New Hanover Government Center

Summarize the project's program, features, and achievements: New Hanover County was in need of a new facility to house its 100,000 sq ft of office and Emergency Operations and 911 Center. With operations currently located in a renovated 8 shopping center, this outdated space was no longer suitable for the County's needs. To achieve this goal, they enlisted the expertise of an architect and GC, along with an experienced design-build Tilt-Up contractor, to create a purpose-built, efficient, and resilient structure that would be mindful of public resources. The resulting New Hanover Government Center is an impressive feat of construction, comprised of two structures connected by a 2-story, 4,130 sq ft hub. A 100,000 sq ft 4-story office structure, finished with nearly 13,000 sq ft of cast-in formliner, EIFS cladding, staggered storefront openings, horizontal aluminum sunshades, a large curtain wall corner, and composite wood rainscreen, is the first thing you see as you approach the site. Tucked behind it is the 2-story Emergency Operations and 911 Center, which expanded the county’s current operations to 20,000 sq ft. Located in a hurricane-prone area, this portion of the structure is designed to allow for needed emergency operations to continue during storms. Tilt-Up panels were thickened, reinforcement increased, and even the roof structure was beefed up to include wide flange framing members topped with a composite slab-on-metal-deck roof. Overall, the New Hanover Government Center is an excellent example of purposeful design and efficient construction. Tilt-Up panels were utilized to quickly and cost-effectively construct a large-scale facility that caters to the needs of the growing population. Showcasing a commitment to careful planning and execution, the project successfully moved existing operations from the adjacent facility and scheduled future demolition and development on the 15-acre site. The New Hanover Government Center was built with longevity in mind and this remarkable new facility is a testament to the county's dedication to excellence, safety, and the well-being of its citizens.

What obstacles were overcome related to the schedule, budget, program, specification, site, etc. on this project? Existing facility close by, Erecting 4-story panels, Coordinating formliner with panel widths, opening sizes and return edges

Please communicate any engineering complexities or unique features of the panel design for this project. ? Designing the Emergency Operations Center to remain in action during hurricanes, Staggered Openings that created cantilevers at nearly every panel

What is the potential for this project's impact on the community and/or environment? Providing the County with a resilient new facility that allows them to better serve their citizens, especially during emergencies