Project Overview
The project's exterior finish was required to simulate large blocks of natural shell stone chiseled out of the ground and stood up in place. Architectural precast concrete was chosen because of its ability to conform to an unlimited amount of design options. The architect was adamant that the finish be consistently inconsistent—a difficult concept for precasters who typically strive for consistency of finish.
Precast Solution
The finish was required to have consistency with regard to the fossils and amount of real shells seen in the panel, but variations in the veinage, porosity, and color uniformity were desired. The innovative finish gave the design team the look they envisioned at a fraction of the cost. Precast concrete also helped buffer highway noise for occupants and provided thermal mass benefits on the southern and western exposures. The finished product was durable and sustainable (real shellstone fades over time), and the aesthetics of the man-made material were virtually indistinguishable from natural shell stone. |