Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Northeast Covering New England and New York EXPERTS OFFER TIPS ON TOTAL PRECAST DESIGN

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1 Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Northeast Covering New England and New York Summer 2004 inside this issue Members Set Fall Plant Tours Precast Succeeds In Historic Hartford Target Store Tops Precast Structure For more information on the Designer s Knowledge Bank visit our Web site. 116 Radcliffe Road Belmont, MA / contact@pcine.org spotlight EXPERTS OFFER TIPS ON TOTAL PRECAST DESIGN Two programs to help designers learn about total precast systems are scheduled for this fall, at Club 101 in New York on November 16 and at the Marriott Bethesda in Bethesda, Md., on November 17. The allday programs are sponsored by PCI Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic Precast Association. The programs follow two held this spring in Connecticut and Boston. Those were attended by more than 125 owners and architects, who learned tips and techniques for effectively using total precast systems. The fall programs each will feature two sessions discussing a wide range of applications for total precast systems. Topics to be covered include the systems benefits, economical framing layouts, aesthetics and functionality, how the systems help meet LEED requirements, energy-code considerations, integration of mechanical systems, air and vapor-barrier techniques, and examples of local projects. These programs are designed to give owners and architects an in-depth overview of the total precast system so they can better understand its potential for their future projects, explains Rita Seraderian, P.E., PCI NE executive director. The design community has been calling our producer members for assistance with meeting construction deadlines and finding alternatives to steel due to its volatile pricing. We created the seminars to help designers, contractors and owners meet their schedules in confronting this material s pricing and availability crisis, and they were well received. Attendees reported the program and materials increased their precast knowledge. Indeed, comments from attendees at the spring seminars indicate that the programs provided the information designers needed, spurring the new schedule. Comment cards from the programs showed that nearly 100 percent of attendees found the material wellorganized, with a useful binder provided. Nearly all of the attendees also commented that the presentation increased my precast knowledge. This seminar is really good and informative, said one attendee at the Connecticut seminar. Another said, The seminar had lots of information. Owners and designers are rapidly becoming interested in this design technique as they discover that it results in cost-effective, on-time and aesthetically pleasing structures. Its advantages include the ability to erect year round and begin casting while drawings are being finalized and the site is being prepared. This speed saves money and helps the project generate revenue quicker. Additionally, the technique s ability to combine architectural and structural components into one unit saves material and erection time. Precast concrete s long-span ability saves material and provides more design flexibility, and its wide range of mixes and finishes ensures any appearance can be created. Precast can also enhance a project s ability to meet the LEED certification standards. Precast has thermal mass, inherent fire resistance and seismic capabilities create a safe structure that helps it withstand any natural disaster. The upcoming programs will include a panel of experts, including Degan Hambacher, president of FDG Inc., a specialty engineering company in Denver; Martha VanGeem, principal engineer, LEED accredited professional Construction Technologies Laboratories (CTL) in Skokie, Ill., and Paul Todd, architect and LEED accredited professional at Barber Architecture in Denver. To preview the SEMINAR PROGRAMS or register to attend online, visit or (See accompaning insert inside to register by mail.) For more information, call 800/ Space will be limited, so please register early.

2 The northeast regional arm of the national Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. Members include seven precast concrete manufacturers who collectively represent the best standards of the precast concrete industry. Blakeslee Prestress Inc. Route 139, P.O. Box 510 Branford, CT Tel: 203/ Fax: 203/ Web site: blakesleeprestress.com Coreslab Structures (Conn) Inc Waterbury Road, P.O. Box 279 Thomaston, CT Tel: 860/ Fax: 860/ Web site: coreslab.com J.P. Carrara & Sons Inc Case Street Middlebury, VT Tel: 802/ Fax: 802/ Northeast Concrete Products 24 Cross Street, P.O. Box 2189 Plainville, MA Tel: 508/ Fax: 508/ Web site: necp.net Oldcastle Precast Inc. 123 CR 101, P.O. Box 128 South Bethlehem, NY Tel: 518/ Fax: 518/ Web site: oldcastle-precast.com Strescon Limited 101 Ashburn Road Saint John, N.B., CANADA E2M3S3 Burlington Sales Office Tel: 781/ Fax: 781/ Web site: strescon.com Unistress Corporation 550 Cheshire Road, P.O. Box 1145 Pittsfield, MA Tel: 413/ Fax: 413/ Web site: unistresscorp.com designer s trends PRECAST ENHANCES HISTORIC HARTFORD Total precast concrete building systems are helping create cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing housing units at The Trumbull Centre complex in the heart of Hartford, CT. The project features an 11-story apartment building that faces Bushnell Park, an 11-story parking structure and a pair of renovated historic apartment buildings on historic Lewis Street. The two new apartment buildings are being constructed of precast, prestressed concrete structural systems. Precast allowed us to meet the developer s schedule. The complex includes 88 apartments in the new building and 12 in the two historic structures, according to Jose A. Hernandez, a senior associate in the architectural firm of Herbert S. Newman & Partners PC, of New Haven, Conn. The parking structure includes 600 spaces. Precast allowed us to meet the developer s HAMPTON INN FAVORS PRECAST Thin brick inset onto precast concrete panels provides a masonry look at a cost-competitive price for the new Hampton Inn being built in Albany, N.Y. Hampton Inn & Suites selected an allprecast concrete structural system for its newest hotel, a 10 story structure in Albany, N.Y. The building, which began foundation work in July, consists of architectural and structural precast concrete exterior walls as well as interior room-divider walls, elevator shafts, stairs and landings, and 8-inch Coreslab Hollowcore flooring. The project, owned by Omni Development, originally was planned with block bearing walls, concrete slabs and metal stud walls. But designers value-engineered it to feature schedule, says Hernandez. We also were working in a postage stamp-sized site, and the logistics of precast erection helped keep us within those parameters. The precast components provided advantages in soundproofing, fire resistance without the need for additional fireproofing materials, fast erection and long, open spans. Using precast components on the parking structure provided a low initial cost, low long term maintenance, fire resistance and aesthetic flexibility while ensuring fast completion. Two PCI Northeast members provided precast elements for the project. Components for the parking structure were produced by Unistress Corporation in Pittsfield, MA, and most of the apartment components, were supplied by Oldcastle Precast of South Bethlehem, N.Y. Unistress also erected both buildings. The complex is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. For similar case studies, visit our Web site, precast concrete components after learning the change would allow for a much shorter schedule with the same or better aesthetics. The use of precast also will accelerate the construction process by three months, creating earlier occupancy and a faster return on investment. The shorter construction time is possible due to precast s ability to erect the structure quickly despite the tight site. The hotel, with 101 guest rooms, is located in downtown Albany and is surrounded by other highrise buildings. It was a tight fit, says Paul Gillespie, a principal in Bounds & Gillespie Architects LLC, of Memphis, TN, the architectural firm. The precast design met the short schedule and the tight building site. Coreslab Structures (CONN) Inc. in Thomaston, Conn., is fabricating the precast components, which include thin-brick insets on the lower-level exterior walls. Upper floors feature a buff limestone appearance. For similar case studies, visit our Web site, www. pcine.org.

3 regional news BIG-DIG CASTS FINAL PRECAST Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew J. Amorello recently celebrated the casting of one of the final pieces of precast concrete for the Central Artery/Tunnel (CA/T) Project with Unistress Chairman Basil D. Petricca and workers at the precaster s Pittsfield, Mass.-based plant. CA/T, known as the Big Dig, is the largest public works project in American history and used a wide range of precast concrete components. Unistress, for instance, cast 2,400 pieces of bridge and ramp superstructure. The amount of concrete cast by the company would build a sidewalk from Pittsfield to Boston. PCI MEMBERS CONDUCT PLANT TOURS PCI NE members will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the national Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) by holding precast plant and field tours this fall. The program is part of PCI s national 50 Days of Precast celebration that will see members across the country holding special events to promote the effectiveness of precast, prestressed concrete designs. These programs are designed to familiarize owners, designers, engineers, contractors and others in the field with the latest fabrication and construction techniques, says PCI NE Executive Director Rita Seraderian, P.E. They will help the construction team better understand how the precaster can help assist a cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing project as soon as they are brought onto the job. Here is the schedule of tours, some of which will include tours of local projects. For more information, contact the sponsor at the address on page 2, visit or call 888/ CITY DATE SPONSOR AS A MATTER OF FACT Question Do you have any tips to enhance color consistancy in the precast for my project? Answer Uniformity will not be a problem if specific procedures are followed. These include creating prebid samples, producing approval samples after the contract award, producing mock-ups to show color and textures, and specification of the parameters of concrete-performance requirements. The actual design of the concrete mix should be left to the precaster. Mockups can be assessed effectively only if mounted in their final orientation (vertically, horizontally or sloping). Details should be appraised from a distance typical for viewing the installed panel. Overlooking this procedure can result in demands for shapes, textures and drafts that not only are expensive but also may not add value to the final project. The samples should be allowed to weather, so they can be observed under the climatic conditions to which the units will be exposed. The precaster can provide significant input in balancing configuration, texture and mix, plus new design concepts and mixes become available on a regular basis. Connecticut: Branford SEPTEMBER 28 Blakeslee Prestress Inc. Thomaston OCTOBER 5 Coreslab Structures (CONN) Inc. Massachusetts: Pittsfield, Mass. SEPTEMBER 14 Unistress Corporation New York: Manchester AUGUST 26 Oldcastle Precast Building Systems South Bethlehem SEPTEMBER 30 Oldcastle Precast Building Systems Vermont: Middlebury SEPTEMBER 16 J.P. Carrara & Sons Inc. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PCINE offers free in-house presentations on these topics Presentations can be conducted at noontime and PCI will provide a complimentary lunch. Several publications for the office library will be left behind. A complete description of the presentations can be found at To schedule an office seminar please contact@pcine.org or call 888/ Architectural Precast Concrete: Detail & Structural Considerations Parking Structures Design & Consideration Precast Building Systems Using Hollowcore AIA learning units Professional development hours 1.0 AIA learning units Professional development hours 1.0 AIA learning units Professional development hours 1.0 Precast, Prestressed Concrete Bridge Systems Professional development hours 1.0

4 project spotlight TARGET TOPS PRECAST FACILITY Working in a congested area of busy downtown Stamford, Conn., construction crews are erecting a multiuse commercial building topped by a retail store. The sixstory structure includes ground-level retail shops and parking, additional parking on the next three floors and a Target retail store on the top two stories. The first four levels feature a total precast concrete structure that comprises girders, columns, double tees, interior walls, floors and stairs. The precast arrived at the site like puzzle pieces that were installed in sections, says Mayda Horizny, assistant design architect for Street-Works of White Plains, N.Y., the architectural firm on the project. Precast gave us a more customer-friendly parking area with fewer support columns, which will allow customers to see better and park more easily. It s fireproof and was less expensive than cast-in-place concrete, and we were able to save time in construction. Blakeslee Prestress Inc. in Branford, Conn., produced and erected the components. For additonal information visit our Web site, TOTAL PRECAST SEMINARS Plan now to attend one of the two fall seminars on Total Precast Concrete Building Systems sponsored by PCINE and MAPA. The schedule is: November 16, 2004 Club Park Avenue New York, NY / November 17, 2004 Marriott Bethesda 5151 Pooks Hill Rd. Bethesda, MD / IN THIS ISSUE Members Set Fall Plant Tours Precast Succeeds In Historic Hartford Target Store Tops Precast Structure In-house Presentations Available FEEDBACK CORNER Do you have a specific topic you d like to see addressed in the new New England Region newsletter? Let us know! Contact us with comments and suggestions at 888/ or contact@pcine.org PRESORTED STANDARD U S POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #102 WINNETKA IL building for the future 116 Radcliffe Road Belmont, MA 02478

5 Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Northeast Covering New England and New York and cordially invite you to a seminar on Total Precast Concrete Building Systems November 16, 2004 CLUB Park Avenue ~ New York, NY / November 17, 2004 MARRIOTT BETHESDA 5151 Pooks Hill Road ~ Bethesda, MD / Program Outline: 9:00am 3:30pm Overview of Program & Examples of Local Projects The Benefits of a Precast System Building Blocks for Architectural Design Sustainability and LEED Dual Use and Structural Considerations Moisture Control Air and Vapor Barrier Considerations Energy Code Considerations Case Study Q/A with Panel

6 S P E A K E R S Paul Todd is a licensed architect and LEED accredited professional with 20 years of experience. He has designed more than 4 million square feet of total precast structures during his 14 year career at Barber Architecture in Denver, and currently serves as Director of Architectural Design. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Illinois, and his academic experience includes teaching architectural design at the graduate level and advanced research of ancient cities in Italy, Greece and Turkey. He has won many design and academic awards, and his work has been both published and exhibited. Martha VanGeem is a principal engineer and group manager of CTL s Building Science and Sustainability Group. She serves as a project principal investigator and specialized in-house consultant in the areas of sustainability, energy conservation, energy codes, thermal mass, mass concrete and moisture migration. Since joining CTL in 1982, her experience has included more than 300 large and small consulting, testing and research projects. Ms. VanGeem has investigated moisture problems and performed energy analyses for numerous concrete and wood frame buildings. Ms. VanGeem is a licensed professional engineer, a LEED accredited professional, and a Registered Energy Professional for the city of Chicago. She received her Bachelor s degree of Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana and her MBA from the University of Chicago. She is active in ASHRAE energy code committees, ACI and ASTM. Degan Hambacher, PE graduated in 1982 with a BS and MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He spent the past 23 years in the precast concrete field, originally as an engineer with a precast manufacturer, Stanley Structures, in Denver, then as a consulting engineer, specializing in precast concrete design, fabrication and construction. He spent two years in Las Vegas promoting and developing the precast market and participating as precast design engineer on the MGM Hotel project, at the time the largest hotel in the world built as a precast system. Currently he is president of FDG Inc., a specialty structural engineering firm, located just outside Denver. The firm includes 27 employees and performs structural engineering services around the country, with a continuing emphasis on precast concrete systems and total precast structures. A complete pr ogram is available at or Register on-line at or REGISTRATION FEE: $ Includes a Seminar Design Binder and Lunch. Continuing Education Cr edit for Seminar Attendees: 5.5 AIA Learning Units 5.5 Professional Development Hours (PDH) (Cut on dotted line, include check and mail today, space is limited) YES! Please register me for the Total Precast Concrete Building Seminar(s)! November 16 Club 101, New York, NY November 17 Marriott Bethesda, Bethesda, MD Name Company Make Checks Payable to MAPA and Return to: Address City State Zip Phone ( ) Please include your address so that a confirmation can be sent. P.O. Box 831 Hockessin, DE / info@mapaprecast.org