Masonry Magazine October 1971 Page. 6
IMI Launches
(Continued from page 5)
and the double plate glass 33 per cent more. Over the 50-year life of a building, it shows that, for a taxable owner, the ultimate cost of the precast concrete wall is 16 per cent more than for masonry, the metal panel is 21 per cent more, and the double plate glass 217 per cent more.
Copies of "Walls to Save Dollars" may be obtained from IMI, 823 Fifteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.
New System Gains In West
A new type of construction based on a proven concept that's actually centuries old is rapidly gaining considerable attention from architects in Northern California. It has already enjoyed a renaissance in the State of Washington under the capable guidance of Verne Frese, President of Layrite Concrete Products, Seattle. Frese, at a building seminar in Redding earlier this year, explained the method by noting that he had borrowed the idea from a system developed in Europe and used extensively in high-rise buildings there. He has since adapted it to fit American construction dimensions and standards.
The system consists basically of resting specially notched concrete block on each side of reinforced steel joists which from an end view appear shaped like an inverted "T". The "T" joists are laid in place on centers dictated by the length of the block. When all the block are set in place to complete a floor, cement is poured between the rows of block, covering the upright portion of the steel joists and adding a layer of concrete over the entire floor. As a result a monolithic floor is formed. In essence, therefore, this Block and Beam Construction Method uses an easily handled, light-weight building block as a form filler between steel joists to enable a concrete roof or floor to be poured. It gets the job done fast!
The Golden Eagle Restaurant
A prime example of Block and Beam Construction in Northern California is the Golden Eagle Restaurant in Redding, located at Court and Butte Streets opposite the Courthouse. It more than exemplifies the virtues of the Block and Beam system, first, because the completed floor spans are 38 feet which is considerably wider than usual, and secondly, the Block and Beam floor doubles as a roof parking lot!
Architect Raymond L.. Birge, who designed the restaurant, first considered poured concrete pan joist construction and precast, prestressed concrete panels to do the job. However, after reviewing the advantages of Block and Beam, particularly speed of construction by using local people on the shoring and setting blocks obtained from a local source, he decided on this method. As part of this review, Birge and his client went to Seattle, checked out some of that area's completed buildings and engineering information. After checking cost data he concluded that Block and Beam was certainly no more costly, in fact perhaps more economical than either poured-in-place or pre-stressed concrete. Birge noted that Redding is in a Zone 2 Earthquake zone, therefore safety factors under these circumstances were important considerations. He also pointed up the importance of both the "dead load" as well as the (Continued on page 23)
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masonry • October, 1971