Project Overview
Lafayette Manufacturing in Hayward, California, played a significant role in producing sculptural panels for the Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco. This project was the largest steel-framed GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) panel installation in the United States at the time. The design required a lightweight panel system that could be supported by the cantilevered floor slab, making GFRC panels the optimal solution.
On the lower floors of the hotel façade, the panels featured large dimensions with deep returns extending back to the glass system. To accommodate this complexity, a three-dimensional steel frame was engineered and fabricated to support both the GFRC panels and the glazing system.
Due to site constraints, the GFRC panels had to be installed from the floor, as there was no access for a truck-mounted crane large enough to handle the installation. To overcome this challenge, a specialized lightweight floor crane was designed and built specifically for the project, allowing for efficient and precise installation directly from the floor.
With Lafayette Manufacturing’s expertise in concrete casting, Parc 55 is a staple piece in San Francisco that preserves the artistic heritage of the city. |