What information do we need to give you the most accurate estimate?

By Bill Abel, PE
Preconstruction/Estimator

As the process of bidding a project continues to evolve, we no longer get full sets of drawings delivered to our office, but rather an electronic set of the latest drawings. These drawings are also usually a work in progress. The customer is looking for a price much earlier in the process than in years past.

Since we are getting these drawings earlier in the process, we sometimes are missing some critical information. With the electronic drawings that we typically receive, we are usually able to put a price together even with only basic dimensions. With even just a few dimensions on the document, we can use Bluebeam to scale the drawings and get the dimensions of the areas that we need to price.

In order to completely understand what the architect is trying to achieve, we need not only dimensions, but also building cross sections. Since we are looking at so many unique projects with sloped sites, balconies, mezzanines, etc., we are able to better understand the overall design concept of the building when we have these cross sections.

For load-bearing podium projects, we have the ability to make assumptions about the loading but having the actual loading will ensure that we are using the proper-sized products. The loading demands being put on the precast continues to increase, so making sure we are aware of any design issues that may result in the need for increased product sizes is critical. The increased product sizes will not only have a major impact on the cost, but it may also affect the head height, parking spaces, etc.

When it comes to wall panels, there are several unique items that we require to provide an accurate estimate. Since the appearance of the wall panels can be one of the biggest items determining the price, the desired exterior (painted, sandblasted, form liner, etc.) and interior (float or steel trowel) finishes are critical for an accurate estimate. Does the finish require special cement, pigment, or aggregate? What is the required R-value? Are the panels load-bearing? A 12-foot wide panel is the most efficient size panel for us, so can we adjust the panel layout to be the most efficient?

The more information we receive the more accurate we can be, but by providing the above information we will have the best chance at providing an accurate price.

Interested in learning more about how precast concrete can benefit your next project? Contact us today at sales@msprecast.com.

Precast Offers Solution for Unique Project

When Camosy Construction began work on a project that required transforming an octagon shaped aquatics center into the Zion-Benton Township Career Center, the team turned to precast concrete.

“Hollowcore was decided on pretty early on in the design phase for the second floor deck due to the spans we needed to create for the classrooms on the floor,” said Matt Washkoviak, CPE, LEED AP, Estimator with Camosy Construction. “It’s industrial arts shop classes, so they needed to have big, open, column-free space.”

As the team put their request for bids out pretty early - being familiar with precast lead times - the project was not fully designed when it went out for bid. The Mid-States Concrete Industries Engineering and Design team worked with the architect and engineer of record on the project to complete everything and make sure it was all detailed to work properly for the project’s needs. Mid-States ultimately provided 14,172 square feet of Hollowcore for the project.

Additionally, once Camosy Construction and Mid-States Concrete Industries began working on the project together, the Mid-States team created crane and erection plans for getting the project properly and efficiently installed.

“There were complications that [Mid-States Concrete] identified and brought forth to solve the problem,” Washkoviak said.

Washkoviak said while the project might have looked simple on paper, dealing with an existing octagon-shaped shell provided some challenges. Upfront work was needed to ensure the project would run smoothly once precast was on site.

“There were a lot of meetings, and several onsite with [Mid-States Concrete]… to visualize and conceptualize how to get it done,” Washkoviak said.

And the upfront planning paid off. Ultimately, the job was erected in seven days.

Precast Concrete Provides Acoustical Advantages

Photos courtesy of FGM Architects and ©2020 Darris Lee Harris Photography

When it comes to construction of a new building, one design aspect to consider is sound transmission. Acoustics play a vital role in the design of a building, and in the designer’s selection of materials to build with.

When in the design phase, architects and engineers can determine the acoustical needs of the space and then design the building to satisfy those needs. Within each building, there will be several types of spaces, each requiring its own level of acoustical performance. The building partition (floors, walls, and ceilings) of each space offers a measurable level of privacy from outside noise and the noise from physical impacts. While some surfaces must reflect sound so loudness will be adequate in all areas where listeners are located, other surfaces absorb sound to avoid echoes and sound distortion. Sound is isolated from areas it is not wanted with the appropriate building materials.

Hollowcore plank is often a selected material for the floor and ceiling/roof as it has excellent sound transmission characteristics. Footsteps, dropped objects, slammed doors, and plumbing all generate impact noise. Precast concrete offers natural sound attenuation to dampen noise for a quiet environment. This means, if you are an apartment dweller with units above you, below you, and on either side of you, and your building is constructed with precast, you won’t hear your neighbors’ television, vacuuming, footsteps, shower turning on, or weight-lifting routine.

There are two ways of dealing with sound levels: sound insulation and sound absorption. Materials with heavy mass, like precast concrete, work well with sound. For example, when Wheaton College (Illinois) needed a new concert hall, acoustics was at the top of their focus. Completed in September 2020, Mid-States Concrete Precast Wall Panels were used to create a 650-seat acoustically engineered concert hall, a choral rehearsal room, and grand lobby. Precast was the perfect choice, according to Michael Wilder, Dean of the Conservatory of Music.

“Musicians are easily distracted by sound, so as they hear sounds from other spaces, they get off track and they can’t focus the way they need to and want to,” Wilder said.

The 55 precast concrete wall panels on this project provided the sound barrier necessary for the musicians using this space.

When all is said and done, the common goal of architects, builders and building owners is to acquire as much acoustical performance for the money as possible. This gives value.

Sound Transmission Class (STC) is a numerical rating system on how well a building partition reduces the amount of noise at a given frequency that passes through. The higher the STC, the better the performance of sound insulation. An STC rating of 50 will satisfy most building code requirements. While very loud sounds such as musical instruments or stereos can be faintly heard with an STC rating of 50, 99% of the population is not annoyed by these sounds.

According to AltusGroup, of which Mid-States Concrete Industries is a member, an 8” thick CarbonCast wall panel (wythes of 2” each) with 4” of insulation will provide an STC rating of 52. This rating can be increased by adding more mass to the wall.

Learn more >>

This is where Mid-States Concrete Industries comes in. Precast concrete provides high mass and insulation and can be manufactured in a variety of configurations, shapes, patterns, colors, and styles to meet almost any creative and functional vision. Contact our Preconstruction team today to assist you in finding the best precast solution and maximum acoustical performance for your project.

Email Jeremy Olivotti, Vice President of Preconstruction >>

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Precast Concrete Offers Smooth Construction Process for Junior High School

When the El Paso Gridley school district passed a referendum for the construction of a new junior high school, CORE Construction got to work to get the project completed on time for the 2022-23 school year.

Construction of the project in Gridley, Illinois included an 80,000-square-foot new junior high school, storm shelter, and expanded space for arts and choir students. Mid-States Concrete provided 178 wall panels, one column, and 59 pieces of hollowcore plank and solid slabs to meet the precast needs of the project.

Nicole Shelton, Project Manager with CORE Construction, found several benefits to working with Mid-States Concrete Industries for the project’s precast needs.

”From a coordination and shop drawings process, there is a lot to it, but I think Mid-States did a really nice job coordinating that alongside CORE and working with the MEP trades to make sure we had stuff cast in and openings we needed,” she said. “In terms of installing, it’s very convenient for a construction schedule and getting a building closed in quickly. It allowed us to get enclosed and work inside during the late winter months.”

Additionally, the project management team’s onsite visits ahead of construction were crucial to working through logistics.

”Mid-States was really professional and helpful,” Shelton said. “[They were] on site constantly and easy to reach during the project. All of that helped the project run smoothly.”

Even before a project begins, Shelton appreciates the communication of the Mid-States team. She likes that she can pick up the phone and speak to the preconstruction team with general questions about precast, schedule, how it all works and get the details she needs to help her prepare for future projects.

”I’ve always been impressed by Mid-States’ communication and making sure we are trying to get ahead on issues or anything that may come up in the future,” Shelton said.

Check out a video of the project in progress, shared by El Paso Gridley CUSD 11 >>