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Load-bearing concrete block is delivering a cost-effective, fire-safe solution in Lynchburg, VA for the University of Lynchburg’s Westover Hall.  Named for the school’s first building and for the Westover Honors College, which it houses, Westover Hall — the university’s largest building — was dedicated in October of 2019.

At nearly 90,000 square feet, the four-story building is constructed with load-bearing concrete block walls and precast concrete plank flooring. Westover features 140 bedrooms, 92 bathrooms, four balconies, a rooftop terrace, classrooms, and faculty offices. It also houses two residential learning communities — one for Westover Honors students and one that allows students to explore spirituality, mindfulness, and wellness together.

Kristen Cooper, associate dean of students, said the design of the building focused on flexibility, collaboration, accessibility, and student needs, including private study space, active learning classrooms, and an outdoor classroom.

Robust, Durable, and Structural

Block was chosen because it is “robust, durable, and structural,” according to architect Jason T. Burger of Dominion Seven Architects, Lynchburg, the firm that designed Westover. “The university wanted a longstanding building — something with a lifespan of 50 years or better. With college students living in the facility, they wanted surfaces that would stand up to the abuse of the residents. Fire containment was of paramount concern. We wanted to use hollow-core precast plank flooring. So it made sense to use concrete masonry because of its structural properties.”

Students provided input on the design.  Davion Washington, 21, a Westover Honors student and president of the Student Government Association, said he was invited to sit in on a meeting with the architects to envision the facility. “My peers and I provided suggestions and feedback. Our input was accepted. We felt included.”

The building is clad with a combination of red and gray brick veneer, accented with two different colors of fiber cement siding, allowing it to blend with the older buildings on the campus while projecting a welcoming, modern feel. Many interior walls also feature exposed masonry, some with precast concrete coping. The block for Westover was supplied by NCMA-member Boxley Materials in Lynchburg. The mason contractor was Holman Masonry, Farmville, VA. The general contractor was Jamerson-Lewis Construction of Lynchburg.

A Cost-Effective Solution

William Cook, president of Jamerson-Lewis, was the project manager for the Westover construction.  Cook said he wishes more buildings of this type were constructed with load-bearing block and precast plank flooring. “It’s a very cost-effective system for a building of this type. It goes up relatively quickly. It’s a strong, durable system that provides unrivaled fire protection. It’s really simple to deal with.”

“For this type of building — a residence hall — having floor-to-floor fire separation was critical.  Almost all of the block is 12-inch, which worked well. The larger units went in almost as quickly as standard units. They allowed for easier grouting and provided greater tolerance in terms of placing the precast flooring,” Cook said.

University of Lynchburg President Dr. Kenneth R. Garren said Westover is “not just a dormitory.” Even ‘residence hall’ fails to fully describe what we hope it will be. It will be home to thousands of students over the coming decades.”

A combination of split face and ground face concrete block, supplied by Basalite Concrete Products, is helping Denver’s 2020 Lawrence stand up to the rigors of its urban environment— providing an upscale aesthetic and setting an example for sustainable residential redevelopment throughout the region and the country.

The carefully chosen colors and textures of the concrete masonry help frame the 12-story urban highrise against its downtown environment and the surrounding Rocky Mountains. Exquisite architecture, mixed with thoughtful, contextual design helped win the community a Mayor’s Design Award in 2013. It’s continued good looks are a testimony to the durability and versatility of concrete masonry.

Block Supplies the Right Aesthetic and Much-Needed Durability

“I was trying to achieve an art deco style in the building,” said architect John Gagnon of JG Architects Inc. The use of stucco was just not going to be an option. We needed a material that was durable and good looking— because the neighborhood was fairly rough at the time we built. Brick was not right because the units were too small. So we went with block. Alternating between split face and ground face allowed us to play with different textures and colors and allowed us to get the look we wanted.”

While the building’s main structural support is provided by pre-stressed concrete, there are also some load-bearing block walls on the interior. Exposed ground face block can be seen on the interior in the complex’s fitness center.

The block went up smoothly, according to Gagnon. “It actually went really, really well because the general contractor stepped up to the plate and selected a good masony contractor, Gallegos Masonry. It went really smoothly and they did a really nice job.”

A Concrete Masonry Envelope for a LEED Gold Project

“Transitioning columns of colored lights beckon young (and young at heart) Denverites to see and be seen on the rooftop deck. This LEED Gold Arapahoe Square space gives off a distinctively urban vibe, and leaves no stone unturned in its mission to be green,” Denver’s Mayor Michael Hancock said when he cited the project for the Mayor’s Design Award.

And this is one green building. The sleek concrete masonry exteriors are just the beginning of smart living at 2020 Lawrence. The interiors boast Energy Star stainless steel appliances with a rooftop photovoltaic solar array that generates power for the building. The building’s developers estimate that the structure’s energy-efficient design saves tenants as much as 50 percent on utility costs. 2020 Lawrence helps prove that green, sustainable design can go hand-in-hand with luxurious residential living—and that concrete masonry fits right in with these ideas.

“This project really has become a model that the city of Denver has used with other developers to show what is possible in terms of beautiful, sustainable downtown redevelopment. I’m very proud of it.” Gagnon said.

More than 450,000 high-strength and standard concrete block form the backbone of Villanova Commons, a new student housing complex opened in the fall of 2019. The Commons can house 1,135 Villanova University students at the school’s Philadelphia campus.

Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and Voith & Mactavish Architects, the six-building, 425,000-square-foot project began construction in November 2015 and was completed by June 2019. In addition to apartments, the Commons features an on-campus restaurant, a coffee bar, a fitness center, six community rooms, four courtyards, and a 3,800-foot TechZone. The Commons was built to LEED standards and includes a system to capture and reuse stormwater runoff to help cool buildings, along with four rain gardens and a variety of other green building systems.

Built to last

“The floor system is hollow-core precast plank. Precast plank and block is a tried and true system”, said Eric Humes of Macintosh Engineering, the civil engineering firm on the job. “These buildings are dorms, and the university built them to last,”  Humes, the project engineer said. The masonry, he said “was a massive undertaking, with a tight schedule, but it went well.”

And that’s saying something, according to Nick Sabia, president of D.M.Sabia Co.,  the mason contractor on Villanova Commons. “The brick and stone unions have told us Villanova Commons is the largest masonry project to date in the Philadelphia Area.” Rocky Fizzano of block supplier Fizzano Brothers Concrete Products in Philadelphia, echoed Humes’s and Sabia’s comments. “At Villanova, they wanted buildings that will be around a long time. So they chose loadbearing concrete masonry.”

In addition to 450,000 high-strength and standard concrete block, Villanova  Commons required 5,000 tons of fieldstone, 28,000 cubic feet of cast stone, 140,000 face brick, 7,000 paving brick, and 113,000 cubic feet of colored and regular mortar.

Old-School Quality and Coordination With Other Trades

“This was a load-bearing masonry project. So once the foundations were completed, the immediate erection of the block walls was critical to the installation of the precast plank floors. At times we had over 150 workers on site laying block, installing rebar, grouting, and installing cast stone and fieldstone,” Sabia said. “We had over 50 stonemasons on this project at its peak. We used five different size cranes, ranging from four-ton to 70-ton capacity, and five 10,000-pound-capacity forklifts. We had 1,300 linear feet of platform scaffold running five stories high. And like the schedule, the site was extremely tight, Deliveries had to be coordinated with other trades, and laydown areas were at a minimum.”

The project demanded “old school quality,” according to Sabia. “We had separate crews for each component (insulation, block, fieldstone, and cast stone) to keep the workmanship consistent. This was a monumental task to complete on schedule and we are extremely proud to have been involved.”