Learn about how Mid-States rewards its team for safety through our Safety Nickel Program.
The beauty of precast
Precast innovation powered by collaboration
Iconic aesthetics. Energy efficiency. Superior life safety. That’s the beauty of precast.
As seen in The Architect’s Newspaper.
In 2021, precast concrete has never looked better as a building option thanks to innovations brought to the North American market by AltusGroup and its member partners.
AltusGroup is an international collaboration of advanced precast concrete companies dedicated to speeding up and perfecting the development of precast technologies that improve the built environment. AltusGroup members work together to bring advanced technology to market, then compete against one another for work.
Founded in 2003, under a “co-opetition” model, AltusGroup companies engineer, manufacture, validate, and market precast innovations such as the award-winning CarbonCast line of products, ultrathin and light ARCIS precast prestressed panel technology for rainscreens, and Graphic Concrete technology for placing unique images and distinctive patterns on concrete faces.
AltusGroup’s advanced precast technologies deliver real performance benefits to architects and owners.
Energy Efficiency
Continuous insulation delivered by C-GRID carbon fiber grid shear connectors in CarbonCast enclosure systems allow users to realize the full R-value of insulation and avoid thermal transfer through walls. Less energy is required to heat or cool buildings, and less expensive HVAC equipment can be used depending on specification and design.
Iconic Aesthetics
Precast is the ideal palette to express your aesthetic vision. Choose from a wide range of aggregates and pigments, finish treatments, articulations, formliners, and embedments such as thin brick, tile, terra-cotta, and stone. And you can use Graphic Concrete to impart any image, pattern, or design permanently to the precast face.
Unparalleled Resilience
No building material is more durable or longer lasting than precast. An investment in precast technology and design pays dividends for decades. Your vision lasts longer with precast.
Superior Life Safety
Not only does precast provide exceptional occupant comfort during normal conditions, it is an ideal exterior for extreme weather and a changing climate. Unlike combustible materials such as wood and plastics, concrete is inherently fire resistant. You can rest assured that occupants of your building are safe and secure when surrounded by precast concrete.
Advanced technologies from AltusGroup precasters give you the versatility, performance, and resilience that make precast concrete more viable and valuable than ever before.
Precast Chalk Talk: Episode 20
Join President Hagen Harker and the team to learn about our new bar bender.
14 Reasons You Will Love Precast
In honor of Valentine’s Day on Sunday, February 14 , here are 14 reasons to fall in love with precast concrete.
DURABILITY AND ADAPTABILITY
Precast concrete panels provide a long service life due to their durable, low-maintenance surfaces. Insulated sandwich panels paired with precast concrete construction also provides the opportunity to move and reuse panels to refurbish the building, rather than tear it down, should its use or function change.THERMAL MASS AND ENERGY PERFORMANCE
The thermal mass of concrete allows shifting of peak heating and cooling loads in a structure to help reduce mechanical-system requirements and energy consumption through the building envelope.FIRE AND NATURAL DISASTER RESISTANCE
Concrete is noncombustible and can contain a fire. As a separation wall, precast concrete helps prevent fire from spreading throughout the building or jumping from building to building. Precast concrete is resistant to wind, hurricanes, and floods.AIR INFILTRATION
Precast concrete panels have negligible air infiltration. Minimizing air infiltration between panels and at floors and ceilings will provide a building with low air infiltration. These effects will lower energy costs and help prevent moisture problems.ABUNDANT, LOCAL MATERIALS
Concrete is used in almost every country of the world as a basic building material. Aggregates, about 86% of concrete content, are generally low-energy, local, naturally occurring sand and stone. Most precast concrete plants are within 200 miles of a building site. Using local materials reduces the transportation required to ship heavy building materials, and the associated energy and emissions.INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Concrete contains low to negligible volatile organic compounds. Polished concrete floors do not require carpeting. Exposed concrete walls do not require finishing materials, eliminating particulates from sanding drywall taping seams.MITIGATING THE URBAN HEAT-ISLAND EFFECT
Precast concrete provides reflective surfaces that minimize the urban heat-island effect.RESISTANCE TO NOISE
Precast concrete walls provide a buffer between outdoor noise and the indoor environment.INEDIBILITY
Vermin and insects cannot destroy concrete because it is inedible.SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION
Pieces are cast off-site in a controlled environment and are delivered to you when you need them. The just-in-time delivery to the job site makes effective use of transportation and site access. A small crew can erect thousands of square feet per day and enclose the structure in days or weeks, whether it is the middle of winter, or the middle of summer.VERSATILITY
With a variety of finishes and applications for you to choose from, your dreams can become a reality.STRENGTH FOR HEAVY LOADS
High strength, prestressed concrete structural pieces deliver exceptional load-carrying capacity, which can result in smaller sections, longer spans, or both when compared to other structural systems.QUALITY ASSURANCE
As a PCI-certified plant, Mid-States Concrete performs a litany of concrete tests dictated by both PCI and ACI standards. Additionally, the Quality Department also performs pre-pour and post-pour checks every day on every piece produced by Mid-States.SAFETY (LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST)
“I have been in the construction safety business for nearly 20 years and have worked throughout the United States and I have to say your crew is among the finest I have seen in regards to safe work practices.” – Mark Stanhope, SafeMark Solutions, LLC
Architectural Precast: Finishes - Colors, Forms, and Textures
When Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa undertook an addition project including a gymnasium, locker rooms, auditorium, a music suite, and classrooms, they turned to precast to achieve their desired aesthetic. A custom form liner was used to achieve the desired look. Mid-States Concrete partnered with Conlon Construction and provided Hollowcore Plank and Precast Wall Panels, including multiple finishes and two custom form liners.
Mid-States Concrete offers a variety of finishes, custom form liners, graphic concrete, thin brick and more. While our standard finishes include light acid wash, light sandblast, medium sandblast, heavy sandblast, light water wash, medium water wash, and heavy water wash, our Preconstruction Team is happy to discuss all finish options available for your upcoming projects.
Precast concrete comes in an (almost) unlimited array of colors, forms, and textures. Commonly used finishing techniques used when the precast concrete will remain exposed as part of the aesthetic finish include:
As-Cast (i.e. form finish):
This requires no additional finishing. The surface is left as is, as it comes out of the form.Acid-Etched:
This process uses acid with high pressure water to etch the surface of the concrete. This usually darkens the finish and leaves a sparkle or “sugar-cube” effects.Abrasive Blasted (i.e. sandblasted):
This process uses sand to abrade away the surface. This typically frosts and lightens the surface.Exposed Aggregate (i.e. water wash):
This process uses a chemical surface retarder which is applied onto the forms prior to casting. The chemical retards the set of the cement so that it may be removed (usually by water blasting) the next day. This results in exposure of the aggregate while preserving its natural beauty and texture.Form Liner:
Since precast concrete is cast into forms, a variety of shapes and details can be accomplished in precast concrete. Form liners can also be used, especially when repetitive patterns or unique textures are needed.Thin Brick:
Thin brick can be embedded or cast into precast. Precast offers a faster, more durable, and sustainable method to build with these materials.Graphic Finish:
This technology transfers patterns as a surface retarder via membrane. After concrete is cured and extracted from the form, the retarder is washed away revealing the image.
Mid-States Concrete is a PCI-certified architectural precast concrete producer. Explore examples of our finishes today.