Title:
Concrete Characteristics Crown Medical Center Design
Author(s):
Thomas W. Taylor and Timothy A. Potyraj
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
24
Issue:
10
Appears on pages(s):
65-68
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
10/1/2002
Abstract:
The main goal of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX, was to develop a world-class research facility that would attract the most prominent and talented medical researchers from all parts of the globe. Concrete construction was selected for various reasons, but one of the principal reasons was its inherent vibration-control characteristic. In addition, concrete would meet the required fire rating without potentially friable, sprayed-on fireproofing, which could possibly interfere with the clean environment that is important to a medical research facility. Thin spandrel and column profiles seem to conflict with the functional requirement for a structure that satisfies stringent vibration characteristics. However, both of these objectives were achieved by using the precast as part of the formwork for the cast-in-place concrete structure.