Union Middle School is a 218,642-square-foot middle school located in Sandy, Utah, serving the Canyons School District. The two-story facility received an Excellence award through the Tilt-Up Achievement Awards program in recognition of its disciplined application of tilt-up concrete construction under challenging conditions. While the exterior expression minimizes visible tilt-up, the system is featured prominently throughout the interior, where panels serve as the final architectural finish in corridors, the gymnasium, and the auditorium.
Rather than concealing the concrete structure, the project intentionally exposed tilt-up panels as an architectural material experienced at close range. Interior finishes included exposed aggregate, raw and sealed concrete, staining, formliners, and articulated reveals. This approach emphasized surface quality, craftsmanship, and durability while allowing the structural system to contribute directly to the character of primary learning and assembly spaces.
Tilt-up construction was selected in response to labor availability challenges and cost volatility associated with traditional concrete masonry systems. By shifting significant portions of the structure to tilt-up, the project team reduced reliance on masonry trades while maintaining material continuity across major programmatic areas. Post-applied exterior insulation was incorporated where required to meet performance objectives without compromising architectural intent.
Construction progressed through a record-breaking winter and during a period of unprecedented labor and material shortages. Panel erection presented significant challenges due to the building’s scale and sequencing requirements. Comprehensive three-dimensional modeling was used to plan every panel lift and brace location, enabling precise coordination of erection activities within tight site and schedule constraints. This level of preplanning proved essential to maintaining progress and ensuring safe execution.
Union Middle School demonstrates how tilt-up construction can be effectively integrated into complex educational programs while addressing labor uncertainty, schedule risk, and long-term performance. By employing tilt-up as an exposed interior finish and relying on advanced modeling to manage erection complexity, the project contributes a repeatable approach for institutional buildings seeking durability, constructibility, and resilience.
Project Credits
Owner: Canyons School District
General Contractor: Hughes General Contractors, Inc.
Concrete Contractor: Hughes General Contractors, Inc.
Photographer: Jared Kenitzer
This article was generated based on content submitted during the Tilt-Up Achievement Awards program.
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