School Success Starts with a Solid Structure

School Success Starts with a Solid Structure - Tilt Wall Ontario - Featured Image

Stronger schools are better schools. Better and stronger are both possible with tilt-up construction through Ontario’s own Tilt Wall.

There’s an inclination for school leadership to assume that demolitioning old schools and spending millions of dollars on maintenance is a part of building ownership. They’re not wrong, since so many buildings aren’t properly constructed.

Some of Ontario’s most progressive school leaders are doing their research into building schools that cut costs, last longer and require less maintenance than ever before. What they’re finding is the method of construction called “tilt-up”

Not only is tilt-up construction often faster, less expensive and energy-saving than most other methods, but it also results in a building that has incredible durability. 

Education Time: What is the Tilt-Up Construction Process for a School’s Construction Site?

After assessing the school’s new building or addition site, Tilt Wall works with architects and engineers to handle the structure’s paperwork. 

Next, the school’s concrete floor slab is poured. Atop this large flat concrete space, wooden forms are set up and act as large molds. Each form provides the panel’s exact shape and size as well as openings for doors and windows.

Steel reinforcement is installed in each form, giving concrete its strength, followed by one layer of concrete. The concrete is covered by a layer of insulation, given time to cure, then a second layer of concrete is added. The panels are complete!

When the site is ready, a crane is used to carefully ‘tilt’ each panel into its final position – often in as few as a couple of days. The wall panels are caulked and finished as per the school’s design. Once the roof system is installed, trades can begin interior work, such as electrical and plumbing.

Classrooms are Stronger with Insulated Concrete Wall Panels

By using two layers of robust concrete, schools will be more resilient to damage from weather, water, rodents and yes, even students, than ever before. Tilt Walls’ concrete professionals will look at your project and work with engineers to determine the exact concrete mix required to ensure a lifetime of durability.

As noted above, each panel uses steel reinforcement with rebar and fibre-like steel, which increase its structural integrity by giving concrete higher tensile strength. 

The combination of concrete and steel allows external as well as internal walls to be load bearing. This often results in structures that not only are stronger, but also require less vertical steel columns.

The long-term benefits of a practically impervious exterior skeleton of concrete must also be highlighted. Tilt-up panels resist corrosion, rotting, rust, insects and fire. Concrete is also easy to maintain and damage is often minimized, resulting in fast, easy and inexpensive repairs.

Schools Give Tilt-Up Construction an A+

Grace Christian School in Dundas trusted Tilt Wall with its tilt-up-constructed school for a structure that’s much more durable than they thought possible. It also cost 15% less and is currently saving them approximately 30% every year on their energy costs.

Ottawa’s Broadview Public School also chose to use tilt-up construction. Its two-storey building construction included some massive lifts of the durable concrete panels. Although concrete is often seen as ‘cold’, this school chose artistic imprints and brick formwork to give a welcoming and personalized appearance.

Study More About Tilt-up Construction Durability – No Test Required

Whether you are a school board director, concerned parent, architect, contractor or teacher, you are invited to learn more about Tilt Wall’s reputation for building durable schools here in Ontario. Contact Tilt Wall at 519-602-2990 or email info@tiltwall.ca. We can also provide you with a brochure on the benefits of tilt-up construction for your school to share with decision makers in your district.