23XI Racing - Airspeed

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

23XI Race Shop, the headquarters for a premier NASCAR team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, sets a new benchmark in racing facility design through the cutting-edge application of tilt-up concrete construction. At its core, the building is a bold architectural statement, realized entirely through custom tilt-up panels that push the boundaries of what this construction method can achieve. A striking two-story, fully glazed entrance serves as a "jewel box," displaying past race-winning cars and offering a glimpse into the high-performance design within. Visitors enter through an exposed concrete portal that opens into a dramatic, expansive lobby—an awe-inspiring space that immediately conveys the power and precision of the brand. Every exterior wall tilt panel is meticulously detailed, showcasing a level of sophistication that highlights the height of which tilt-up construction can achieve. Custom murals featuring Michael Jordan’s iconic elephant and camo prints are hand-painted onto the surface, set against a wood plank form liner that adds rich texture and a layered experience for visitors —a bold brand pattern from a distance and a detailed sense of motion up close. Above this tactile base, a black ACM-wrapped crown rises, highlighted by color-changing LED lighting that simulates the energy and motion of a racetrack. The design precision is further underscored by windows and reveals in the panels angled exactly at 23 degrees—a nod to the team’s identity—symbolizing speed, forward movement, and the technical rigor of motorsports.

This project redefines the possibilities of tilt-up concrete construction—not only as a structural system, but as a fully expressive architectural medium. It proves that tilt-up can deliver not just efficiency and durability, but also elegance, complexity, and motion, capturing the relentless innovation and competitive spirit of 23XI Racing.

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

The 23XI Race Shop overcame significant challenges related to schedule, site conditions, and complex tilt-up design to deliver a 114,000 SF facility, 67,000 SF of shop space and 47,000 SF of Class A office, on an aggressive timeline – interior and exterior construction fully complete from ground up in 11 months. Ground broke on February 9, 2023, and despite severe soil remediation issues requiring undercutting and the removal of over 25,000 CY of unsuitable topsoil, the project achieved full occupancy by December 28, 2023, meeting a hard deadline for team operations to begin January 1, 2024. Initial site delays compressed the construction schedule, demanding tight coordination across all trades. The tilt-up panels presented unique challenges as they feature 23-degree angled reveals, form liners, and storefronts - all with extremely tight tolerances. These panels were formed just 1.5" apart and erected at _" spacing. Despite significant site and schedule constraints, the team delivered a highly technical and visually striking world-class tilt-up facility on time and on budget.

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

The 23XI Race Shop featured numerous engineering complexities and design innovations that pushed the limits of tilt-up concrete construction including the speed and sequencing of panel erection. To accelerate the critical steel erection schedule, panels were cast and lifted in three distinct phases, with erection beginning the moment concrete achieved the required compressive strength, demonstrating tight successful coordination and a fast-tracked construction approach. This aggressive schedule was further highlighted by the successful completion of the highway-facing section of the building in time for a high-visibility Memorial Day weekend race, with panel erection beginning just a few days prior.

Architecturally, the panels featured a complex blend of textures and geometries. A wood plank form liner was applied to the bottom half of every panel, requiring exceptional precision during casting to ensure consistent alignment and symmetry across the facade. Diagonal reveals between panels added a second layer of complexity, as their visual continuity depended on exact dimensional accuracy and careful layout coordination from panel to panel. These reveals often intersected with window openings, angled precisely at 23 degrees as a tribute to the team name, requiring high levels of detailing and formwork integration.

Despite their mass and complexity, all panels were successfully erected on the compressed timeline without sacrificing quality or precision. The integration of multiple architectural elements—angled openings, intricate reveals, form liner textures, and large panel weights—combined with the project's accelerated schedule, showcases the high level of engineering and craftsmanship required to deliver this one-of-a-kind tilt-up concrete racing facility.