Masonry Magazine December 1978 Page. 25

Words: Don Reichert, Joseph Vandermerwe
Masonry Magazine January 1978 Page.25

Masonry Magazine January 1978 Page.25
Concrete Masonry Saves Time, Money on Air Force Project

A building project near Ogden, Utah, which had been scheduled to be completed this year, was finished nearly a year sooner at considerable savings thanks to the use of concrete masonry instead of tilt-up concrete panels.

Here is the story, as related by Don Reichert, executive director of Utah Masonry Research & Promotion, Salt Lake City:

"The project was the Logistical Supply Building at Hill Air Force Base. The bid opening was held in spring, 1976, with the successful general contractor being Weyer Construction Co. and the mason contractor, Western States Masonry, both of Salt Lake City. To give you some idea of the size of the building, it could contain seven football fields totalling 400 feet wide by 1,372 feet long. Under roof are over 12 acres comprising 548,800 square feet.

"The original plans called for the building to be constructed entirely of tilt-up concrete (interior and exterior), but after the contract was awarded the building was value-engineered. (Value engineering is a government program whereby if a contractor can see where savings can be realized, he obtains 50% of the resulting savings.)

"According to Joseph Vandermerwe, the project manager, Weyer Construction recognized that two major savings could be realized by: 1) changing the concrete double-T roof system to steel joists, and 2) changing from tilt-up concrete walls to concrete masonry construction.

"Of the total contract of $8.25 million, the Corps of Engineers were quoted a savings of about $1 million to change the roof system and use concrete masonry on the entire project. They also accepted concrete masonry units on the interior walls for another savings of approximately $500,000. This work, among other things, contained six walls 400 feet long and 28 feet high for fire and seismic stability.

"Weyer Construction says they completed the building some 10 to 12 months sooner than if tilt-up construction had been used throughout."


NEW MCAA EDUCATIONAL COURSES FOR 1979
See Page 19 This Issue


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Interior view of Hill Air Force Base Logistical Supply Building.

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MASONRY/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, 1978 25


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