Steady enrollment growth at the Metro Deaf School in St. Paul, Minnesota, created a need for additional space. The administration decided to add an extension to the original facility, to include additional classrooms and a full gymnasium, which could double as a storm shelter when the weather turns dangerous.
To meet the expansion requirements, the architectural team specified County Prestress & Precast’s Insulated Wall Panels and Hollowcore, which provide several structural benefits to the occupants of the facility.
The designers specified insulated wall panels for their strength, durability, and easy installation. Each panel is composed of two prestressed concrete walls, with a layer of continuous insulation sandwiched between them. This helps maintain comfortable indoor temperatures while improving energy efficiency. Produced to project-specific dimensions, with cast-in openings for doors, windows, and technical access, the panels were installed in a ship lap pattern to enhance thermal performance and structual integrity.
Hollowcore planks were also specified for strength, durability, and easy installation, as well as for their light weight. Hollowcore planks are also fabricated from prestressed concrete, and incorporate continuous tubular voids throughout each plank. As a result, they provide high load capacity while weighing less than many alternative structural systems. This increases useable space in a structure by reducing the need for load-bearing columns and walls, making them ideal for a gym and storm shelter.
The school administration scheduled the installation of the structure during Spring Break to avoid disrupting classes. It was easily completed in less than a week. Today, the addition provides a durable, long-term solution for this growing facility.
See how insulated wall panels and hollowcore form the structure of the facility: https://www.countyprestress.com/projects/insulated-wall-panels/metro-deaf-school