University of South Florida building tops decorative concrete list
by Katie Daniel | February 12, 2016 2:07 pm
Photo courtesy DCC
The Decorative Concrete Council[1] (DCC) named the University of South Florida (USF) Polytechnic 555 building as the best overall project at its Decorative Concrete Awards.
The building, located in Lakeland, Florida, represents innovative design in architectural concrete by Santiago Calatrava and Festina Lente. The elliptical-shaped structure highlights 16 exposed concrete raker portals. The two main entrances begin with perimeter architectural concrete columns that connect to each portal, which support the roof and tie into an oval concrete skylight that illuminates the grand entry. The column portals in the main building are spaced out 2.4 m (8 ft) on center in curving out layout and frame the endless hallway, supporting the perimeter’s second story. The shape of these portals required triangular bracing between two columns, using self-consolidating concrete (SCC) to monolithically pour.
During construction, the retaining walls with integral seating caps were the first to be created. These walls define the building’s perimeter and are 1.6 km (1 mi) in length. After the columns were constructed, the second-level elevated beams and slabs were completed, followed by polished concrete ground floor slabs.
Baker Concrete Construction received the award at World of Concrete in Las Vegas on Feb. 2.
- Decorative Concrete Council: http://www.ascconline.org/decorative-concrete-council/overview
Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/university-of-south-florida-building-tops-decorative-concrete-list/