ONLINE EXCLUSIVE expanded Content for: Valley SouthwoodS high SChool Career and teChniCal eduCation addition Sheltering for StormS The precast concrete panels decrease in size as they run along the front of the building. Photo: AJ Brown Imaging. ed locations there are also acid-etched precast concrete panels with a charcoal color and texture that catch the sunlight. The new construction is meant to stand out from the exist-ing structure in both function and design. To set off the addition, both shadow and relief were incorporated into the charcoal-gray prefabricated wall panels. The precast concrete panels decrease in size as they run along the front of the building. The insulated panels vary in thickness. The largest is a total of 14 in., which includes an 8-in. panel front wythe, 3 in. of extruded insulation, and 3 in. of concrete on the back wythe. “The char-coal-gray panels had to be augmented to accommodate the deep relief of the custom formliner,” describes Andrew Scholten, sales representative at Wells. The precast concrete panels provide shadow and crisp relief with sufficient concrete cover in contrast to adjacent pieces that were recessed 1 in. The panels have an av-erage R -value of 16, exceeding the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers’ requirements for mass walls. Coordinating the variety of programs in a CTE project is chal-lenging. Current and future programs must be considered to al-low adequate space for agriculture, robotics, and wood working. Kleene describes the process as “thinking outside of the box for this high-volume space.” In addition to the standard laboratory space, there is also a conference room for students to practice their soft skills with the option for mock interviews or pitching their inventions to local With a total of 125 tornadoes across Iowa in 2024, safe rooms and storm shelters are becoming more mainstream in public schools. Storm shelters in schools are de-signed and constructed according to the ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters (ICC 500). To meet this standard, buildings must withstand a wind speed of 250 mph and the impact of wind-blown debris. “Precast concrete lends itself to storm shelters, especially in Iowa,” says Seth Fal-con, project engineer at Wells. At Valley Southwoods, the precast concrete wall panels and double-tee roof in the assem-bly space serve that dual purpose. The roof comprises 80-ft-long double tees that were treated with a 2-in. concrete topping to help support the mechanicals as well as meet the uplift requirements. Building resilience into the Valley Southwoods High School is essential, as it serves as both a learning environment and community refuge during severe weather events. By investing in durable, cost-effec-tive solutions, such as prefabricated con-crete components and impact-resistant windows, the school district safeguards occupants and property and reduces re-pair and replacement costs. Textured charcoal-gray precast concrete panels differentiate the addition from the existing structure in both function and design. Built to withstand severe weather, the expansion serves the community as a storm shelter, if necessary. ASCENT, SUMMER 2025 21
Ascent Summer 2025: Page 21
