Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1385297
Office complex precast install, Kelowna, B.C. J U N E 2 0 2 1 | 9 Precast Concrete P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY M A R D I N A CO N S T RU C T I O N ; S T U B B E' S P R EC A S T I N C . Precast concrete sector grows due to demand for cost-effective, time-efficient, durable products by ROBIN BRUNET A recent Market Analysis Report calculates that the global pre- cast concrete market was valued at $92.14 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow annually by 5.3 percent from 2021 to 2028. Brian Hall, managing direc- tor of the Canadian Precast Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI), isn't surprised by this estimate and describes precast as one of the most versatile building materials on the market today. In a paper examining precast off-site prefabricated buildings and building enclosure systems, he notes that "total precast concrete building systems are becoming the format of choice for many construction teams," with architectural and structural precast, plus pre- stressed concrete components combined to create the entire building. Hall goes on to note that, "Precast concrete is available in practically any colour, form, and tex- ture. It can also be veneered with other traditional building materials such as brick, granite, limestone, Terracotta, tile, and more." He adds that thin-brick faced precast concrete panels are gaining popularity because "brick-faced panels combine the structural advantages of architectural precast with the esthet- ics of clay masonry without the time and cost of brick laying on site." And then there are ongoing product innovations. "One evolution is installing the window system in the precast concrete panels at the production facil- ity, further decreasing the time required to close in a structure," writes Hall. "The window panels usually include aluminum framing and glass, pre- assembled and caulked, vapour and air tested at the precast concrete fabrication facility prior to shipping to the jobsite, thereby streamlining the installation of the facade. "The speedy erection then allows the contractor to enclose the building sooner, giving the interior trades faster access to a more climate-controlled building to complete the project and in turn reduce financing and insurance costs and allowing for quicker sales and/or occupancy." These last points resonate with Jason Stubbe, sales manager at Stubbe's Precast Inc. He reports that his company is busy from Barrie to Hamilton, and from London to Ottawa, with clients appreciating that virtually any shape can be created or appearance achieved with precast. "For exam- ple, form liners and patterns allow us to create the appearance of clay brick or wood siding, but built right into the panel for much better durability. We've also had great success with multi-tonal stained walls and provided accent colours on two mid-rise apart- ment projects in Guelph earlier this year." Stubbe's has more than 30 years' experience in the precast concrete field across all construction sec- tors, and while Stubbe says building owners enjoy the benefits of precast products such as hollow core floor- ing, structural wall panels, double tees, columns and beams, his company's true specialty is combining all of these elements into a total precast structure. Ignited By Innovation Mid-rise apartment project, Quelph, ON.