PROJECT OVERVIEW

Precast concrete producer Wells collaborated closely with GFF Architects to help realize a façade solution that respects the site’s legacy while meeting modern expectations for performance, durability, and constructability. Positioned just behind the restored historic structure, the new tower is articulated into sculptural vertical “legs” that reduce visual mass and allow daylight to penetrate deeper into the building.

Read more about this project in the Summer 2026 issue of Ascent.

PRECAST SOLUTION

Precast concrete was the ideal choice for the building envelope because of its versatility, allowing for a wide range of shapes, colors, textures, and finishes.

Owner

Hines

Architect

GFF

Contractor

Archer Western

Precast Concrete Producer & Photo Credit

Wells

Key Project Attributes

• Rising 22 stories, the project combines a contemporary mixed-use tower with the careful preservation of the adjacent historic Maple Terrace building, originally designed by Alfred C. Bossom in the late 1920s. The two fast-tracked student housing structures were completed in about 20 months.
• The design references the classic composition and craftsmanship of a historic building while meeting the expectations of modern aesthetics and performance.

Project/Precast Scope

• The 22-story mixed-use structure was originally designed to be a stone building, but the construction team suggested architectural precast concrete due to site constraints.
• Precast concrete also offered factory-controlled manufacturing, which made it ideal for building a high-rise building on a tight construction site while also offering minimal maintenance durability.
• An added advantage was the accelerated construction timeline that provided for speedy structure enclosure as well as significant cost savings for the owner.