Optimizing Big Box Construction Rose Hulman Institute of Technology Lauren Hughes Josh Hogan Kevin Hanson Joseph Garrott Optimizing Big Box Construction Project Description Project Approach Research Results Future Work Owners want to know Which wall to use Optimizing Big Box Construction Create decision tool to determine most efficient wall system Our Consider four different wall systems Task Perform a structural design of all four wall systems Complete cost estimate for all wall systems Project Description Client Dr Ed Alsamsam Portland Cement Association Concrete as a building material Wants to make the decision easier for designers Project Approach Interviews with professionals Investigation of wall systems Design load calculations Structural design Construction planning scheduling Cost estimate Concrete Masonry Shear Walls ADVANTAGES Elimination of formwork Simple erection DISADVANTAGES Labor intensive Locations of CMU plants Site Cast Tilt Up Panels ADVANTAGES Versatility Simple erection DISADVANTAGES Forming labor materials Curing time Factory Cast Tilt Up Panels ADVANTAGES Quality control Time savings Elimination of formwork DISADVANTAGES Transportation constraints Limited locations of plants Site constraints Insulated Concrete Form Walls ADVANTAGES Extra insulation Little or no maintenance DISADVANTAGES Height constraints Limited shapes and sizes Construction Planning Scheduling Cost Estimate Microsoft Excel spreadsheet Based on Means Building Construction Cost Data Itemizes individual labor and material components of each wall system Input critical labor and material unit costs Output cost index per square foot of wall Cost Estimate Decision Tool Criteria 1 Is the building height greater than 20 feet tall 2 Is there a precast plant within 100 miles 3 Is there a masonry plant within 100 miles 4 Are you willing to pay a premium for a faster completion 5 Does the site have room for curing of site cast panels 6 Does the site have crane access Decision Tool Example An owner wants to build 30 foot tall building Nearest precast plant 50 miles Nearest masonry plant 200 miles Owner willing to pay for quicker completion Sufficient flat space for formwork Sufficient crane access Decision Tool Example An owner wants to build 30 foot tall building Nearest precast plant 50 miles Nearest masonry plant 200 miles Owner willing to pay for quicker completion Sufficient flat space for formwork Sufficient crane access Decision Tool Example An owner wants to build 30 foot tall building Nearest precast plant 50 miles Nearest masonry plant 200 miles Owner willing to pay for quicker completion Sufficient flat space for formwork Sufficient crane access Decision Tool Example An owner wants to build 30 foot tall building Nearest precast plant 50 miles Nearest masonry plant 200 miles Owner willing to pay for quicker completion Sufficient flat space for formwork Sufficient crane access Decision Tool Example An owner wants to build 30 foot tall building Nearest precast plant 50 miles Nearest masonry plant 200 miles Owner willing to pay for quicker completion Sufficient flat space for formwork Sufficient crane access Decision Tool Example An owner wants to build 30 foot tall building Nearest precast plant 50 miles Nearest masonry plant 200 miles Owner willing to pay for quicker completion Sufficient flat space for formwork Sufficient crane access The most efficient wall system is Factory Cast Tilt Up Panels Research Results Most significant components of total cost Material delivery Regional variations in labor wages Cost of steel reinforcement varies little among the four wall systems Future Work Continuing Research Greater detail in cost inputs Fully automated tool Interaction with professionals Project Recommendations Works well as a senior level design project Project is better as a team project Scope and direction of the project Summary Optimizing Big Box Construction Purpose develop a decision tool to find most cost efficient concrete wall system Results flow chart to aid designers