Precast Solutions - May/June 2008 - (Page 30)

The five-story medical research facility at the University of Indiana, Gary, Ind., replicates the appearance of Indiana limestone at a lower cost. The light weight of the panels enabled the producer to ship more panels per truck. Courtesy Metal Stud Crete all but the two most visible facades. With lightweight wall precast, beautiful details on all walls became affordable. “We repeated what the form work was already doing on the rest of the building,” explains architect Mike Goodwin of The Design Collective, Baltimore, Md. He adds, “We were able to do some very nice moves unique to the lightweight system that we couldn’t afford with masonry.” API produced panels highlighted by complicated patterns and reveals, including up to three different colors on a single panel. Form liners and sandblasting were used to create textures and brick pattern, too. “The finish is spectacular,” exclaims Goodwin. “The panels look beautiful.” A THINNER FUTURE The thinning of architectural precast appears to be a movement that is gathering speed. The advantages of reduced loads, faster construction, increased usable floor space, improved climate control, sustainability and beautiful finishes at lower cost are prompting developers and designers to consider precast for a wider variety of projects. Lightweight precast wall panels are being used in all parts of the United States for high-rise and low-rise commercial, institutional, residential and medical buildings. Any precast manufacturer can join the lightweight revolution, bringing valuable precast expertise to an expanded range of architectural challenges. API’s Trent Mattern acknowledges there was a learning curve to integrating steel framing into the precast process. After 40-plus years in the precast business, he says, “We felt confident that we’d be able produce it in our plant, but we also knew that there would be some challenges along the way. In the end, looking at the building, it’s amazing that our guys were able to do what they did on their first job with the system, especially considering the size and beauty of that job. If we can accomplish a job like that, the sky’s the limit for what we’ll be able to accomplish.” Michael Chusid is an architect and a fellow of the Construction Specifications Institute. He is active on the American Concrete Institute Committee 124 – Concrete Aesthetics, and is a consultant on emerging construction technologies. His company, Chusid Associates, can be reached at www.chusid.com. 30 PRECAST SOLUTIONS | MAY/JUNE 2008 http://www.chusid.com

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Precast Solutions - May/June 2008 Contents Sustainability and Practicality Security Blanket A Frank Lloyd Wright Takes Shape Concrete Joins MENSA Precast Lightens Up

Precast Solutions - May/June 2008

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