of the most inno­vative Shawn Massey has seen in 41/2 years as real estate and construction manager for BellSouth Mobility Inc.

BellSouth Mobility is one of eight wireless communications companies either offering or planning to offer cellular phone systems in the Mem­phis area. All the companies have been challenged by city and county leaders to find alternatives to building more metal towers, Massey said. The idea to use Mullins United Methodist Church as a site emerged after previous ideas failed, Massey said. The problem was to hide the an­tenna in a manner acceptable to church members and neighbors, Mas­sey said.

CBL Corp. Inc., an architectural fi­berglass company owned by Burgess Ledbetter, produced lightweight fi­berglass panels molded to the shape and texture of the real tower. Radio waves can go through fiberglass. “Finding fiberglass materials made by Ledbetter’s company solved the problem I had been trying to solve for 41/2 years.” Massey said. John Perry, an engineer with Buchart-Horn Inc., a York, PA ­based architectural and engi­neering firm with an office in Memphis, claimed credit for designing the concept. The antennas are between the steel and the fiberglass panels, and the steel frame­work is bolted to the top of the bell tower. Perry served as project man­ager. Amy Saterfield an artist and owner of Point of Vu, painted the panels to look exactly like the brick and aged limestone of the church’s tower, which was built in 1957. Signal Point Systems was the general contractor. The addition cost about the same as building a conven­tional tower, but looks much better, Perry said.

Massey said BellSouth Mo­bility, Powertel Inc. and Cellu­lar One have been seeking cel­lular sites without building metal towers. Other solutions used in Mem­phis include attaching anten­nas to tall, buildings and water towers, and using existing towers that also support power lines. The companies are cooperat­ing in some instances. BellSouth and Powertel entered a joint venture to equip an East Memphis site at Plough Tower near the Jewish Com­munity Center, Massey said. White Station Tower, the Gilmore Apartments and One Memphis Place downtown are among high-rises in the area that have cellular antennas, Massey said. “The Mullins United Meth­odist bell tower is the first time in Memphis that fiberglass has been used here to my knowl­edge,” Massey said. “I think you'll see it (fiber­glass) used in more applica­tions in the future.”