Project Gallery
Bell Tower West





Location:
Maple Grove, MN


Owner:
LandCor Inc.

Architect:
Tim McCoy

Contractor:
LandCor Inc.

Fitting 10 gallons into a 5 gallon pail would be one way to describe the design of the 3 story Bell Tower West Office at the corner of Hwy 30 and I-94 in Maple Grove. The design allowed maximum utilization of location and site size for the almost 80,000 square feet that includes parking under the main structure and below a portion of the on-grade parking lot. The precaster assisted the architect and engineer with framing solutions for span, loading, and fire resistance requirements unique for the lease spaces. The tight schedule required access for other trades and contractors before the precaster completed erecting the structure which started in December. By utilizing a total precast structure, which included precast stair tread and risers inside fire-resistant shafts, LandCor was able to create a weather-tight enclosure with only ½ of the building frame erected. These floors were instantly accessible by all contractors by way of the precast stairs. There are three stairwells and two elevators in the completed structure. The exterior wall and spandrel panels were load bearing for the long-span, double tee floors and roof. 2 of styrofoam insulation were sandwiched into the walls and spandrels. By making these exterior framing elements insulated, each floor was able to be heated as soon as glass was installed. Since some of the areas were not leased, stud walls and insulation did not have to be done before heating the area. The exterior, in addition to being structural and insulated, was finished with a combination utility-sized red brick thins and form finish. The face mix, which also became the brick mortar joint, was colored with a dye and white cement. Comments were made about how fast the brick went on the building. The top was capped with a precast sculptured cornice made in lengths up to 32 long. A total of 682 pieces were erected in about 10 weeks during the cold moths of December, January and February.