NWC GLC #4

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

This state-of-the-art spec office / warehouse facility is over 1M square feet and boasts a clear height of over 40 feet, designed specifically for high pile storage. The building is 1,677.75 feet long by 610.75 feet wide. It can house nearly18 football fields under the same roof. The project features tilt-up wall panels that reach over 55 feet in height (similar to a 5-story building) while only being a single-story building. The structural wall panels are 12 inches thick. The total sandwich wall thickness is 17" with 12" of structural concrete plus 2" of rigid insulation and then a 3" concrete face. The architectural and structural engineering design showcases our commitment to structural integrity and functionality.

The construction process was a testament to the many advantages of tilt-up concrete, including cost efficiency, rapid construction, and exceptional durability. By casting the panels on-site, we significantly reduced material transportation costs and expedited the building timeline, demonstrating superior project management and efficiency. The concurrent activities of site preparation and panel casting enabled us to deliver the project swiftly and within budget, highlighting our innovative approach to construction.

Our building's design emphasizes both resilience and flexibility. The robust concrete panels provide excellent fire resistance and weatherproofing, essential for a high pile storage facility. Additionally, the building's energy efficiency is enhanced by the thermal properties of the concrete, which helps maintain stable internal temperatures, reducing operational costs. The panels' customizable nature allowed us to integrate various design elements, meeting specific aesthetic and functional requirements while maintaining architectural versatility.

Furthermore, the building's seismic performance is particularly noteworthy. Given Salt Lake City's location in a seismic zone, the tilt-up construction method offers superior protection during earthquakes, ensuring the safety and longevity of the facility. This project stands as a beacon of modern engineering, combining strength, speed, and sustainability.

In conclusion, this tilt-up concrete spec building is a prime example of innovative construction techniques and outstanding project execution. It meets the rigorous demands of high pile storage with unmatched efficiency and durability.

What obstacles were overcome related to the schedule, budget, program, specification, site, etc. on this project?

Constructing a reinforced concrete slab-on-grade in a hot desert state presents unique challenges. The 8-inch thick slab, reinforced with #5 bars at 18 inches on center, required strategic timing, curing, and environmental control to prevent dry-shrinkage cracks. High temperatures accelerate moisture evaporation, risking shrinkage cracks. The construction team tackled this by pouring concrete at night when cooler temperatures slow evaporation, allowing controlled curing. Low humidity exacerbates drying and hot winds also cause the surface of the concrete to dry faster. By scheduling pours during low wind periods, typically at night, the team minimized wind impact, ensuring a stable curing environment.

Using #5 bars at 18 inches on center provided a robust framework to control crack width, ensuring structural integrity even if shrinkage cracks formed. Immediate protection from rapid drying was achieved through evaporation retardants. The proper application of the curing compounds was essential for crack prevention. Strategic nighttime placement, diligent reinforcement, and rigorous curing methods enabled the construction team to mitigate the harsh desert climate's risks. These efforts ensure the concrete slab's durability and integrity, demonstrating human ingenuity and perseverance in extreme conditions. The site also required mitigation due to an old landfill. The soil had to be vented, a vapor barrier installed, and then capped.

Please communicate any engineering complexities or unique features of the panel design for this project?

At the main entrance(s) of the building there are large storefront windows which are each 36' tall and had to resist large wind forces. There is also a stand alone concrete entry portal that sits inside of one of the larger openings and is free-standing. It is used to identify the main entrance and to provide a covered roof over the entrance. Because of the massive size of the building, interior Buckling-Restrained Braced Frames are used to withstand lateral loads due to wind and seismic forces. Where offset panels occur, the rood diaphragm chord members had to be designed for a special eccentric splice plate. The Tilt-up wall panels were used as bearing walls to hold up the roof structure and also as shear walls to resist the lateral loads from wind and seismic. The tilt-up walls also provided the architectural envelope for the building. The floor slab is 8" thick and reinforced with #5 bars at 18" on center each way in order to support larger loads. Because of the higher reinforcing ratio the curing of the concrete slabs was more critical in order to prevent dry-shrinkage cracks. In order to speed up construction, some of the interior steel structure was erected prior to the tilt-up walls being cast.

What is the potential for this project's impact on the community and/or environment?

A large tilt-up concrete high pile storage warehouse can significantly benefit both the community and the environment. Economically, it creates job opportunities during construction and operation, stimulating local employment and supporting ancillary businesses. The warehouse attracts investment, enhancing the area's economic profile and fostering development.

Environmentally, tilt-up concrete construction is energy-efficient and reduces waste due to its off-site prefabrication, resulting in less on-site material waste and lower transportation emissions. The thermal mass of concrete improves energy efficiency by regulating indoor temperatures, reducing heating and cooling energy consumption. Furthermore, this warehouse incorporates sustainable practices such as energy-efficient lighting and controls, contributing to a reduced environmental footprint. The roof is also designed for solar panels.

Community-wise, the warehouse can serve as a logistical hub, improving supply chain efficiencies and reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation. This can lead to fewer trucks on the road, decreasing traffic congestion and pollution. Additionally, the presence of a modern, efficient warehouse can attract other businesses to the area, fostering a vibrant commercial ecosystem and contributing to community development.

In summary, a large tilt-up concrete high pile storage warehouse supports economic growth, promotes sustainable building practices, and enhances logistical efficiency, yielding substantial benefits for both the community and the environment.