Beacon Pointe

Codina Development Corporation of Coral Gables, Florida, wanted a class A structure with the quality and design complexity generally associated with precast, but on a tighter schedule and budget.

The result was two Tilt-Up construction firms working together to complete this 102,732 sq. ft. building at a cost of $57 per square foot.

The Tilt-Up subcontractor was Woodland Construction Co. of Jupiter, FL. Woodland concentrated on proper construction procedures and finishes, and turned to ProDeCon, LLC, of Norcross, GA, to design and detail the Tilt-Up panels. ProDeCon provided coordinated field drawings, including all geometry, reinforcing, embeds, lifting and bracing design.

By working together, these two firms were able to further shorten the time needed to construct such a distinctive and quality building.

The four-story building is full of windows. Panels nearly sixty feet tall had to be built, with more open area than solid. Each panel weighed in excess of 125,000 pounds. Due to the large size of the panels and the relatively small footprint of the building, all panels were cast on laser screeded casting beds.

For economy, and to allow the elimination of exterior columns, the Tilt-Up wall panels supported all of the elevated precast floors and roof framing. This required that all of the panels be braced to the exterior of the building, allowing the interior precast framing to be erected without obstruction.

The architectural detail of this building was created by recessing the windows and forming in faux ornamental pier caps. The entrance is a recessed Tilt-Up supported wall of glass a story higher than the rest of the building.

Three dimensional surface effects were used extensively. Of special note is the distinctive treatment of the ground floor of the building, where precast stacked stone panels were stacked outside and against the Tilt-Up walls. Angled "support" columns on the ground floor only add interest at the eye level.

Adding to the classy appearance of this property, all exposed corners were mitered which, considering the height of the panels, required that the mitered edge be formed to extremly tight tolerances.

The building was completed in June, 1999.