Kanab Elementary is a 74,000 Square Foot exposed architectural concrete tilt-up building. There are 29 classrooms, a state-of-the-art media center, a large gym and stage for school and community use. The Kane County School District's main food production facility is housed within the new building, as well. The design provides a modern efficient building to support 21st century learning modalities. Security enhancements, ample windows, and architecturally rich building elements provide a quality learning environment.
One of the prominent and unique aspects of the new Kanab Elementary School is the use of horizontal concrete panels to act as canopies at the entrances to the building. In total, there are seven entry points where these panels were cast on the ground and lifted into position using the same techniques that were used to erect the vertically oriented concrete tilt-up walls. These panels, however, were placed in a horizontal position to create shade and shelter for the doors leading to the building. Not only do these canopies function as a covering for the entries, but they also contribute to the aesthetics by matching the color of the vertical exterior tilt-up concrete walls.
The design intent of the horizontal concrete panels is acknowledgement of the mesa top mountains that are very visible from the school site. The flat top mountains that encircle the Kanab Valley give a unique characteristic to the landscape; similarly, the horizontal concrete canopies provide the same for the building. The horizontal panels are supported by concrete columns at as few points as possible. This gives a feeling that the canopies are floating over the entrances. This “lightness" of the horizontal panels helps the entries to be attractive visually as well as perceptively.
The school's remote location and cement shortages created some unique challenges to finishing the project on time. Through heavy coordination with all teams and suppliers, we were able to get the materials on time and ensure the project finished on time and within budget.
One of the prominent and unique aspects of the new Kanab Elementary School is the use of horizontal concrete panels to act as canopies at the entrances to the building. In total, there are seven entry points where these panels were cast on the ground and lifted into position using the same techniques that were used to erect the vertically oriented concrete tilt-up walls. These panels, however, were placed in a horizontal position to create shade and shelter for the doors leading to the building. Not only do these canopies function as a covering for the entries, but they also contribute to the aesthetics by matching the color of the vertical exterior tilt-up concrete walls. Another unique feature of the building is the color of the concrete. Hughes and the design team worked together to match the colors of the landscape as well as colors used by indigenous people of the area.
Kanab Elementary School is one of the most influential building projects completed in the area in the last 20 years. The building has had a significant impact on the community including:
Kanab, UT 84741
United States
The Tilt-Up Achievement Awards were established to honor projects that use site-cast tilt-up concrete to introduce new building types, advance industry technology and provide unique solutions to building programs. Winning entries illustrate the variety, beauty, and flexibility of tilt-up construction.
ACHIEVEMENT
2024
The world’s greatest tilt-up structures are featured by the TCA as Tilt-Up Achievement Award Winners. Learn more >