Heldrich Plaza
CarbonCast Panels impart New Jersey Condo-Hotel project with style and class
Quick Facts:
- Project: Heldrich Plaza
- Location: New Brunswick, N.J.
- Footprint: 365,000 sq. ft.
- Type of Precast: CarbonCast Architectural Cladding Panels
- Architectural Firm:Culpepper, McAuliffe, Meaders, Inc.
- Lead GC/CM Firm: Keating Building Corporation
- Precast Company: High Concrete Group LLC
The mixed-use, nine-story Heldrich Plaza in New Brunswick, N.J. used CarbonCast® Architectural Cladding to save over $90,000 worth of perimeter steel and labor costs.
At ten inches thick and only 32 pounds per square foot (psf), CarbonCast Architectural Cladding provided a 70 percent reduction over conventional precast panels that would have weighed 100 psf, or more.
Heldrich Plaza’s CarbonCast Architectural Cladding uses C-GRID® as reinforcement in the panel face, replacing conventional steel mesh. Because C-GRID will not corrode, conventional CarbonCast uses significantly less concrete in the panel face.
In addition, CarbonCast Architectural Cladding Panels replace concrete with insulating foam, which leads to increased R-values.
Typical precast wall panels use six inches of concrete in the face, as extra concrete is needed to protect the steel mesh reinforcement from corrosive elements.
The dramatic reduction in concrete results in panel weights significantly lighter than conventional precast and with better durability than steel-stud systems or brick cavity wall.
CarbonCast Architectural Cladding was used for deep reveals and window recesses, both features otherwise too heavy and cost-prohibitive with conventional precast.
To complement the granite on the building face, panels were finished with eco-friendly shot blasting for a highly consistent color that mimicked the appearance of limestone.
The result is a high-end building featuring a 250-room hotel and conference center, retail space, academic space, and luxury condominiums.
The CarbonCast panels for Heldrich Plaza were fabricated and installed by AltusGroup founding member, High Concrete Group LLC®.
