{"id":18612,"date":"2025-09-22T09:49:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T14:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/?p=18612"},"modified":"2025-11-07T09:27:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T14:27:13","slug":"tilt-up-takes-root-in-hawaii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/2025\/09\/22\/tilt-up-takes-root-in-hawaii\/","title":{"rendered":"La construcci\u00f3n Tilt-Up se afianza en Haw\u00e1i"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Por Abbie Stolte<\/strong>, Tilt-Up Concrete Association<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a region known for its natural beauty and construction complexity, a quietly growing tilt-up movement is taking hold in Hawaii. Led by firms like Honolulu Builders LLC and supported by local suppliers like Atlas Sales Co., the method is gaining traction for its practicality, predictability, and untapped design potential. But as several Hawaii-based leaders point out, tilt-up in the islands still faces a fundamental obstacle: It\u2019s not considered soon enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a recent interview with the Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA), four members of the Honolulu Builders team\u2014Dan Jordan (principal), Justin McCarthy (superintendent), Tim Sinn (project manager), and Subbu Venkataraman (principal)\u2014spoke candidly about the opportunities and challenges of delivering tilt-up projects across the Hawaiian Islands. Their experience reflects a common theme: Tilt-up works here, and it works well, but more owners and architects need to understand its full value.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Hanua Warehouse \u2014 At 226,000 square feet with 42 dock doors and 40-foot interior clearance, this project set a state record as the largest tilt-up building in the Hawaiian Islands. Crews also set a performance milestone, erecting 30 panels in just 8 hours\u2014the most panels ever lifted in a single day in Hawaii.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the biggest barriers to tilt-up in Hawaii,\u201d said Jordan, \u201cis that by the time we get involved, the building has already been drawn as steel. Tilt-up doesn\u2019t even make it into the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinn agreed, emphasizing the difficulty of introducing a different delivery method once the documents are well underway. \u201cIt\u2019s a heavy lift to try and shift direction once the design is locked in,\u201d he said. \u201cBut when we do get the opportunity to use tilt-up from the start, the results speak for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Due to Hawaii\u2019s unique terrain, tilt-up offers compelling advantages. Local concrete can be sourced more reliably than imported steel or prefab panels. Self-performing trades improve quality and scheduling. And, in a state where time and logistics are everything, casting panels on-site can help contractors avoid costly shipping delays. McCarthy emphasized the method\u2019s simplicity and control: \u201cIt\u2019s a cleaner process once you\u2019ve done it a few times\u2014it\u2019s faster and more streamlined.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also noted that tilt-up allows for more predictability on-site. \u201cWith some of our larger projects, we knew we were going to hit delays if we waited on structural steel or long-lead imported materials. Tilt-up gave us the control we needed to stay on track.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subbu, a structural engineer by background, pointed to broader implications. \u201cWe need to change the conversation early,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not about just pitching tilt-up after the fact. It\u2019s about being part of the project definition, helping shape the approach from the start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This theme\u2014earlier collaboration, deeper understanding\u2014resonated beyond Honolulu Builders. Gary Camp, president of Atlas Sales Co. Inc., has worked closely with the firm on numerous tilt-up projects. As a regional distributor of Leviat products, brace systems, and Nox-Crete form release agents, Atlas plays a key role in the supply chain. Recently, the company hosted a hands-on open house, pouring demonstration panels to engage new contractors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHonolulu Builders has laid claim to the number one premier tilt-up contractor in Hawaii,\u201d Camp said, noting that others across the state are beginning to embrace the method as well. He pointed to a recent increase in large-scale tilt-up projects under construction and new self-developed facilities opting for tilt-up solutions, which signals a broader shift in the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camp also underscored the importance of contractor education and product support. Atlas works directly with builders to supply not only engineering and shop drawings via Leviat but also hands-on support for brace layout and hardware coordination. \u201cWe\u2019re not just selling product. We\u2019re helping people get it right\u2014especially when things get complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, these efforts point to growing momentum. But the group agrees: For tilt-up to thrive in Hawaii, the local design and development community must recognize it as more than a big-box solution. \u201cThere\u2019s no reason tilt-up can\u2019t be part of the architectural conversation here,\u201d said Venkataraman. \u201cIt\u2019s not a compromise. It\u2019s a choice\u2014with cost, schedule, and design benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArchitects think they\u2019re giving something up when they use tilt-up,\u201d added Jordan. \u201cBut we\u2019ve seen buildings with articulation, window depth, reveals, and all the things they want. If it\u2019s planned well, the results can be beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team at Honolulu Builders is eager to expand that message. McCarthy, who has overseen complex panel layouts in challenging jobsite conditions, sees education as the next step. \u201cWe need to bring more people into this conversation\u2014from the design side, from ownership, from engineering. There are so many ways tilt-up can make projects better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McCarthy also emphasized the company\u2019s leadership role in workforce development. He said, \u201cWe see it as our responsibility to help shape the future of construction in Hawaii,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re working directly with Hawaii\u2019s carpenter apprentice classes, not just to teach the basics, but to introduce the next generation to advanced tilt-up methods. The support we\u2019ve received from the TCA has been instrumental in this effort. Without that guidance and community, we wouldn\u2019t be where we are today\u2014as the state\u2019s leading tilt-up contractor on the forefront of innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the state continues to balance development needs with resource constraints, tilt-up offers a smart, sustainable approach. But its future depends on a cultural shift\u2014one that starts with awareness, education, and early inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The people advancing tilt-up in Hawaii are ready. The question now is whether the broader industry will catch up.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Innovative Seismic Design \u2014 To divide the 1,500-foot building into three independent seismic sections, a massive grade beam was created for the moment frames. Working closely with engineers, a custom metal plate system was designed in CAD, forged, and refined through multiple iterations to ensure the huge columns and panels could move separately during an earthquake. The solution introduced 4-inch gaps in four sections of the structure\u2014an unprecedented approach in Hawaii\u2014while maintaining structural integrity. A parapet was also constructed atop the decking to move with the building.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Kapolei Harborside Warehouse \u2014 Spanning 110,000 square feet with 25 dock doors and a 36-foot interior clearance, this facility delivers modern capacity and efficiency to Hawaii\u2019s growing industrial market.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Por Abbie Stolte, Asociaci\u00f3n de Hormig\u00f3n Tilt-Up. En una regi\u00f3n conocida por su belleza natural y la complejidad de sus construcciones, se est\u00e1 afianzando en Haw\u00e1i un movimiento a favor del hormig\u00f3n tilt-up que crece silenciosamente. Liderado por empresas como Honolulu Builders LLC y Leer m\u00e1s\u2026<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":18942,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[362,352],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18612","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-construction-practices","8":"category-editors-pick"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18612"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18943,"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18612\/revisions\/18943"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tilt-up.org\/tilt-uptoday\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}