Press Releases
ICFs PROVE TO BE COST EFFECTIVE FOR ARMED FORCES CENTER
Released: May 01, 2005
ICFs PROVE TO BE COST EFFECTIVE FOR ARMED FORCES CENTER
When architect William Murray of URS Corporation was asked to design the Florida Armed Forces Reserve Center, a multi-use military facility located in Pinellas Park, (St. Petersburg) Florida, he was directed to incorporate energy efficiency, green building materials and force protection into the design.
"Since September 11th, all military buildings must have force protection built in," explained Murray. "ICF construction was the most cost effective way to achieve that. Masonry construction would require reinforcement in every block at a cost 25% greater than the cost for ICF construction."
The project's general contractor, Hunt Construction Group of Tampa, chose Icon, Inc., located in Ft. Myers, as the ICF subcontractor because of their experience with large-scale ICF projects, such as the Waterside high-rise condominiums. Icon recommended Reward's iForm for the project.
Murray said that the iForm was a good choice because the form design made for quicker installation, provided more flexibility in the design, and made application of the finishes easier.
"For example, we were able to line all the warehouse walls with gypboard, because it is fully supported on the ICF walls. Ordinarily gypboard would not be an acceptable interior finish, because it is too easy to punch holes through when it is fastened to steel joists," he said.
Murray also liked the cost savings that came from being able to apply the ICF synthetic stucco exterior coating directly to the forms.
The cost savings associated with the speed of ICF construction also impressed Project Manager Stan Shaw of Hunt Construction Group. Shaw maintained that if concrete block had been specified, the project would be at least a month behind where it is now. He said that the military representatives are extremely pleased with the progress so far, and never thought the project would be this far along this fast.
"After overcoming the challenges and learning curve of working with a product new to us, I would certainly use Reward again. The project has gone very smoothly."
President Ed Storm spoke about the significance of this project for Reward and for the ICF industry.
"This was a very complicated, but also a very important project," he said. "The federal government is looking at alternative building products that provide lower life cycle costs and more durability. There is a potential for a very large inventory of projects for ICF construction."
Of building with the iForm, Hunt Construction Group Project Director Michael Savidakis said,
"This is a fairly simple system with great potential for future projects. ICF provides opportunities with skilled and unskilled labor resources, yet maximizes efficiency of cost and schedules."
The facility is actually three separate buildings totaling 140,000 total square feet. The ICF structural walls for the center building are 44 ½ feet high, and for the two peripheral buildings 18 feet high. A late summer 2004 completion date is expected.