Page 62 - Colorado Construction & Design Magazine - Spring 2023

MOUNTAIN STATES
A Chapter of Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
durable materials, distinctive gable roofs, architectural articulation and exterior materials carried into the interior of the buildings.
Given its purpose offering military families a safe space to live and transition their lives, the buildings needed to do more than just project strength and safety. It had
to live up to that promise for its occupants and provide a healthy, durable space to heal and learn. In fact, in order to meet the Department of Defense requirements, the project had to be designed to resist progressive collapse. With its enormous strength and flexibility, precast was able to meet those stringent requirements.
“This project required that the building be blast resistant and adhere to the requirements of Anti-Terrorist Fore Protection (ATFP) requirements of federal guidelines,” explains Edward Bledowski, AIA, Principal in Charge at DLR Group. “Utilizing an insulated concrete sandwich panel provided the exterior of the building with a very durable and energy-friendly skin that is maintenance free and maintains its visual appearance for the life the building.”
Aesthetics, energy performance, fire resistance and timing were important goals on this project as well, and PCI- certified producer, Stresscon was able to deliver a solution that accomplished all those goals in a cost-effective way. The attractive precast wall panels provide a low-maintenance façade that will stand up to the elements and keep a consistent look over time.
Sustainability was a driving force for the WIT Complex. Precast sandwich wall panels were cast with up to four inches of insulation, providing significant energy efficiency benefits. In addition, the panels
were designed to feature numerous windows to maximize daylighting, contributing to a comfortable and healthy indoor environment for the military families housed there.
Precast proved to be the most efficient design-build method to fast-track this project through its 365-day schedule. Given the benefits of security, safety, sustainability and aesthetics already inherent in the choice of precast, the ability to keep to a brisk schedule to more quickly open and start delivering service to families in need was a cherry on top.
Special Report
Safe Spaces with Precast Concrete
By Jason Lien, P.E., FPCI | Executive Vice President | EnCon United
The primary responsibility of any building is to protect the lives and wellbeing of its occupants. Much time is spent in the design and construction process focused on other very important elements, such as aesthetics, energy efficiency and cost, but underpinning all of that is the essential mission of protecting lives, lifestyles and livelihoods. If a building doesn’t fulfill that basic premise, the rest of those concerns fall to the wayside.
Precast, prestressed concrete is an inherently strong and durable material that can contribute to health and life safety on projects of many kinds. It shows remarkable resilience against severe storms, earthquakes, fires and even blast events. As owners, developers and designers nationwide think more about preserving the essential functions of their buildings and surrounding the communities, even in the face of disruption from natural or human-caused forces, the more important it becomes to build for life.
When durability and resilience is factored in with other benefits in the areas of aesthetics, schedule, energy efficiency and maintenance, precast has shown to be a strong material choice for projects that require elevated levels of strength and performance over a long lifecycle.
This may apply to many types of buildings, but especially
so in spaces where people live and work, as well as in the kinds of building that provide our physical and technological infrastructure. In projects where safety, security and longevity are paramount, precast has a great deal to offer.
Secure Soldiers
The Warrior-In-Transition (WIT) Complex at Fort Carson, CO, consists of four buildings providing administrative support, education, training and housing to military personnel and their families on Post. Its role is to help facilitate a healing and a smooth transition to new endeavors in their lives, on Post or off.
The architects at DLR Group chose a Craftsman style architectural theme, a theme that is expressed by using
62 | Colorado Construction & Design
www.ccdmag.com | news@ccdmag.com