USF MAGNOLIA HALL

Background

Coreslab Structures (TAMPA) Inc. provided design-build services as the precast manufacturer for the team led by Peter R. Brown Construction for the new University of South Florida Magnolia Residence Hall in Tampa, Florida.

A Gould Evans Associates Design, the USF Magnolia Hall is innovative and comprised of 4 seven-story towers, and one six-story tower, connected by a single-story lobby, which includes a clear span double tee measuring 98′ long, providing a portal into the residence community.  The project consisted of a 360,000 SF multi-level structure, housing suites for 1,050 students, student support spaces, laundry facilities, common student lounges, living/learning centers, study areas, a 300-seat dining facility, as well as cooking, serving preparation, freezers, coolers, and loading area.

Many designers are specifying precast concrete components because of their structural flexibility.  Some of the design options include long clear spans like the ones used in this project, which reduce the number of columns, create more open areas and reduce below-grade foundation costs.  By eliminating structural columns with long clear spans, foundation costs can be reduced by as much as two-thirds of structural steel or CIP structures.

Another innovative idea used to reduce cost and increase energy efficiency in this project was the use of insulated load-bearing wall panels. With the walls being load-bearing, the need for a perimeter column beam line was eliminated. The R13 insulation value created a reduction of mechanical equipment by $300,000 and with the interior of the wall panels being a hard steel trowel finish, furring of the interior of the exterior walls was eliminated.

On this project, 1 month was lost during the foundation work due to sinkholes on the site.  The precast erection team was able to make up the time by reducing the construction schedule from 26 to 22 weeks through increasing production capacity and erecting more product each day.