Precast Solutions - November/December 2008 - (Page 5) factor, making them especially energy efficient. “We knew that using precast insulated wall panels with an R-20 rating would provide both the office and warehouse with an energy-efficient environment,” says Fleck. “In addition, the office was studded out with additional insulation.” Aesthetics were also important to A.L. Patterson, which enhanced the exterior of the building by installing a wainscot under the windows using the Scott Thin Brick System (which A.L. Patterson sells). “This provided a brick look that was cast-in,” he says, “It saved us money while also increasing our LEED points.” Other exterior features included the addition of the A.L. Patterson logo over the building’s front door. The logo was precast by Oldcastle Precast and designed on a C&C machine by scanning the firm’s business card. To ensure that its building incorporated as much natural light and as high an R rating as possible, A.L. Patterson used insulated and tinted windows cast into the precast panels. Around the exterior perimeter of the warehouse, clear insulated windows were chosen to provide additional natural light to the warehouse floor. According to Fleck, the precast panels incorporated a form finish typical for industrial applications. “We wanted to have a more architectural look to the exterior without painting, which would have increased the maintenance costs,” says Fleck. Lightly sand-blasted after being installed, the walls feature a maintenance-free architectural finish. When A.L. Patterson built its new headquarters, the company made extensive use of precast from the industry it serves. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Designed for the use of a rail siding, the building also required a retaining wall built up from the ground level to hold rail cars. Originally, the architect had specified a cast-in-place wall, but Fleck saw it as yet another opportunity to add precast to the structure. “We redesigned the building using precast, which was a more economical and a much more attractive alternative,” says Fleck, who went with a Stone Strong Retaining Wall system that was 5 feet high and more than 345 feet long NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 | PRECAST SOLUTIONS 5
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.