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Page 14 — Office & Industrial Quarterly — March 2022 www.crej.com OFFICE — CONSTRUCTION TRENDS Keep your vital systems running strong. Building careers and communities by providing ALL THINGS power, technology and energy. Connect with us. encoreelectric.com | 303.934.1234 P recast concrete is an extremely versatile and effi- cient building system with the ability to adapt to many different functions and roles. Precast members are capable of acting as load-bearing elements, providing high load capacities and enabling integration of structural, architectural and insulated precast products into one cohesive building system, and embodying efficiency through every stage. A favorite con- struction method of the architec- ture, engineering and construction community, precast proves its dura- bility, resiliency and adaptability in many market segments. What is precast and why is this important? Precast concrete is a high-performance product available in a broad range of styles, shapes, sizes and colors, creating unlim- ited design potential. It’s easy to integrate precast into virtually any project type or system to satisfy structural demands and meet archi- tectural expression, meeting the needs of all market segments. Since precast is manufactured off- site, there are no site- or weather- related project delays. The concrete is manufactured with controlled conditions and meets codes and standards as required by the pre- cast industry and conventionally built facilities. Precast concrete con- sists of specialized concrete mixes, which are cast into project-specific customized forms at an off-site plant. The concrete is placed into a mold or form before being stripped, architecturally finished and stored prior to shipment. Once the project site is ready, pre- cast components are then trans- ported for erection. The coordina- tion of all precast pieces ensures that all project com- ponents are pro- duced and expert- ly managed under one subcontracted trade. In a market where time and cost are the main objectives, precast provides an easy solution due to the unrivaled speed of manufacturing and construction when compared to cast-in-place concrete, masonry, wood or steel. This prefabrication process cre- ates one of the quickest and most efficient building systems available, allowing owners and builders the ability to effectively meet schedule demands, while minimizing site and project delays, and reducing overall costs. Precast construction also meets tight deadlines, enabling finish- ing trades earlier on-site access. Other precast product advantages include a long life span, continuous insulation, fire resistance, vibration control, corrosion resistance, acous- tical control, speed of construction, greater quality control and finish consistency with in-plant produc- tion. Plant production also reduces on-site labor and lowers the job-site safety risk. As a single-source supplier, a pre- cast concrete company will manage all aspects of design, manufactur- ing and installation. Composed of specialty contractors, designers, engineers, manufacturers, precon- struction employees and project managers, these teams are truly full service. This unique single-source supplier process provides a unique delivery process encompassing all key steps and laying out crucial milestones from start to finish. From the beginning, the precast design team works toward efficient structural design, cutting unneces- sary components while still allow- ing resistance, transfer loads and building envelope function. Precast engineers provide product knowl- edge of structural and architectural considerations and integrated engi- neering. These engineers are able to accommodate many configura- tions, maximize open space with the implementation of double tees or hollow core that can create spans over 60 feet, eliminate columns and excess materials and costs, and cre- ate more design flexibility in project design and layout. From an office or industrial proj- ect perspective, precast can be designed to maximize comfort and safety, satisfy functional elements, and meet timeline and economi- cal goals. These projects can easily fit into a specialized accommoda- tion for design requirements with high load requirements, open spans, large bays and high ceilings. Precast concrete wall panels meet these demands as a load-bearing ele- ment, providing maximum facility space and enabling the integration of structural, architectural and insu- lated products. A precast solution also eas- ily accommodates future expan- sion planning and future loading demands if needed. Non-load- bearing wall panels can be removed from one end of the building, with new panels added to the sides and the original panels reattached to add space. This is quite common and simple, and precast is easily matched to existing building col- ors and finishes when facilities are expanded or the use of the structure changes. With a typical design including large façade areas and panels, pre- cast provides a wide array of afford- able aesthetic advantages, from multiple mix and finish options to maintenance-free finishes, that can be integrated into a single panel. This type of exterior panel design creates a functional load-bearing architectural panel and reduces additional framing members, elimi- nating redundancy in the structure. Often, exteriors include wall panels with a layer of insulation sandwiched between two layers of concrete. It is this construction method that generates the great- est thermal mass benefit of the enclosure system, which is a key benefit of precast concrete. Since concrete has high specific heat, a high product density and conductiv- ity, a large amount of heat energy can be absorbed and released in the Precast efficiency with a single-source supplier Shelley Hartnett Director of business development, Stresscon Corp. Please see Hartnett, Page 15