Name: VA Medical Center Parking Structure Expansion
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Owner: Department of Veterans Affairs
Architect: Timothy Haahs & Associates, Inc.
General Contractor: Daniel J. Keating Company
Expansion of the VAMC Parking Structure in Philadelphia demanded a tight construction schedule, and The Shockey Precast Group was awarded the project based on its ability to meet the owner’s schedule. Speed was a primary factor in the decision to use precast, as it minimized the time the existing parking deck would be shut down compared to the time required with other materials such as cast-in-place concrete or steel. The scope of work included removal of 27 pieces of precast from an existing stair tower for reuse, and the construction of a two-story addition (347 pieces of precast) to the existing parking structure.
The original parking deck was built by another precaster, so Shockey faced the challenge of matching the addition to the existing structure. Shockey’s Quality Control department used local aggregate in its mix to create a façade that blended seamlessly with the original structure. Accessibility became a significant challenge during the precast erection process, as Shockey’s crane had only one elevation to work from in erection of the new precast pieces. To overcome the issue, the client provided a massive crane pad for a larger crane to be able to reach over the existing parking structure to place the farthest new precast pieces.
Shockey began removal of the 27 pieces of existing stair tower precast on July 13, 2015, and finished erection of the precast addition on August 24, 2015. Thanks to the commitment of its engineering, production, and erection teams in meeting the owner’s schedule, Shockey Precast was able to help general contractor D.J. Keating bring in the project two months ahead of schedule.