Press Releases
ICF WALLS: NEW ANSWERS TO HIGH RISE CHALLENGES.
Released: June 01, 2002
ICF WALLS: NEW ANSWERS TO HIGH RISE CHALLENGES.
Building a high-rise office building or condominium has become more challenging in recent years because of changes in the building codes, environmental issues and financial considerations.
Increasingly, developers and general contractors are turning to insulating concrete forms (ICFs) as an alternative to masonry or steel frame construction. A perfect example of this is the Waterside IV condominium project located in Bay Beach, Florida, near Ft. Myers, which is using ICF infill walls.
When developer Robert Claussen, President of Giles Development LLC and general contractor Robert Ambrose, Vice President of Ostego Bay Construction, were preparing to build the fourth of eight planned 11-story condominium buildings in the upscale Waterside development, they were facing several challenges. Because of a shortage of masons in southwest Florida, they were looking for a good, cost-effective alternative to masonry construction, and after doing some research, chose ICF construction for the infill walls.
But having decided to use ICFs, Ambrose then had to find an ICF company that offered the required code approvals, manufacturing capacity and technical support, and a product design that would allow for an EIFS exterior finish. In addition, he had to find an installer with the experience and ability to handle high-rise ICF wall installation. Ambrose found what he was looking for with iForm™ by Reward Wall Systems, and Icon, Inc., an ICF construction company that specializes in high-rise construction.
Reward Wall Systems, Inc. was the first ICF company to obtain universal code approval for Type I non-combustible construction, which is essential for a high-rise building. Reward obtained the code approval in 2001 for their iForm and eForm products when use in conjunction with any one of six leading exterior coatings. Reward also holds all national and major regional code approvals for both products.
After looking at several other ICFs, Ambrose chose iForm because he was looking for a form with no interruptions to impede the flow of concrete in the infill walls. "iForm acts like a removable form, but with much better results," he says. "When I went with iForm and Reward, I had high expectations for the construction and energy efficiency of this project, and Reward easily met those expectations. "I'm very impressed with Reward's people and products, and I feel that these two things, along with Reward's remarkable support services are a great fit for us."
Ambrose also found the installation subcontractor on the project, Icon Southeast, to be indispensable. "I was fortunate to have an ICF installation company with the experience to take on a project of this magnitude. Through their experience they have developed efficient methods to install, brace and place concrete in these infill walls. By completing each floor level in 8 to 10 days, they saved me at least a month of wall construction time. I wouldn't have been able to complete the project without them. I would go so far as to say that if Reward and Icon weren't available, I would go back to building with concrete block."
Located in Omaha, Nebraska, for the past 13 years, Reward Wall Systems, Inc. is the only national distributor of two complete and diversified lines of insulating concrete forms used in residential and commercial structures. Reward's customers include general contractors, residential contractors, concrete contractors and construction supply distributors.
Icon, Inc. serves principally as a subcontractor for the installation of ICF walls on large-scale commercial and residential ICF construction projects. Icon also provides ICF pre-construction services and general ICF consulting services. Icon's customers include developers, general contractors, architects and designers who use or design with insulating concrete forms. To learn more about Icon, Inc. and the benefits of ICF construction, go to www.iconbuilt.com.