The major design challenge facing the School of Architecture for Florida International University in Miami was the extremely low budget in relation to the architectural ambitions set by the university. With a budget of only $125 per sq ft ($1346/m2) the architects created a 100,000 sq ft (9290 m2) facility of unique geometries, function, and beauty with a total precast/prestressed concrete system. The ambitious project goals were met principally by the flexibility and reliability of precast concrete production and finishing techniques, creating a strikingly bold design with over 200 loadbearing, architectural precast panels. A wide variety of other precast products - including inverted-tee beams, ell-beams, rectangular beams, raker beams, bleacher sections, double tees, columns and spandrels - were incorporated into this virtual showplace for the design possibilities of precast concrete. This article presents the architectural concept and design, and describes the production.
