1242 Fourier Drive

Using concrete tilt-up construction, this 28,533-square-foot, two-story office building was created at a cost of less than $100 per square foot, including site-work and interior build-out.

The second floor is occupied by the district offices of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the lower floor is to be used by a medical services company. The plan is configured to allow multiple tenant suites along a single loaded corridor on each floor.

The exterior construction materials are brought into the interior through the use of exposed structural steel, sandblasted concrete walls and polished concrete floors. Finish colors are derived from the sand and stone aggregates within the concrete, using earth tones characteristic of the Midwest. This common access area is generously illuminated by northern light and provides welcoming space at the front door of each tenant. This feature is especially appreciated by visitors to the IRS.

On the exterior, the generous canopy of the entrance hall projects the significance of the public space within. The exterior of the tilt-up walls features either common face brick or integrally cast concrete. The 12-inch-thick wall section is expressed on the ground floor by deep-set window openings, while on the upper floor, flush butt glazing conveys the continuity of the open office spaces within. Brick in stacked bands of contrasting texture references stratified limestone road cuts and outcroppings of the region, helping situate the building visually in its place. The project included the IRS' required safety and security requirements, all at less than $100 per square foot.

Tilt-up construction has proven to be an attractive and affordable solution to the project's needs. This project has been certified LEED-CI Gold.