Award Winner NBC Tower at Cityfront Center Office Buildings

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Betty Jane Todd
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NBC Tower at Cityfront Center Office Buildings

Merrill Tishman Speyer Properties The first office

Center Development, the 38-story NBC Tower is clad

granite pieces (some 25,000) on this build ing,

The use of precast concrete with a lime stone veneer

to be accomplished off site at the precast concrete

Company, which occupies office space in the tower and

zoning requirements and providing varying floor

part of the tower to a 14,920 sq ft penthouse level,

2 NBC Tower at Cityfront Center Office Buildings Architect/Structural Engineer: Skidmore, 0wings & Merrill Tishman Speyer Properties The first office highrise to be built in Chicago s new Cityfront Center Development, the 38-story NBC Tower is clad with some 2,500 pre cast concrete panels, each of which has a 2 in. thick limestone veneer cast integrally with the concrete backing. Because of the huge num ber of small limestone and granite pieces (some 25,000) on this build ing, prefabrication was a must. The use of precast concrete with a lime stone veneer allowed all of the sorting and layout of the product to be accomplished off site at the precast concrete plant, thereby reducing con gestion of an already crowded down town site. The building s primary tenant is the NBC Broadcasting Company, which occupies office space in the tower and radio/television broadcasting dio space in a four-story adjoining building. Setbacks add architectural interest while satisfying zoning requirements and providing varying floor areas; floors range from 29,670 sq ft at the widest part of the tower to a 14,920 sq ft penthouse level, enabling the building to meet the needs of a wide range of tenants. stu Jury comment: A terrific example of using precast to integrate a very large-scale building into its context. A perfect execution of the design crite ria. State-of-the-art product use.

Jails, Prisons or Justice Facilities Aurora Municipal Justice Center

Washington, DC Aurora Municipal Building Corp.

the Aurora Municipal Justice Center features a new courthouse, a detention

A part of the Civic Center Complex, the Justice Center anchors the western

The Center s spectacu lar rotunda serves as an orientation point for

Sixteen thin precast concrete shell units form the rotunda s 72 ft diameter

An architectural and structural pre cast concrete System is used with

The combination of different colors, shapes and textures of finishes used

difficult demands of a designer s imagination.

3 Jails, Prisons or Justice Facilities Aurora Municipal Justice Center Aurora, Colorado Architect/Structural Engineer: Skidmore, 0wings & Merrill Washington, DC Aurora Municipal Building Corp. Aurora, Colorado 0 Designed to meet the city s needs through the year 2010, the Aurora Municipal Justice Center features a new courthouse, a detention center, and a remode ed and expanded police headquarters. A part of the Civic Center Complex, the Justice Center anchors the western edge of the complex. The Center s spectacu lar rotunda serves as an orientation point for circulation within the facility. Sixteen thin precast concrete shell units form the rotunda s 72 ft diameter dome, bearing on a cast-in-place ten- Sian ring and a precast concrete compression ring. It is said to be the first precast concrete dome structure built in the U.S. An architectural and structural pre cast concrete System is used with striking effect throughout the Center. The combination of different colors, shapes and textures of finishes used showcases the ability of architectural precast concrete to meet the difficult demands of a designer s imagination. The complexity of formwork required and intricate erection process attest to the high level of quality and exper tise available in precast concrete applications. Jury comment: A most impressive precast structure especially the breathtaking interiors that relate so well to the exterior expression. All parts of the building are delightful and the precast is exquisite. zz:i

Parking Structures Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Parking Structures, Charlotte, N. C. C Architect/Structural Engineer: Odell Associates Inc.

of the precast, prestressed concrete com ponents play an important role in the overall project design.

cement mix. Architectural pre cast concrete provided both the nat ural beauty and long term durability while simultaneously performing structurally.

Another advantage of precast, pre stressed concrete: it could be installed rapidly, minimally interrupt ing service in this busy international airport.

Parking floors are factory-topped double tees, loft wide and 26 in. deep.

4 Parking Structures Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Parking Structures, Charlotte, N. C. C Architect/Structural Engineer: Odell Associates Inc. Charlotte, North Carolina City of Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina Because this parking structure serves as the new terminal s front facade, the color and texture of the precast, prestressed concrete com ponents play an important role in the overall project design. Pink quartzite from South Dakota was cast into the precast units; their architectural sur faces were sandblasted to expose the quartzite, which was placed in a white cement mix. Architectural pre cast concrete provided both the nat ural beauty and long term durability while simultaneously performing structurally. This unique, double-duty advantage is not easily achieved with other materials. Another advantage of precast, pre stressed concrete: it could be installed rapidly, minimally interrupt ing service in this busy international airport. Precast concrete panels with 5 ft deep, 60 ft long, 40 ton planters step back at each of the levels on the facility s north and south elevations. Parking floors are factory-topped double tees, loft wide and 26 in. deep. High quality, low water cement ratio concrete is produced in the heavily monitored curing conditions of a precast concrete plant, insuring the most durable parking structure available. Jury comment: Could not have been accomplished as successfully with out the use of precast concrete com ponents. The skillful use of precast concrete makes the structure a very pleasant neighbor Deserves real credit to have won in a very strong category with several excellent sub missions.

Leake, Architects San Francisco, California BE!

Associates Detroit, Michigan John Madden Company

used to create a precisely articulated exterior for

A total of 2,288 precast panels pro vided 211,000 sq

The typical precast concrete panel fea tures broad

visual inter est and embellishing an otherwise simple

The typical panels, 20 ft high and 13 ft 6 in.

high and 8 ft wide, clad with polished red granite

Deep-set colonnade elements at the crossover and

half round pre cast concrete columns as accents.

formed as round, Dt faceted, smoothly radiused sur

panels, and the enduring and distinctive charac

a uniformity of appear ance for what could have been

At the tower s main entrance, a glass lobby facade

The use of the same materials for column cladding as

5 Mixed Use Facilities W. Jefferson, Detroit, Michigan Architects: He//er & Leake, Architects San Francisco, California BE! Associates Detroit, Michigan Structural Engineer: BE! Associates Detroit, Michigan John Madden Company Englewood, Colorado 0 Precast concrete was deftly used to create a precisely articulated exterior for this 30-story, mixed-use building. A total of 2,288 precast panels pro vided 211,000 sq ft of cladding. The typical precast concrete panel fea tures broad shadow reveals and shal low rustication; creating visual inter est and embellishing an otherwise simple punched window expression. The typical panels, 20 ft high and 13 ft 6 in. wide, have a granite aggre gate and a medium sandblasted fin ish. At the tower base, precast con crete panels, 20 ft high and 8 ft wide, clad with polished red granite veneer, add color and scale. Deep-set colonnade elements at the crossover and uppermost tower floors employ two- and three-story half round pre cast concrete columns as accents. Precast concrete allowed these ele ments to be easily formed as round, Dt faceted, smoothly radiused sur aces. The dimensional control of radius and segmented panels, and the enduring and distinctive charac teristics of architectural precast con crete ensured a uniformity of appear ance for what could have been a complex assemblage of different shaped materials. At the tower s main entrance, a glass lobby facade provides a backdrop for precast-clad columns. The use of the same materials for column cladding as for the main facade achieved a cost-effective, consistent expression. The choice of precast concrete enabled a quality-controlled finish, uniform color and a satisfying textural finish. Jury comment: Incorporating the precast pane/s with granite was very p/easing, as was the overall scale. The variety of textures and colors was hand/ed with great ski!!. Shows a lot of sophistication.

Colorado Convention Center Award Winner Denver, Colorado Public or Municipal Buildings C Architect: C. W. Fentress J. H. Associates, PC.

Denver, Colorado time-the building was designed and Except for the roof and columns in the exhibit hail, the Colorado built in only 24 months, in

The exhibit hall, located on the upper level, is clad with pink granite aggregate spandrels to.

Opposing vertical marble aggregate columns create a striking architectural focus at each entrance, intersecting the horizontal backdrops to give this

At the Center s two main entrances, the spandrels create an effective backdrop for an eye-catching geo metric composition of white precast concrete-a

The choice of precast concrete sub stantially reduced the construction tight site with limited access.

6 Colorado Convention Center Award Winner Denver, Colorado Public or Municipal Buildings C Architect: C. W. Fentress J. H. Associates, PC. Denver, Colorado Structural Engineers: H. S. Engineering Denver, Colorado Martin/Martin City and County of Denver Denver Colorado Bradburn and Denver, Colorado Richard Weingardt Consultants, Inc. Denver, Colorado time-the building was designed and Except for the roof and columns in the exhibit hail, the Colorado built in only 24 months, in spite of a Convention Center is built entirely with precast concrete totaling 1000,000 sq ft as the largest such application in the U.S. The exhibit hall, located on the upper level, is clad with pink granite aggregate spandrels to. create a strong horizon tal backdrop for the three main entrances. Opposing vertical marble aggregate columns create a striking architectural focus at each entrance, intersecting the horizontal backdrops to give this building its life. The build ing s mass is lifted by wing-like facades which enclose the mechani cal penthouses above each entrance. At the Center s two main entrances, the spandrels create an effective backdrop for an eye-catching geo metric composition of white precast concrete-a composition described as an abstract expression of the near by snow-capped Rocky Mountains. The choice of precast concrete sub stantially reduced the construction tight site with limited access. A total of 4,500 pieces of precast concrete (3,000 structural and 1,500 architec tural) were produced in 10 months and erected in 6 months. The precast floor units for the exhibit hall were designed in prestressed concrete for a 350-psf load, allowing trucks, milling machines and other heavy equipment to enter the exhibit hall, unload and load, and return to the street level below without turning around or backing up. Jury comment: Convention centers typically are not totally precast, but this one is and is done very well. Integrates the structural materials with the architectural expression in a(,) extremely confident and courageous approach. A very strong solution for this building type.

Industrial Facilities Haworth Water Treatment Plant Haworth, New Jersey Architect: Schofield Colgan

Paramus, New Jersey H2M/Ragold Fairfield, New Jersey Hackensack Water Company Harrington Park, New Jersey 0

intentionally designed to look more like a civic building than a utility plant.

entrance lobby for these visitors, contrasting with the monolithic solidarity of the precast concrete

Carrying the precast concrete facade into the lobby establishes the indoor-outdoor quality and implies the

Designers added a precast concrete trellis element to give tex ture to the facade.

Precast con crete was chosen as the major build ing material because of its resistance to corrosion, ease of

7 Industrial Facilities Haworth Water Treatment Plant Haworth, New Jersey Architect: Schofield Colgan Architects Nyack, New York Structural Engineers: Buck, Seifert & Jost, Inc. Paramus, New Jersey H2M/Ragold Fairfield, New Jersey Hackensack Water Company Harrington Park, New Jersey 0 Because this water treatment plant is located adjacent to a reservoir in a residential district, it was intentionally designed to look more like a civic building than a utility plant. It was also designed to accommodate a large number of visitors who come to view the innovative water treatment the building houses. The building was conceived as a solid mass with one side hollowed out and enclosed with glass to create an entrance lobby for these visitors, contrasting with the monolithic solidarity of the precast concrete construction. Carrying the precast concrete facade into the lobby establishes the indoor-outdoor quality and implies the water resistive character of the material. Designers added a precast concrete trellis element to give tex ture to the facade. The water treatment plant includes control rooms, a laboratory, offices and meeting rooms. Precast con crete was chosen as the major build ing material because of its resistance to corrosion, ease of maintenance and permanence of finish, as well as the economy of its use to create both repetitive forms and special shapes. In addition, architectural precast con crete provides a desirable image of permanence and quality appropriate for a water treatment plant. Jury comment. It s remarkable that this building is a water treatment plant. A high quality solution with very interesting uses of standard shapes. Well articulated and expressed. A really good building that respects its surroundings.

Colorado Springs, Colorado C Architect. Klipp Partnership, PC.

Colorado 0 Springs, the 16-story, 249,000 sq ft United Bank Tower is a

Neoclassical, ordered in its mass ing and precisely detailed, the build

recaptur ing the spirit in contemporary terms.

feature and a load bear ing element, results in the ability to complete

A limestone-colored white matrix was used to produce the panels, which

The meticulous detailing of the panels is reminiscent of stone work,

Repetitive fea miters, varied reveals and cornice detailing.

combined in different ways than five months.

8 Colorado Springs, Colorado C Architect. Klipp Partnership, PC. Denver, Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado The tallest building in Colorado 0 Springs, the 16-story, 249,000 sq ft United Bank Tower is a major element in the city s downtown business cen ter. Neoclassical, ordered in its mass ing and precisely detailed, the build ing is designed to pay homage to its historically significant site, recaptur ing the spirit in contemporary terms. Precast, prestressed concrete ele ments play a key role, both structural ly and architecturally. The dual func tion of the extørior panels as both an architectural feature and a load bear ing element, results in the ability to complete a building with a level of to accomplish the rounded corner detail and finish far more economical.flnr and time efficient than competitive materials. The structural system includes 24 in. deep tee floor members and loadbearing, one-story-high wall panels. A limestone-colored white matrix was used to produce the panels, which are finished with acid etching. The meticulous detailing of the panels is reminiscent of stone work, yet was produced by taking advantage of formwork economies. Repetitive fea miters, varied reveals and cornice detailing. A total of 1,185 precast components were installed in less tures are combined in different ways than five months. Jury comment: Outstanding integra tion of structural and architectural precast into a cohesive whole. A () great advertisement for the industry with its high quality image. Detailing is excellent. Very classy throughout. Award Winner United Bank Tower Office Buildings Denver Colorado Structural Engineer: Structural Consultants, Inc. Birtcher-Kraus Properties, Inc. -:i LiL

9 Hotels and Housing C The Sir Robert Peel, Montreal, Quebec Architect: Desmarais, Pilon, Cousineau, Yaghjian and Associates/Architects Montreal, Quebec, Canada Structural Engineer: Pasquin, St. Jean Montreal, Quebec, Canada Le Groupe Lepine (Le Sanctuaire du Mont-Royal Ltee) Montreal, Quebec, Canada ( To most economically achieve consis nt color and finish, precast concrete was chosen to produce the exterior wall elements for this 18-story luxury condominium project. Using precast concrete, a variety of architectural details could be produced more economically than with traditional masonry construction. The speed with which the precast concrete pan els were manufactured, delivered and erected substaitially reduced the construction time. The ability to pro duce and erect architectural precast concrete all year round, in all types of weather, was also a major advantage over other materials for this project. Thus, the outer building walls could be constructed in winter without heated, protected space on the building s exterior faces. 900 panels of varying sizes cover the 60,000 sq ft of architectural precast concrete on this complex. The pan els incorporate a variety of architec tural details such as arches, columns, cornices, pediments, lintels and jointwork that give the building the classical character required to integrate within its urban context. The fire resistance and sound absorption characteristics of precast concrete will provide the owners of these con dominiums with the type of high qual ity features and comfort that guaran tee a high resale value. Jury comment: A classic example of how architectural precast can be used to provide a traditional look. This structure shows particularly clever handling of precast with excellent traditional detailing.

0. Wayne Rollins Research Center at Emory Award Winner University,

Engineer: Rosser Fabrap Atlanta, Georgia Emory University Atlanta,

projected research center being planned by a consortium of Atlanta

skin system that could be easily replicated in future components.

older campus and its collection of historic and modern buildings

Precast concrete was chosen because of its durability and low

panels, one featuring a buff/limestone color finished with light

older academic buildings of Emory s main campus.

office window modules from Jury comment: The material is very

10 0. Wayne Rollins Research Center at Emory Award Winner University, Atlanta, Georgia Educational Facilities C Architect/Structural Engineer: Rosser Fabrap Atlanta, Georgia Emory University Atlanta, Georgia Since this research laboratory is the first component of a projected research center being planned by a consortium of Atlanta institutions, its designers created a design vocabu lary and building skin system that could be easily replicated in future components. Additionally, the new era of the Emory campus needed to compliment the older campus and its collection of historic and modern buildings executed in marble, stone and architectural precast concrete. Precast concrete was chosen because of its durability and low maintenance requirements, as well as the infinite range of color possibilities and textures it offers. The building is clad with two types of architectural precast concrete panels, one featuring a buff/limestone color finished with light sandblasting; cast into the panels were insets of rose granite that serve as window heads and sills. The second is salmon pan els with a heavy sandblast finish, used at the base of the building. The rose granite insets echo the pink and rose stones used in the older academic buildings of Emory s main campus. The plasticity of precast concrete allowed offsetting the research office window modules from Jury comment: The material is very skillfully handled and provides a vari the secondary clerestory and light ety of interesting shapes and patterns within the large building mass. An ( ) excellent example of using straight forward precast shapes, arranged in shelf above, adding textural interest an interesting pattern. to the facade.

Commercial Buildings C Canal Center: The Northern Trust Company Architect:

Structural Engineer: Cohen Barreto Marchertas, Inc. JPS Interests, Inc.

load-bearing column covers to playfully relieve the monotony of a long, low

Architectural precast concrete pro vides an aesthetically pleasing, durable and

rustication provides a very economical, fire proof exterior treatment.

reveals and light and medium sandblasted finishes to add interest and excitement

A system of column haunch es, cast into the column cladding to support the

11 Commercial Buildings C Canal Center: The Northern Trust Company Architect: Eckenhoff Saunders Architects, Inc. Structural Engineer: Cohen Barreto Marchertas, Inc. JPS Interests, Inc. Texture and color are adroitly used on precast concrete spandrel panels and load-bearing column covers to playfully relieve the monotony of a long, low building facade. Architectural precast concrete pro vides an aesthetically pleasing, durable and low maintenance exterior with extraordinary expressive quali ties at a reasonable cost. The repeti tive use of relatively simple flat panels with moderate changes in rustication provides a very economical, fire proof exterior treatment. Standard gray cement, limestone aggregate and black pigment mix with assertive reveals and light and medium sandblasted finishes to add interest and excitement to this office building. A system of column haunch es, cast into the column cladding to support the spandrel panels, shortened erection time by minimiz ing connection time. A total of 1,212 precast panels provided 133,000 sq ft of cladding. Jury comment: For a large structure, The architectural precast was particu larly well articulated and detailed, starting at street level and gradually reducing The detail toward The upper levels. The textures are great.

Miscellaneous Structures Ammunition Pier and Trestle Colts Neck, New Jersey Structural Engineer: Han-Padron Associates New York, New York Naval Facilities Engineering Command

Because the pier would be exposed to a harsh marine environment, durable precast con crete was chosen for pile caps, box beams, floor slab panels and pipe galleries.

Structural studies showed that verti cal prestressed concrete piles could resist all horizontal forces, so the bat ter piles could be eliminated, result ing in lower

Studies also showed that using stan dard precast, prestressed concrete box sections would allow an optimum bent spacing of 35 ft for the pier and 45 ft for the trestle-again

The repetitive nature of the structure allowed for form economics and optimization of all phases of production and erection.

12 Miscellaneous Structures Ammunition Pier and Trestle Colts Neck, New Jersey Structural Engineer: Han-Padron Associates New York, New York Naval Facilities Engineering Command Philadelphia, Pennsylvania This 945 ft long, 150 ft wide pier has an approach trestle that is 1500 ft long and 46 ft wide a total of 235,000 sq ft. Because the pier would be exposed to a harsh marine environment, durable precast con crete was chosen for pile caps, box beams, floor slab panels and pipe galleries. The choice of precast elimi nated costly over-water formwork. Structural studies showed that verti cal prestressed concrete piles could resist all horizontal forces, so the bat ter piles could be eliminated, result ing in lower construction costs. Studies also showed that using stan dard precast, prestressed concrete box sections would allow an optimum bent spacing of 35 ft for the pier and 45 ft for the trestle-again dramatical ly reducing costs. The precast concrete system was a natural for this project. The repetitive nature of the structure allowed for form economics and optimization of all phases of production and erection. An extensive finite element analysis indicated that the pier could be con structed without expansion joints, resulting in yet another savings. Per square foot of deck, the actual cost of the pier was 25 percent below the original budget. Jury comment: The impact of the project and some of the construction challenges that had to be met are mind boggling. Precast, prestressed concrete is a natural for waterfront ( structures and this is a well-integrat ed, innovative solution. An awfully impressive structure. IDEAS Number 42/Editor: Sarah Morris 9.90 PRECAST/ PRESTRESSED CONCRETE INSTITUTE 175W. Jackson Boulevard 60604

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