Precast Concrete: Making the Most of Tight Spaces
/There are a lot of reasons why it’s sometimes necessary to squeeze a structure into a tight space. Given the choice, designers and contractors would not choose to be faced with constructing a project in close confines. However, there are times when a choice of locations is not an option and the challenge must be tackled. Some reasons for building in a cramped location might include:
Rebuild/replace a demolished structure in original location
Expansion of an existing structure
Prime location for business/industry/tourism etc
With growing popularity, the construction industry is looking towards the use of precast concrete building components to solve or lessen the issues of working within a small area. Precast concrete as a primary building material for a project brings advantages no other material can match.
Along with the favorable manner in which precast concrete meets the needs of a small project area are some well known benefits of offsite manufacturing such as:
Produced in a quality controlled/quality inspected environment
Not at the mercy of weather related delays/cancellations
Consistent, high quality is achieved with each piece
Trucked to the jobsite when needed
In the PCI Gulf South region and other regions across the US, PCI certified producers know how to work in tight urban spaces while still providing a quality product to our clients. Below are a few examples of completed projects there were erected in confined spaces.
WWII Museum in Downtown New Orleans
University of Mississippi North Parking Structure
Campbell Sports Complex at Columbia University
The difficulty of building in a confined space cannot be minimized regardless of what building material is selected, but precast concrete products are particularly versatile and flexible. With careful planning/scheduling/sequencing/crane coordination, incredible structures have been created in some extremely challenging spaces using PCI certified precast concrete building materials.