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DESIGNING WITH PRECAST
INSIGHT EVOLVING AND CHANGING PRECAST CONCRETE Michael D. Moss, president of the Society for College and University Planning, shared perspectives and insights about the state of construction in higher education with Ascent. What are the important current trends occurring now in higher-education construction?
MICHAEL D. MOSS PRESIDENT
THE SOCIETY FOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PLANNING
We’re seeing more alternate delivery methodologies from design-build, construction manager at risk (CMAR), P3 [public-private partnership], and increasing interest in integrated project delivery (IPD). We expect to continue seeing tight budgets, emphasis on energy conservation, and attention to life-cycle costs. There’s greater collaboration earlier in the project design phase between the contractor and architect as they take a more integrated approach to how buildings and systems work together to create innovative, technology-rich, and sustainable environments. Higher education is trying to keep up with changing ideas and approaches for teaching and learning. Interdisciplinary partnerships are on the rise. Building flexibility is a common theme today across all project types. Systems and room layouts must morph and change as academic needs evolve. There are more “loft-like” spaces with longer clear spans to allow for a rich variety of space sizes, configurations, and technical ability. The future could see the integration of tech space or manufacturing that meets the needs of NASA, BMW, or other companies or initiatives. Other important higher-education construction issues include building systems that can be remotely controlled, buildings that are resilient in this time of increasingly turbulent weather patterns, and computer models that can predict the performance of buildings under different conditions. Clients are looking to future-proof their buildings.
How does precast concrete fit into this equation? How can the industry better meet the needs of the higher-education sector? Precast concrete technology has evolved and changed to meet the aesthetic demands of architects. Coloration, profile, and texture can be manipulated with precast concrete panels to create new and innovative façades that meet functional requirements, value-cost demands, and design expectations. Any material must be easy to maintain and clean but attractive to students. Consider warming up the color and utilizing radiant flooring as an asset, especially in populated areas. Think about how materials can be locally produced to help shorten the construction duration, make it more sustainably produced, and reduce the amount of labor required to install. Also, consider ways that materials and assemblies can help make more flexible and adaptable buildings, and expand the opportunity for change after the building is constructed.
The Society for College and University Planning develops individual and organizational planning capacities to strengthen and transform institutions of higher education. For more information, visit www.scup.org.