New Natural Resources Headquarters

Rammed earth precast panels

The Rammed Earth precast panels were selected by AC Martin to be a solid base for the high-rise tower to sit on, providing an aesthetically pleasing and functional rain screen. The team wanted to design a focal architectural item that both incorporated the soil from the project site and utilized a small business that could benefit greatly from being part of the iconic building. Sequencing these custom panels was a complexity the design team overcame with a transposed design along the same elevation. Each panel in a single elevation was molded so the sightlines from panel to panel had the same starting point as each panel in that elevation. This, coupled with a fabrication schedule that was maintained one month ahead of construction, allowed the field team to accommodate modifications or repairs of the custom panels without slowing installation. Although panels could be rearranged within the elevation, specific penetration coordination was completed during the modeling process for cameras, outlets, fire department connections, etc. The prework described above was imperative to the success of a speedy installation that was performed as late as possible, to avoid any inadvertent damage to the custom panels.