Dixie Middle School

In order to obtain cost efficient buildings, the Washington County School District, for the past many years, has been constructing their educational facilities with concrete tilt-up. This economical option makes for faster construction.

This project was not only a challenge to design but also to build. Concrete tilt-up panels varied greatly in geometry. There were many spandrel and cantilevered panels to accommodate entryways, large openings, etc. Sandwich panels were used in some locations for exterior walls in areas that required a durable wall surface. Some of these areas were the gymnasium, wrestling room, cabinet shop, welding shop, etc. Due to the complexity of the panels, an elevation of every concrete tilt-up panel was done not only architecturally but also structurally. The project included tilt-up panels next to CMU and there was creativity in attaching the tilt-up panels with unseen connections.

The school district not only got a cost efficient high school campus, but due to the tilt-up panel construction, the building was able to be constructed in 20 months. Many school officials from other districts have expressed that they are amazed at how great the facility looks, especially when they realize how it was constructed and the associated cost. When the cost of construction was compared to other high schools under construction in Utah around the same time, the Washington County School District got "more building" for less money. Upon seeing the Dixie Middle School campus, it is assumed, based on how the school campus looks, that it must have cost much more to construct than it did.