It used to be elevators were one of the most complicated aspects of constructing a building—now it is the façade and the envelope.” In California, Clark Pacific worked with long-time strategic glass partner, AGA (Architectural Glass and Aluminum) to come up with multiple options. Prefabricated components in the panel include insulation, preglazed punched windows, block-outs for louvers, LED lighting conduits, light strips, and plenum boxes. Their thin-shell Clark Composite Architectural Precast Panels (C-CAPP®) were used to clad the 23-story L.A. Live Marriott hotel, a 295,750-ft2 hotel in Los Angeles, Calif., with 393 units of various sizes. The ability to combine so many systems into one panel in the yard under controlled conditions had a lot of appeal,” says Mike Ryan, director of architectural systems for Clark Pacific. “The jobsite savings on the Marriott project was huge due to preinstalling so much equipment.” TIMING IS EVERYTHING “Ideally when we are brought onto a project at the design development stage, we can design and manufacture a system that meets budget needs with the most aesthetic options,” Ryan says. “The total enclosure and energy system needs to be considered early and as one system, as each part affects others. Too often, concepts are mixed and matched and it creates a busy, inefficient wall system.” “Once the project goals and desired outcomes are set, the panel becomes the design team’s canvas.
Wells Concrete prepares the first mock-up panel after initiating their partnership with Marvin Integrity® windows. Photo: Wells Concrete.
Following our Target Value Design process, we guide the team through design options to meet target values and design determined at the beginning of the project.” Ryan notes, “Adding glass and glazing to our
SCHEDULE “This came about from a desire to compress schedule,” recalls Mo
panel systems allows for the complete integration of
Wright, marketing director with Gate Precast. “That was the initial impetus
the two systems.”
in 2010 when we worked on the Florida International University (FIU)
In the early stages there were some growing pains,
Science Classroom Complex in Miami, Fla.” The FIU project used preglazed
as offering these options requires additional areas
precast concrete wall panels system on the six-story, 136,000-ft2 building.
in the plants where the glazing and caulking would
Before delivery to the site, each precast concrete panel was preglazed,
be performed, as well as the need for more staging
caulked, and inspected.
and storage areas. In addition, a lot of time was
Gate suggested installing windows at the plant to save time and money
spent in R&D, testing various window systems and
on this project. “The idea evolved from the ever-shrinking schedule. Owners
connections.
(public or private) know the faster they can build and complete their
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