American LaFrance Office and Warehouse Facility

In celebration of its 175th anniversary, emergency vehicle manufacturer American LaFrance wanted a corporate office complex that would pay homage to its past, while equipping it for the future. They selected a Tilt-Up design with a vintage firehouse aesthetic, and chose Seretta Construction Mid-Atlantic, to construct the 59,110-square-foot office building and 449,850-square-foot warehouse.

The office building is highlighted by two 51-foot-tall brick inlay panels, connected by two spandrel panels at the top and eight accent panels at the base. The brick motif continues on the interior with exposed Tilt-Up panels featuring arched reveals and brick inlay. To create the wood radius reveals, Seretta’s drafting team created CAD drawings of the reveals, which were then milled to perfection.

Leading to the building’s retail space, Seretta poured an old-style city sidewalk inside the building that features hand-tooled joints and an integral curb. In total, the project is comprised of 141 panels, using more than 18,000 cubic yards of concrete and was completed on schedule in 150 days despite many inclement weather delays.

American LaFrance Office and Warehouse recently was the recipient of an Award of Merit from the Association of Builders and Contractors of The Carolinas for their 2007 Excellence in Construction Awards program.