Project Overview
Encompassing more than 85,000 ft2, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Pensacola Regional Operations Center is an impressive, two-story facility featuring a multipurpose assembly area, offices, a ballistic-rated entrance lobby and mailroom, forensic laboratories, and more. The structure, which is also known as the James T. Moore Building, replaces the original operations center—a converted school that stood for more than a century. With limited usable space and significant damage sustained during Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the original facility was in desperate need of replacement. To meet the goals of the project, which included an expedited construction schedule and cost savings, the owner, engineering firm PTAC, and GATE Precast chose precast concrete.
Ample Precast Concrete, Ample Advantages
Initial plans for the project called for a steel-framed structure. However, the owner, contractor, and design team pivoted late in the design and production document phase, choosing a total precast concrete structure and exterior wall system to reduce both costs and construction time. Specifically, procurement time was decreased by 12 weeks, allowing erection to begin roughly 3 months earlier than what would have been possible for steel construction. Additionally, the amount of time to enclose the structure in precast concrete was shorter. Overall, precast construction saved 5 months of time on the project.
Crews installed 869 precast concrete components, including columns, double tees, hollow-core, girders, beams, and wall panels. The exterior sandwich panels provided a finished wall system as well as thermal mass and insulation, which helped the building meet R-value performance targets and achieve its required Energy Star rating. The exposed concrete is also moisture resistant and offers a durable, low-maintenance surface that is ideal for a busy office environment. Additionally, the interior and exterior wall surfaces of precast concrete panels can accept a variety of finishes, giving designers a range of aesthetic options.
By using a total precast concrete approach to accelerate construction and overcome design challenges, the project team ensured that the James T. Moore Building will best serve occupants now and in the future.
Mason Nichols is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based writer and editor who has covered the precast concrete industry since 2013. |