For most building projects, initially there is a time consuming process during which the architect researches different building materials and then recommends a system to the owner that would best complement the needs of the project. The new Watts Electric Company Office/Warehouse/Shop was not one of those projects.  The owner has over thirty years of experience as a successful electrical contractor, during which he has seen and worked with every type of building material imaginable. So when he decided to build a new, state of the art building to meet his businesses’ growing needs for today and into the future, he knew exactly what he wanted to use – precast/prestressed concrete insulated load bearing walls.

His new building houses a diverse mix of specialty areas which include two stories of high end offices for project managers, administrative personnel, and training.  It also contains a large warehouse along with a shop area that incorporates a staging area, maintenance bays and a washout bay.

While precast concrete’s versatility easily met the different needs required by each area, it also proved to be beneficial with its innate characteristics, one of which being that it is a non-combustible material.  A one hour separation was required between the shop and warehouse and a two separation was required between the office and shop.  Not only did the precast walls provide the required fire ratings, they far surpassed them naturally, without having to do anything special to achieve the requirements.

The variable finishes of precast concrete also allowed for the different architectural looks that were desired – an industrial look for the shop area which then had to seamlessly transition into an upscale facade for the office area along same exterior wall.  The durability of precast concrete is extremely valuable in the shop/service/washout areas and it delivers trouble-free maintenance.  The shared precast wall between the office and shop not only serves as a firewall but also makes the bustling shop virtually silent to the office personnel.  The same is true for the exterior walls as the structure is in close proximity to the noisy I-80 corridor but you would never know it once you step into the building.

Other benefits provided by the precast walls are thermo efficiency and a thermo-mass effect.  This is most noticeable in the shop area where large overhead doors are regularly opened and closed but the thermo-mass effect of the interior wythe of concrete enables the shop area to quickly and efficiently get back to its set temperature.

In the end, a well-informed owner made the wise choice to use precast/prestressed insulated wall panels that will benefit him, his employees, and his company for generations to come.