Hamilton Field House

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

The Field House Replacement project at 935 Concession Street in Hamilton is a small but impactful example of durable and efficient public infrastructure. Designed with a footprint of just 822 square feet, this facility was conceived to address a municipal need for vandal-resistant, low-maintenance public restrooms that could perform year-round.

Tilt-up concrete construction was used for both the walls and the roof, creating a fully enclosed and highly resilient structure. With 3,770 square feet of total panel area, including 1,160 square feet of insulated panels, the building ensures strong thermal performance while supporting longevity in a high-traffic environment. The structure includes 19 panels in total, with the largest spanning 660 square feet and the heaviest weighing nearly 50,000 pounds.

This project demonstrates the advantages of using tilt-up methods for specialty applications. The concrete panels were enhanced with formliner finishes and post-applied coatings to blend the building into the park surroundings and meet visual expectations without compromising functionality. These finishes add texture and interest to the exterior while maintaining the durability needed for public use.

The structure is designed to reduce long-term operational costs by resisting wear, vandalism, and weathering. It stands as a durable, efficient solution for municipal infrastructure, highlighting how tilt-up can be applied effectively in even the most compact and utilitarian buildings. The result is a lasting asset that meets both design and functional goals while raising the standard for small-scale public facilities.

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

The Field House Replacement project presented key technical challenges related to the design, engineering, and installation of the tilt-up roof system. Unlike typical tilt-up projects where roof structures are framed separately, this facility was constructed entirely from tilt-up panels, including the roof. This approach offered significant durability and long-term maintenance advantages but required careful engineering and planning.

The roof panels were complex in both design and execution. They had to be structurally self-supporting, properly sloped for drainage, and integrated cleanly with the vertical wall panels. Achieving this required collaboration across structural design, panel detailing, and site operations to ensure each panel met performance and alignment requirements once lifted into place. A major challenge stemmed from the small site footprint, which limited available staging space. All panels had to be cast on a dedicated casting slab, requiring precise coordination of panel layout, forming, and sequencing. Efficient use of space and tight scheduling were essential to avoid delays and ensure smooth workflow.

The biggest technical hurdle was developing a safe and efficient lift plan for the roof panels. Their weight and geometry required precise rigging and coordination. With little tolerance for adjustment after placement, the erection process had to be carefully sequenced and executed to maintain safety and prevent damage.

The project team evaluated multiple lifting strategies before finalizing an approach that balanced safety, equipment limitations, and structural performance. The roof system was successfully installed on schedule, demonstrating how tilt-up can be extended beyond vertical surfaces with thoughtful planning and strong execution.

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

Although the project was compact, it required thoughtful engineering to deliver a complete tilt-up solution for both walls and roof. The integration of tilt-up roof panels introduced engineering challenges typically reserved for larger buildings. Roof panels had to be structurally self-supporting, precisely placed, and aligned to prevent thermal bridging and ensure proper drainage.

In addition to structural performance, the design included aesthetic detailing through the use of formliner textures on the exterior face of several panels. Four distinct patterns were used, each adding character and visual interest to different areas of the façade. These patterns required careful planning during panel layout to maintain alignment across transitions and avoid inconsistencies between pours.

Coating was applied post-installation to provide a clean, contemporary finish that complemented the surrounding landscape. The combination of texture and color elevated the visual quality of the building beyond typical utility structures while preserving the long-term durability benefits of exposed concrete.

Special attention was also paid to the placement of the heaviest and largest panels, with lifting plans carefully developed to ensure safety and stability during erection. The structure’s ability to combine visual appeal, low maintenance, and structural integrity makes it a strong example of how tilt-up can enhance even the most functional municipal spaces.