Proj Overview

Project Overview

Officials at the Sheldon Heights Church of Christ on Chicago’s South Side wanted to create a home for members 55 or older.

The goal was to create an "anchor" in the West Pullman community to encourage revitalization. But a slow permitting process required fast construction to meet a deadline for receiving city tax credits.

Precast Solution

The tight deadline caused designers to create a total precast concrete structural framing system with a façade consisting of 10-inch-thick load-bearing precast concrete exterior walls with embedded thin brick in two colors. Interior corridor walls feature 8-inch-thick solid precast panels. The floor and ceiling combined components are composed of 10-inch-thick hollow-core plank.

The project was erected in January 2015 and took only 30 days to complete. Interior walls were furred out and infilled with insulation batts. Edges where planks meet walls were covered with insulation to ensure a tight, energy-efficient seal.

 

Project Team

Architect

Paul I. Jensen 

Engineer

K. Eng LLC 

General Contractor

UJAMAA Construction 

Owner

KJ Manor LLP, Chicago, Illinois 

Precaster

ATMI Precast

Key Project Attributes

  • Four-story senior-housing center
  • 63,500 square feet
  • Studio and one-bedroom apartments
  • Amenities including an open lobby atrium, fitness center, community room, walking trail, and an outdoor gazebo

Project/Precast Scope

  • 28,500 square feet of 10-inch-thick solid exterior panels with embedded thin brick and architectural finish.
  • Two bricks used: Endicott Medium Ironspot #77 smooth and Desert Ironspot Light smooth.
  • 18,250 square feet of 8-inch-thick solid interior panels.
  • 5,800 square feet of 8-inch-thick solid stair and elevator shaft panels
  • 58,900 square feet of 10-inch-thick hollowcore plank.
  • Approximately 200 pieces in all.