Drosdick Hall Villanova Univeristy

Precast concrete was selected for its aesthetic versatility, ability to accelerate the construction schedule, and adaptability to the site’s unique constraints. At a university known for blending Gothic tradition with modern innovation, precast allowed the design team to preserve the campus’s iconic character while introducing bold, contemporary elements. The façade’s thin veneer stone cladding was fabricated off-site, enabling structural work and site development to progress in parallel. Once the structure was complete, the precast exterior was installed in just eight weeks, minimizing disruption on a site that was already challenged by limited space and complex grading.

Innovation drove the design of three large, joint-free chimneys, each a feat of engineering precision. Constructed from four precast panels and fully clad in stone off-site, they were designed to appear as seamless, monolithic structures. Once assembled, they were transported and installed on the roof as single units, each topped with a custom-fabricated chimney cap. Precast concrete ensures dimensional accuracy, structural consistency, and efficient installation, while also offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional stonework. The result is a technically advanced, visually cohesive facility that honors the university’s architectural legacy while advancing the future of engineering education.

The expanded facility is more than double the size of the existing facility, adding over 20 new research labs and significantly improving hands-on, interdisciplinary learning environments. The project featured advanced instructional spaces, a two-story innovation lab, and smart green roofs that serve as both sustainable infrastructure and live research tools. Precast concrete was selected for the expansion because it addressed three key project goals: aesthetic integration, accelerated scheduling, and site-specific constraints. Architecturally, it allowed the design team to replicate the university’s traditional Gothic style, ensuring the new addition blended seamlessly with the historic campus while introducing modern construction techniques.

From a construction standpoint, precast enabled off-site fabrication of the façade panels while structural framing and sitework progressed simultaneously. This parallel workflow significantly shortened the overall timeline. Once the structure was complete, the precast exterior was installed in just eight weeks, an efficient process that minimized disruption on a site with limited access, tight staging areas, and complex grading.