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Updated: July 8th, 2008 05:26 PM PDT

Movin' On Up

Tilt-up concrete

Seven Farms Square
The four-story Seven Farms Square project in Charlotte, S.C., meets seismic and storm requirements for the area.
Crossroads
The five-story panels at Crossroads in Madison, Wis., were supported by a complex bracing pattern during construction.
East Lake Point Office Building
Construction of the five-story East Lake Point Office Building in Naples, Fla.

Known for expedient construction time and long-term durability, site cast tilt-up construction structures offer a variety of architectural finishes and lower maintenance, both of which are important attributes to any building owner. With exceptional performance as its goal, it's no wonder why tilt-up construction has an annual growth rate of 20 percent and is used on nearly 650 million sq. ft. of construction every year.

Previously know for its frequent use for one-story buildings, advancements in design and construction have enabled tilt-up concrete projects to reach new heights. Four- and five-story and even higher tilt-up structures are seen with increasing frequency and have many designers considering this highly desirable building method for a broader range of applications.

Owners and architects choose tilt-up for construction projects for many reasons, including savings in cost and time, efficient construction, as well as meeting safety concerns and aesthetics. Providing architects with almost unlimited freedom to arrange and assemble panels, a variety of finishes are also available to ensure that the project meets the owner and architect's visions. Innovative professionals are constantly advancing tilt-up techniques, including researching how to make the system perform even better and exploring new finish techniques. With these advantages and the ever growing benefits, tilt-up creates a finished product that is known for excellence and permanence.

Multistory office construction is a staple in real estate because of the ever decreasing availability of land and ever increasing land value, leading more contractors to pursue these projects in recent years. Schedule and aesthetics are two of the greatest concerns owners have for any office project, so selecting a construction method that meets these challenges is critical for success. As more than just a building shell, the tilt-up system assists contractors in creating the facility both owners and architects desire with speed and cost-effectiveness.

The key to success for any multistory tilt-up project is proper planning. For many multistory tilt-up projects, space for panel forming can be challenging because of the combination of panel heights and quantities relative to the size of the footprint and the complexity of the ground floor systems. However, proper planning will ensure the most efficient layout and will allow contractors to take into account bracing and heavy lifting considerations. Decisions must be considered whether the panels will be designed full height or if the building height will be broken into individual story-height panels. Also popular are designs using combinations of two- and three-story panel heights to achieve the full building height with greater speed and economy.

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