itemsVOLUME 16/NUMBER 11/NOVEMBER 1970

Iihi

--

Published monthly by the

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE INSTITUTE

‘P

rPr

IF I

‘11‘In ~11I

~riFtr ~

I~

ii iI1tI~II

libraries & laboratories

Prestressed ConcreteTailored to Needs of“Resource Centers”Libraries and laboratories, often referredto as “resource centers,” are essentialto our educational system and to ourresearch oriented industrial system.

Such buildings often require specialarchitectural handling to incorporatelarge open spaces within the buildingand to accommodate the heavy loadingnecessary. These buildings must alsoprotect their often priceless contentsfrom all hazards, even the increaseddangers in a laboratory.

More and more owners and designers,as these pages show, are selecting precastprestressed concrete as the most fittingbuilding material for such centers becauseof its built-in charac-teristics—fireresistance, durability, low-maintenance,cleanliness and ease of fabricationand quick placement.

~reat economies are also achievedby using precast prestressed concretein resource centers because of this easeand speed of fabrication and erection.Additional savings are often incorporatedin the building, as shown in severalexamples, by making provision for themechanical systems within the structuralelements of the building.

CorrectionThe Philco-Ford warehouse and parkingdeck shown in the October, 1970 pcitemswas incorrectly identified as being inRichmond, Virginia. The correct locationis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

McLennan LibraryMcGill University,Montreal, QuebecThe new graduate research library at McGillUniversity was designed to complement andharmonize with the older campus buildings.

Precast concrete was selected for the exteriorpanels to complement the limestone exteriorsof the older buildings and provide a permanent, economical and readily erectedcladding, designed as a “rain screen.”

The architect wanted highly modeledsurfaces to achieve variety and interest inthe facades. Precast panels also allowedthis deep modeling.

Some 800 units, basically 9x10 ft. withcast-in window openings, are used. The wallsecho the structure of the building, bothhorizontal Vierendeel trusses and verticalshafts, which house the mechanical systems.

Architect: Dobush Stewart Bourke Longpre MarchandGoudreau, Montreal

Structural Engineer: deStein and Associates, Montreal

General Contractor: Louis Donolo, Inc., Montreal

Precaster: Shokbeton Quebec, Inc., St. Eustache

THE COVER shows the completed ArtsLibrary, University of Waterloo, Waterloo,Ontario. Further details are shown onpage 7.

#4’ Ø~

•1 ~‘ ~

~ ~‘ -

~~J-

~-:,

‘,- ~ ~k

.~‘;•_ ;.~c~:~/J~ I.

The architect was asked to design a campussetting for the Research Institute of Gulf South,including extensive landscaping to provideunity and the park-like setting desired.

There are three separate laboratory buildingsaround a central service and administrationbuilding, a pool and the court. Two of the labsare identical in plan and execution exceptfor siting. These two and the central servicebuilding use precast exposed aggregate walland fascia panels. Lab roofs are channel slabs4’ wide, 1,4” deep.

Laboratory building No. 3 is built of precastprestressed double tees, both walls and roof.All members are 8 ft. wide and 2 ft. deep.

m Roof members were cast with camber, wallGULF SOUTh OUSEOCH INSTflTJfl . .

units without. This unit was designed tobe column free through the use of long-spantees, allowing the greatest flexibility in the useof space. Fire safety was a prime considerationin the choice of materials.

The architect was able to achieve varietyof treatment for the exteriors using exposedaggregates and the deep shadowing of the

G’’ If S” ‘th double tee panels. Simplicity marks the designwhich exposes the structural concept and

Research Institute reveals the function of the precast concretein each building.

Baton Rouge, LouisianaArchitect: William I. Hughes, Ir. & Associates AlA,Baton Rouge

Structural Consultant: Rayner & McKenzie, Baton Rouge

Precaster, Prestresser: Louisiana Concrete Products Inc.,Baton Rouge

-~ ~.S~T’ j~.

4*~ -

Palo Verde Branch LibraryPhoenix, Arizona

Indiana University LibraryBloomington, Indiana

Owners were so well pleased with an earlierbranch library with a similar design makinguse of precast prestressed concrete that thesame materials were used here. Durability,low maintenance, low initial cost, qualityconstruction, distinctive design, and long spanswere all cited as reasons for the choice.

Walls are load-bearing precast concretepanels with deeply textured surfaces.Six thousand square feet of bearing panelssupport double tees over the smaller roomsand 5,700 sq. ft. of 8 ft. single tees over themain reading room, making it column free.

Lighting fixtures and air ducts are incorporated into the spaces between stems of the tees,simplifying these mechanical installationsand reducing overall expenses.

Architect: Pierson, Miller, Ware & Associates, Phoenix

Engineer: Magadini Associates, Phoenix

Contractor: Chanen Construction Co., Inc., Phoenix

Precaster, Prestresser: United Metro Materials & ConcreteCo., Inc., Phoenix

___ V.

-~

V ~ ~ •ID ‘~ I~~— 1 I ~ i ~ I

~UE~ ~

~ ii —

Some 1,000 limestone faced precast concretepanels are used in the walls of the MainLibrary at Indiana University, Bloomington.An average of 30 pieces of Indiana limestonewas used to face each panel.

The individual pieces were positionedin jigs to hold them in a pattern predeterminedby the architect while the 4-in, thick back-upconcrete for the panels was placed. The stonepieces vary from 2 to 8 in. in thickness andfrom 10 to 60 lbs. in weight.

Panels are attached to the concrete structuralframe with both bolted and welded connections. Erection was done by a 100 ton crane andan average of 20 panels was erected eachworking day. The general contractor estimateda saving of seven months over conventionallyset limestone, yet the new building matchesand blends perfectly with the othercampus buildings.

Architect: james Associates, Indianapolis

General Contractor: Huber, Hunt and Nichols, Indianapolis

V __~~ ~ ~ —

— — -~ ~VV~

Precaster: American Precast Concrete, Inc., Indianapolis

Library for Hudson ValleyCommunity College,Troy, New York

Because the funds allocated for this new community college’s library were limited, economywas a necessary design element. Economy hadto apply throughout the building, to mechanicalsystems as well as structural elements.

One of the best ways to achieve the necessaryeconomy, it was decided, was through the useof a precast prestressed concrete structuralsystem with provision for the integration ofthe mechanical systems. Vertical columns aredivided into two elements to provide the spaceneeded for all mechanical risers. Horizontaldistribution is in the chases provided betweenadjacent beams.

The twin columns are set on a 22 ft. 6 in. grid.Each pair of columns is notched at floor and rooflevels to receive horizontal cross arms on whichthe precast concrete beams bear. The columnsand cross arms were fabricated as single three-story units. Beams are bolted to the cross arms.

Prestressed double tees span 40 ft. 6 in.between beams to form the floor and roofdecks. All concrete elements were left exposedand unfinished, except for light sandblastingto give a uniform appearance.

A major economy was developed throughrapid erection and construction, and throughhaving one firm responsible for fabricationand erection of the structural elements.Another saving resulted from the workingplatforms provided immediately as the floortees were set in place, allowing other tradesto enter the project early and efficiently.

Architect/Engineer: Cadman and Deaste, Architecture andEngineering, Troy

General Contractor: Rosch Brothers, AlbanyI UJtNU

Precaster, Prestresser: Hudson River Concrete ProductsCorp., Ravena

HI

_~~%~l_~

I ~. -..

I I1~ %‘ j~. I i - ,~. - I

0

L~LJ1I

ft—r ~~

A. ~

e

Western Electric—Bell Telephone LaboratoriesAdams County, ColoradoAlthough designed for commercial studies, this researchlaboratory is also a “resource center,” in this case for thework of the two firms which jointly own it. The buildinghas 110,000 sq. ft. on two levels.

The extremely short allowable construction periodcalled for a simple, easily fabricated and easily erectedconstruction system. The construction budget called fora simple, economical solution to meet its requirements.

Both speed and economy were provided by the useof precast prestressed concrete structural and claddingelements for all parts of the building. Constructionbegan June 1 and was completed for occupancyby September 15.

The entire building is built with precast prestressedconcrete building elements. These include precastinterior and exterior columns on a 24 x 48 ft. bay system,and precast beams. Floors and roof are prestresseddouble tees, 18 in. deep for the roof and 24 in. deepfor the floors.

Both bearing and non-bearing walls are precast panels,as are the fascia and spandrel panels. Wall panels are4 ft. 6 in. wide x 24 ft. high for the lower level. This sizepanel and ten 9 ft. wide panels are used for the upperlevel. Fascia and spandrel panels are 9 x 24 ft.

Architect: Muchow Associates, Architects, Denver

Engineer: Ketchum, Konkel, Barrett, Nickel & Austin, Denver

Contractor: Al Cohen Construction Co., Denver

Precaster, Prestresser: Prestressed Concrete of Colorado, Inc., Denver

h ~

- -f

I‘~~f

University of WaterlooArts LibraryWaterloo, Ontario

A great variety of precast prestressed concreteis used in this all concrete building. Structurally,the library contains cast-in-place waffle flatslab, plain and reinforced precast concrete,pretensioned concrete and post tensionedcast-in-place concrete.

The Arts Library was designed as the focalpoint of the campus and is sited at theintersection of all main foot paths betweendepartments as well as to residential halls.It is visible from all parts of the nearbyuniversity town. Because of its focal interest,it was designed as symmetrical, simple, andvery repetitive. The characteristics of simplicityand repetitiveness also enhance the economicadvantages of the building material.

The promenade around the library on thesecond level is constructed of post-tensionedcast-in-place arches formed from two adjacentflared columns, which were cast in pairsopposite each other.

The sloping roof at the third floor levelis built of prestressed double tees 39 ft. long.

The fifth floor is cantilevered beyond the

1111: I~

lower floors. The soffits thus exposed are facedwith precast panels. All facings from the fifththrough the 10th floor are precast exposedaggregate panels, separated by tiers ofslit windows. Matching precast panels areused as spandrels below the slit windows.

Ninety-six precast caps top these elementson the tower and the promenade aroundthe library is paved with precast slabs.

Architect/Engineer: Shore and Moffat & Partners, Toronto

General Contractor: (phases I and II)W. A. McDougall, Ltd., London

General Contractor: (phase Ill)Eaglewood Construction Co., Ltd., Hamilton

Precaster, Prestresser: Beer Precast Concrete, Ltd.,Scarborough

—

•ø ~

V

.~..

-

- -

I

ll~-~ Ut

,,s ~miniijj ~ .—~~___

- ~. I

‘AWL.

Biomedical Research Center,Dow-Corning Corporation,Midland, Michigan

$1~I~ .L_IT ~ This initial phase of the biomedical research

center is designed for expansion to four timesthe present research area and to serve as apilot for a future complex.

Concrete was selected here for architectural- distinction. Precast prestressed concrete were

chosen for ease of future expansion, economy,and flexibility in use of interior space.

Precast wall panels enclose the entirebuilding. Bearing and non-bearing panelsare designed for the future expansion.

Six-foot double tees are used for all roofdecks, providing ledge-free cleanliness.High volume air conditioning is incorporated

0 within one duct between tee legs while lightingof varying intensities is accommodated inothers.

Architect: j. Gerald Phelan, AlA, Bridgeport, Connecticut

General Contractor: Spence Brothers, Saginaw, Michigan

Prestresser: Precast/Schokbeton, Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE INSTITUTE PCI

/ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTU RAL

20 N. WACKER DRIVE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606

pitems / November 1970Editor: W. H. Adams