Key Biscayne Community Center

Although the owner of this 45,000-square-foot commercial office project was unfamiliar with Tilt-Up, the architect and engineer were both convinced it would be the most economical building method for this project. Constructed in six months for the City of Key Biscayne, this project was designed to serve as a gathering place for the community.

Because the project was constructed in an infill area, there was very little casting area. As such, the panels were cast on an elevated post-tensioned slab. The bracing inserts had to be set in the slab instead of drilled in, which was a unique process for the construction team.

Because of the high-profile nature of this project – all eyes of the community watched the progress – a variety of cost-effective architectural elements were included in the design to ensure architectural appeal. The extensive use of a ship-lap lining provides visual relief to the concrete panels, despite the fact that aligning the forms was a major construction challenge.

The blue and earth-tone colors create a coastal look and an inviting center – something you’d see in our downtowns of yesterday.