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High Concrete Group LLC has introduced ThinCastTM, the thinnest precast concrete rainscreen panel available on the market. Designed for use in commercial, institutional, retail, and low- to high-rise construction, this innovation provides architects with the natural beauty and character of concrete in lightweight panels that accomplish their rainscreen design goals.
Location: Denver, Pa.
Type of Precast: CarbonCast Insulated Wall Panels; CarbonCast Double Tees
Size: 16,200 sq. ft. (33,870 sq. ft. precast)
Architect: Greenfield Architects
Engineer: Raudenbush Engineers
General Contractor: High Construction Co.
Owner: High Concrete Group LLC
GreenSite Awards
LEED Silver Certification
Overview
Quick Points:
Contents:
Summary
‘LEED-ing’ the way with a new maintenance facility
Performance
Elements that will enhance sustainability
Other Details
Additional enhancements for sustainable performance
LEED
Project Checklist
Summary
‘LEED-ing’ the way with a new maintenance facility
If the design and construction decisions precasters make for their own facilities can serve as inspiration for how to approach construction decisions, here is the story of a High’s maintenance building located in Denver, Pa. This precast concrete structure includes many elements of sustainable design, and High served an interesting dual role as both the client and engineer/manufacturer.
At an estimated cost of construction of $4.1 million, the building will be used by High’s maintenance department to service heavy trucks, pick up trucks and cars, and other plant equipment. The facility earned Silver Certification in the LEED® rating system for new construction through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Documentation for 37 LEED v2.2 points was submitted and approved.
To determine which green features would be integrated into the building’s design and construction, the project team began the process with a Green Design Charette, which typically lasts anywhere from a half day to a week, depending on the size and complexity of the project. The entire design team was present to discuss project goals, ideas, building systems, local availability of materials, site characteristics, grading, storm water, macro and micro climate including sun and wind considerations and possible code issues. This helped in the evaluation of different systems, cost impacts and the viability of meeting the credit criteria.
Performance
Elements that will enhance sustainability
In the LEED materials and resources category, it may seem like a given that a precaster would choose precast concrete for its building. But the durability and environmentally sound characteristics of the material make a strong case for its use by diverse clients. Today’s advanced carbon fiber-reinforced precast products are designed to increase durability and thermal efficiency, reduce or eliminate corrosion, and reduce weight. Additional characteristics of concrete result in a long list of green attributes:
The all-precast concrete building features thermally efficient sandwich wall panels fabricated by the company’s Springboro, Ohio plant. With insulating foam literally sandwiched inside them, the panels provide an R-value of 25 and are reinforced with innovative CarbonCast® carbon fiber shear trusses that make them fully structurally composite for load bearing. The roof is composed of CarbonCast double tees manufactured by the Denver plant. Also used for the driving surfaces in parking garages, the double tees are made with non-corrosive carbon fiber flange reinforcement and are 10 percent lighter in weight than traditional double tees.
Energy Efficiency
To further enhance the energy efficiency of the precast building, computer energy models and computer daylight modeling were used to optimize the HVAC systems and building envelope, as well as to determine the correct size, location, and glazing type for windows and skylights. The overall projected energy costs of the building have been reduced by 24.5 percent over a typical code-compliant structure through use of:
Other Details
Additional enhancements for sustainable performance
LEED
Project Checklist
LEED Category/ Credit |
Title |
Maintenance Building Project Point |
Precast Contributions |
Sustainable Sites |
|
|
|
SS Prereq 1 |
Construction Activity Pollution Prevention |
Req |
|
SS Credit 1 |
Site Selection |
1 |
|
SS Credit 4.2 |
Alternative Transportation, Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms |
1 |
|
SS Credit 4.3 |
Alternative Transportation, Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles |
1 |
|
SS Credit 4.4 |
Alternative Transportation, Parking Capacity |
1 |
|
SS Credit 5.1 |
Site Development: Protect or Restore Habitat |
|
1 |
SS Credit 7.1
|
Heat Island Effect, Non-Roof |
|
1 |
SS Credit 7.2
|
Heat Island Effect, Roof |
1 |
|
SS Credit 8
|
Light Pollution Reduction |
1 |
|
SS Sub-Total |
|
6 Points |
2 Points |
Water Efficiency |
|
|
|
WE Credit 1.1 |
Water Efficient Landscaping, Reduce by 50% |
1 |
|
WE Credit 1.2 |
Water Efficient Landscaping, No Potable Use or No Irrigation |
1 |
|
WE Credit 3.1 |
Water Use Reduction, 20% Reduction |
1 |
|
WE Credit 3.2 |
Water Use Reduction, 30% Reduction |
1 |
|
WE Subtotal |
|
4 Points |
0 Points |
Energy & Atmosphere |
|
|
|
EA Prereq 1 |
Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems |
Req |
Required |
EA Prereq 2 |
Minimum Energy Performance |
Req |
Req |
EA Prereq 3 |
Fundamental Refrigerant Management |
Req |
Required |
EA Credit 1 |
Optimize Energy Performance |
5 |
1-10 |
EA Credit 3 |
Enhanced Commissioning |
1 |
|
EA Credit 5 |
Enhanced Refrigerant Management |
1 |
|
EA Credit 5 |
Measurement & Verification |
1 |
|
EA Subtotal |
|
7 Points |
10 Points |
Materials & Resources |
|
|
|
MR Prereq 1 |
Storage & Collection of Recyclables |
Req |
Req |
MR Credit 2.1 |
Construction Waste Management, Divert 50% from Disposal |
1 |
1 |
MR Credit 2.2 |
Construction Waste Management, Divert 75% from Disposal |
1 |
1 |
MR Credit 4.1 |
Recycled Content, 10% (post-consumer + pre-consumer) |
1 |
1 |
MR Credit 4.2 |
Recycled Content, 20% (post-consumer + pre-consumer) |
1 |
1 |
MR Credit 5.1 |
Regional Materials, 10% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Region |
1 |
1 |
MR Credit 5.2 |
Regional Materials, 20% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Region |
1 |
1 |
MR Credit 7 |
Certified Wood |
1 |
|
MR Subtotal |
|
7 Points |
6 Points |
Indoor Environmental Quality |
|
|
|
EQ Prereq 1 |
Minimum IAQ Performance |
Req |
Req |
EQ Prereq 2 |
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control |
Req |
Req |
EQ Credit 1 |
Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring |
1 |
|
EQ Credit 3.1 |
Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan, During Construction |
1 |
1 |
EQ Credit 3.2 |
Construction IAQ Management Plan, Before Occupancy |
1 |
|
EQ Credit 4.1 |
Low Emitting Materials, Adhesives & Sealants |
1 |
|
EQ Credit 4.2 |
Low Emitting Materials, Paints & Coatings |
1 |
|
EQ Credit 4.4 |
Low Emitting Materials, Composite Wood & Agrifiber Products |
1 |
|
EQ Credit 6.1 |
Controllability of Systems, Lighting |
1 |
|
EQ Credit 8.1 |
Daylight & Views, Daylight 75% of Spaces |
1 |
|
EQ Credit 8.2 |
Daylight & Views, Views for 90% of Spaces |
1 |
|
EQ Subtotal |
|
9 Points |
1 Point |
Innovation & Design Process |
|
|
|
ID Credit 1.1 |
Regional Materials, 40% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Region |
1 |
1† |
ID Credit 1.2 |
Innovation in Design: Carbon fiber reinforcement and shear trusses |
1 |
1† |
ID Credit 1.3 |
Innovation in Design: Apply for other credits demonstrating exceptional Performance |
|
1† |
ID Credit 1.4 |
Innovation in Design: Apply for other credits demonstrating exceptional Performance |
|
1† |
ID Credit 2 |
LEED® Accredited Professional |
1 |
1 |
ID Subtotal |
|
3 Points |
1 Points |
Total |
37 Points |
20 Points |
|
† Up to 4 additional points can be earned, must be submitted and approved (not included in total). |
CarbonCast is a registered trademark of AltusGroup., Inc.
C-GRID is a registered trademark of Chomarat, N.A.
High Concrete Group
125 Denver Road
Denver, PA 17517
Invitations to Bid: precastinfo@high.net|
©High Concrete Group 125 Denver Rd., Denver, PA 17517