Schools and Precast in Urban Environments
/The United States contains over 13,000 school districts that are classified as “urban”. Those districts serve over 49 million students. These school districts have a variety of facilities that require routine maintenance in order to perform efficiently for the student body. As funding and societal issues become more pressing, maintaining a functioning facility is sometimes pushed aside.
School facilities constructed with precast require less maintenance in the long term and are smart investments. Boasting numerous advantages, precast limits the need for ongoing facilities spending and allows districts to direct more funds toward the education of the student.
How does precast help?
Offsite construction
Precast is produced in offsite facilities, thus freeing up space on the job site. Designed and produced in quality controlled environments, schools can rest assured the precast components used to build their facilities have undergone a rigorous inspection.
Quick erection
Because precast is produced offsite, it arrives at the job site ready to be put into place. Precasters understand that schools often require accelerated schedules in order to complete work in between the times when students are present. Precast can be erected in as quickly as a few days depending on the size and complexity of the structure and can be erected in all types of weather.
Blend into surrounding environment
Precast can be designed to match existing or surrounding structures. With a variety of textures, colors, and designs available, precast producers design precast components that help schools blend into urban surroundings or with other buildings on campus.
Less disruption for surround structures
With less personnel and equipment needed to erect precast on site, precast provides less disruptions for surrounding structures and neighbors. Precast is erected quickly meaning loud equipment won’t be on site for long periods of time, thus reducing noise pollution to the surrounding community.
Unique Designs
Schools that wish to add a unique look to their facilities can count on precast to deliver. Precast can be designed in all shapes, sizes, and colors and design details such as text or images can be incorporated into the components through the use of specialized formliners.
Provides Support to Security Efforts
Precast schools provide the advantage of passive security. Through long site lines and secure access points, an impenetrable building that is easier to monitor is achieved.
Along with these specific benefits, precast also offers other benefits to schools such as fire, blast, and storm resistance, as well as mold resistance and superior resiliency and sustainability.
Take a look at some of our additional blogs that illustrate why precast is the right choice for schools.
Case Studies
Charleston Progressive Academy
The Charleston Progressive Academy chose precast to help preserve the historic school which is located in an urban neighborhood and had a tight construction schedule.
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
The Lehigh Valley Charter High School used precast to construct its 83,000 SF facility in downtown Bethlehem, PA. The precast components were erected in January during inclement weather in order to meet the August school opening deadline.
While the focus is on improving the lives of students, schools need not be forced to with continual repairs and renovations. Precast, as a primary building material, offers school designers the option that districts need to stretch budget dollars and provide safe, secure and high functioning structures that meet high demands decades to come.