Project Overview

In creating a new 17,100-square-foot field house connected to the existing building, Boylan High School administrators wanted to produce a unified appearance that could be constructed quickly and economically.

Precast Solution

Designers specified load-bearing insulated precast concrete panels with a formliner that stamped a brick pattern onto the panels’ face. Multiple stains were used to replicate the adjacent building’s appearance.

“The load-bearing panels eliminated the need for other structural steel and removed column obstructions,” explains Joseph Winklemann, architect and principal at Larson & Darby Group, the architects on the project. “The formliner design saved significant expense in the overall project budget.” The design was used on the public-facing sides of the building, while buff-colored panels were used on the others.

Only a few mockup panels were needed to find the final combination. “People are astounded to learn the panels aren’t brick,” says Kevin Gugliuzza, project manager for Scandroli Construction.

Owner

Boylan High School, Rockford, Ill.

Precast Producer

Mid-States Concrete Industries, South Beloit, Ill.

Architect

Larson & Darby Group, Rockford, Ill.

Engineer of Record

Larson & Darby Group, Rockford, Ill.

General Contractor

Scandroli Construction, Rockford, Ill.

Precast Specialty Engineer

Mid-States Concrete Industries, South Beloit, Ill.

Key Project Attributes

• 17,100-square-foot building
• Two basketball courts for athletic practice and physical-education classes

Project/Precast Scope

• 65 precast concrete wall panels encompassing 21,635 square feet.
• Panels extended to top of footings, eliminating most perimeter foundation walls.
• Off-site casting cut congestion and minimized disruption to school activities.
• Existing gym allowed work to proceed without tight scheduling restrictions.
• Some panels provided fire-wall isolation between new and existing buildings.
• Some panels were designed to allow for easy expansion during Phase II, planned for the future.