University Of Wisconsin Medical Foundation

When constructing a new 200,000-square-foot facility incorporating office space and medical records storage for the University of Wisconsin, the design/build team faced a major challenge right out of the gate: The site for the building was once a 200-foot-deep glacial lake that had slowly drained to become a soft, silty marsh.

To get around this obstacle, a total of 363 12-inch diameter pipe piles were driven an average of 160 feet deep, to carry the weight of the building. Because of this unusual setup, the weight of the tilt-up panels used couldn’t exceed the capacity of the piles. This was accommodated by maximizing window openings and reducing the amount of concrete used per insulated panel.

Because the white concrete panels—many of which stand nearly 57 feet tall—were sandblasted, great care was taken to ensure that no cracks formed in the façade. Aluminum composite panels and a glass curtain wall complement the modern aesthetics of the building’s exterior, while exposed interior panels and a reception desk made from small architectural tilt-up panels with a ground concrete top and limestone inlays carry the theme through the entire structure.