​Stairs and elevator shafts are the means of vertical transportation in multistory buildings. These structures not only allow vertical movement of occupants from floor to floor but their cores often serve as the main lateral stability system for these structures. Typically centrally located in buildings, they have become an integral part of building design and architecture. The code requires that occupants be able to exit during catastrophic events and be protected from fire. Due to the magnitude of loads often applied to these cores, they are stout and consume valuable space, which has prompted construction teams to make them more than just an anchor for the tower.

​All of these challenges and more were present in the project in this case study. The building is a 12-story-plus-basement dormitory in Ann Arbor, Mich. The precast concrete components include an elevator core, two stair cores, and a freestanding shear wall. The core height exceeds 160 ft (48.7 m). One of the stair cores has a reduced footprint above the fourth floor, which creates an irregularity requiring transfer of significant forces at the wall discontinuity. This paper presents the process of development and implementation of the cores from a design concept to completed construction. It focuses primarily on the cores because of the unique logistic challenges that are presented in the following sections. Another paper presents the hierarchy of the decision-making process for wall panelization and discusses in depth the weighing of various considerations.

​This year in our new plant in Detroit (Trenton) we took an old dirty bay of our large plant  and lit it up. New paint, LED lighting, electrical and most importantly cut the floor and installed rail for our automation equipment.  We purchased, installed and commissioned four machines. The key machine is the CPO machine. It Cleans, Plots, and Oils the double tee bed. This improves our efficiency and quality and most importantly our safety in the plant. 

The next machine is a screed and trowel machine. This machine quietly puts a flat surface on the top of the double tee bed improving our quality of a flat surface.  It can also trowel and broom and rake the top surface when needed. This machine can also be used on our wall panel beds. The next machine is a utility machine.  It pulls strand and also sets the bulkheads between each piece. This also improves safety and accuracy. The last machine is a tarp roller and it puts the tarp on and off the bed allowing for proper curing of the concrete.  

We have also added 2 architectural quality beds from Europe in this bay. This allows for production of 12’ wide plus wall panel beds on a steel surface with no joints leaving you with an architectural quality surface.  We are excited to get this bay humming this year!

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, award winning news anchor Anne Marie Schieber speaks with James Morgan about his job at Kerkstra Precast, an industrial plant. We get a look into James’ daily work and how he finds meaning and motivation in what he does. ​

SUMMER 2018 FEATURE

“Precast concrete was a key component in meeting the goals of the project; not only for its physical properties, but also for its aesthetic capabilities,” says Lynn Bolek, senior project manager. 

Kraemer Design Group worked with Kerkstra Precast to maximize the site limitations of the L-shaped parcel. The result is a total–precast concrete system with a contemporary feel. The façade features a thin brick veneer on the lower levels; the upper floors complement that finish with buff and gray concrete. The multifamily project is sited on a cast-in-place concrete podium with precast concrete hollow-core slab as the floor and roof system above. The wall on the north end of the building serves as both a fire wall and shear wall as the structure extends out to the property line.

The final exterior design, which Klymson refers to as “quietly modern and timeless,” alternates between full-floor solid and glass using nine unique panels for the entire building; however, 80% of the panels were identical in size. To break up the design, the architect alternated the direction of the rectangular panel from floor to floor. They also integrated tall, narrow glass modules between the panels to provide more light in the building and in the individual offices at less square footage than smaller strip windows. “It created great efficiency for cost and manufacturing,” he says.

Click here to read full story. 

DECEMBER 14, 2017 BY TRENTON TRIB 
BY BRIAN RZEPPA
     In what might be seen as a hopeful sign of the times, Trenton recently welcomed a large manufacturer that has decided to expand into the Downriver area after years of production on the west side of the state.
     Kerkstra Precast, a prefabricated engineered concrete products company based out of Grandville, purchased a 365,000-square-foot facility located at 1717 Fort Street (on the corner of Fort Street/King Road) that most recently was home to the Huron Valley Steel Corp. The building itself goes back to the 1960s, when it was constructed for the Dana Corp.
     Greg Kerkstra, the president and CEO of Kerkstra Precast, noted that the city itself was an important selling point in expanding his company to Trenton, as is its proximity to other major manufacturing areas.
     “It was a really great building and the area surrounding it is beautiful and safe, too,” Kerkstra said. “The city has been great to work with and we want to service east Michigan and go south into Ohio, so this location works well in trying to accomplish those goals.”
     As a resident of Michigan, Kerkstra was duly inspired to be able to take part of the revitalization that has been occurring over the past few years in Detroit. He feels that Kerkstra Precast can help keep products and jobs within both the country and the state of Michigan.
     “We are 100 percent Michigan,” he said. “If Detroit is strong, so is Michigan. Many construction materials are coming from outside of Michigan, including Canada and we want to keep this work inside of Michigan for the benefit of our state and the benefit of Detroit and the Downriver communities.”
    They begun production from the Trenton facility in 2017 and are in the process of converting it to meet their needs, citizens may already be familiar with some of the work that they have played a role in creating.
     “We produce prefabricated engineered concrete products indoors in a controlled setting and deliver them all over the Midwest. We create insulated wall panels for stores like Meijer and large industrial buildings and also parking structures like the Z deck or dormitories and multi-story buildings, in addition to architectural concrete like casting in brick.”
     As they slowly work their way into the Trenton facility, Kerkstra hopes to be able to play a major role within the community. Throughout the company’s history, they have been consistent in donating 10 percent of their profits to local non-profit organizations and they plan on continuing that here.
     “As an individual, I am committed to giving back,” he said. “I believe that blessing others can be a blessing to us as a company as well. We want to and will continue to support local nonprofits and efforts around the world.”
     After officially announcing their purchase of the facility in January of this year, Kerkstra has had nearly one year of working with the city and the company as a whole has felt very positively about those interactions.
     “Working with the city has been great,” Kerkstra said. “All of the staff at the city has been good to work with and we would like to continue to be a member in good standing and we also want to help the Trenton community thrive.”
     With their history of giving back to the communities that they work within and the added benefit of another employer entering Trenton, Kerkstra Precast has all the makings of a perfectly compatible fit with the city.

​http://trentontrib.com/kerkstra-settles-in-to-community.html

The Detroit River needs your help. The Humbug Marsh is located near our Trenton Facility. Fundraising is taking place for the Wildlife Refuge School Ship Dock and Fishing Pier. Kerkstra Precast recently supported this cause and wanted to share the opportunity.