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Architectural Precast Concrete, Thinshell, and GFRC - Willis Construction Co, Inc.

GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)

Typical GFRC Panel Section

Typical GFRC Panel Section

GFRC

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete is made of a ¾" minimum thick cementitious skin, reinforced with alkali resistant glass fibers, and attached to a metal stud frame system. GFRC can be formed into ornate shapes, and its light weight provides many benefits for high rise buildings.

Panel Description

GFRC provides designers with a lightweight and cost-effective skin choice with almost limitless design options. GFRC is a composite panel that consists of a 3/4" thick fiber reinforced cementitious skin attached to a steel frame. The overall panel system thickness is determined by both project and GFRC design requirements in combination with the project design intent. This lightweight panel system that is approximately 20 pounds per square foot at flat sections, is also well known for its ability to be produced in very ornate shapes. It's light weight also means that structural steel costs for high rise buildings can be less expensive. The GFRC frame can also be used to place insulation and attach interior finishes, saving additional costs for interior stud framing. Since the skin is fabricated in a spray process, providing multiple colors in the same panel is an economical design option. Light and Heavy sandblast finishes can also provide a contrasting look within the same panel. Form liners may be used to make GFRC emulate other building materials like wood, limestone, brick, or almost any unique form shape the designer might create for a specific project. Adhering granite or Limestone veneers to the face of GFRC is a design option that takes full advantage of the speed with which this pre-fabricated panel system can be installed and the moisture barrier that GFRC provides. GFRC is produced by first spraying the custom face mix throughout the entire form. The color and final sandblasted finish are chosen by the Architect. The glass fiber reinforced concrete composite is then sprayed over the entire form area to cover the face mix. Multiple passes are used to spray ¾" of GFRC. The structural frame typically consists of structural tube members. L or T Shaped galvanized pins are welded to the structural frame and the frame is set so that the horizontal legs of the pins just touch the back of the GFRC. The same GFRC material is then placed over the horizontal legs of each pin to bond the frame and skin. The following morning each panel is stripped from its form and receives it's approved sandblast finish. Before finalizing the design of your next project, contact Willis Constructions Design Build team to take full advantage of the many design options and cost savings of GFRC.

Architectural Design Options

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete panel mix designs come in a wide range of colors and textures. There are no standard colors. All of our mix designs are custom made to the designer's choice of color and sand blasted texture. Light sandblasted finishes leave the matrix color in place and the surface fairly smooth. A heavy sandblasted finish will expose the sand aggregates in the mix to create a completely different look. Utilizing Light and Heavy sandblasted finishes in the same panel, or project, is a common design option. Custom Form liners can make the surface of GFRC simulate other natural materials such as Brick, Wood, or Stone. Adhering Limestone, and Granite veneers to the face of GFRC is also an option.

Contact Willis Construction to discuss your project's specific design.



GFRC Projects

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Hollywood Park Office

Inglewood, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Full Project Description

Architect:
Gensler

General Contractor:
Pankow

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Loma Linda University Medical Center

Loma Linda, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Full Project Description

Architect:
NBBJ

General Contractor:
McCarthy

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Contra Costa Administration Building

Martinez, CA

GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) and Architectural Precast
2022 PCI National Award Winner

Full Project Description

Architect:
Fentress

General Contractor:
Hensel Phelps Construction Co.

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Broad Museum

Los Angeles, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Full Project Description

Architect:
Diller Scofidio Renfro

Executive Architect:
Gensler

General Contractor:
Matt Construction Co.

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1700 Pavilion

Summerlin, NV

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Full Project Description

Architect:
Hart Howerton

General Contractor:
Whiting Turner

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San Jose State University Campus Village

San Jose, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete using multiple colors

Full Project Description

Architect:
Niles Bolton Associates

General Contractor:
Clark Construction

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599 Castro Office

Mountain View, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete and Limestone on Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Back-Up
Full Project Description

Architect:
Arc Tec, Inc.

General Contractor:
Devcon Construction

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Serif and The Line Hotel At 950 Market Street

San Francisco, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Full Project Description

Architect:
Handel Architects

General Contractor:
Lend Lease

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San Jose Police Facility

San Jose, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Full Project Description

Architect:
Ross Drulis Cusenbury Architecture

General Contractor:
S J Amoroso

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Sutardja Dai Hall

Berkeley, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete with custom board form liner. PCI National Merit Award Winner.

Full Project Description

Architect:
Smith Group

General Contractor:
Hathaway Dinwiddie

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Esquire Plaza

Sacramento, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete at Tower. Architectural Precast at the Ground Floor to 5th Floor

Full Project Description

Architect:
HOK

General Contractor:
Hensel Phelps Construction Co.

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City Heights

San Jose, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete using multiple colors

Architect:
Berger Detmer Ennis

General Contractor:
Barry Swenson Builders


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360 South Market Residences

San Jose, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete using multiple colors

Architect:
Solomon Cordwell Buenz

General Contractor:
Bovis Lend Lease

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Brooks Brothers

Beverly Hills, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Full Project Description

Architect:
Allan Greenberg Architect

General Contractor:
Peck/Jones

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Ignacio Center

Walnut Creek, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Architect:
ADD Inc

General Contractor:
Bovis Lend Lease

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Crown City Plaza

Pasadena, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete using multiple colors

Architect:
Langdon Wilson

General Contractor:
PCL Construction

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SF State University Mashouf Wellness Center

San Francisco, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Full Project Description

Architect:
WRNS Studio

General Contractor:
C W Driver Builders

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Tamian Place

San Jose, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete using multiple colors

Architect:
Barry Swenson Builders

General Contractor:
Barry Swenson Builders



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Citrus Tower Corporate Plaza

Riverside, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete using multiple colors; Granite adhered GFRC at Base

Full Project Description

Architect:
Nadel Architects

General Contractor:
McCormick Construction Co.

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Corona Pointe Office Complex

Corona, CA

Architectural Precast and Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Full Project Description

Architect:
Nestor + Gaffney Architecture

General Contractor:
Rexco Development

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State Veterans Home

West Los Angeles, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete using multiple colors

Architect:
Smith Group/URS

General Contractor:
S J Amoroso



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SOMA Hotel

San Francisco, CA

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Full Project Description

Architect:
Hornberger Worstell Architects

General Contractor:
Hathaway Dinwiddie

Willis Construction has been providing Architectural Precast Concrete building panels and products for the construction industry since 1979. Willis Construction is dedicated to providing Owners, Architects, and General Contractors with the design and engineering expertise necessary to meet the building challenges of today and the future. The quality, durability, and long life of Architectural Precast Concrete, Thinshell, and GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) systems provide a wide range of design options for virtually every type of building. Contact us to decide which system would be best suited for your next project.

Noteworthy Precast Projects

Broad Museum

Broad Museum

Los Angeles, CA
  • GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)
  • 2015 PCI National Award Winner
Hollywood Park Office

Hollywood Park Office

Inglewood, CA
  • Pre-Glazed GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)
  • 2022 PCI National Award Winner
1550 Mission Street Housing

1550 Mission Street Housing

San Francisco, CA
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Los Angeles, CA

Projects in Progress

921 Howard Street

921 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA
  • Thinshell Precast
IQHQ Building 48

IQHQ Building 48

San Diego, CA
  • Architectural Precast and Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Tasman Coterie

Tasman Coterie

Santa Clara, CA
  • Pre Glazed Architectural Precast
USGS NASA Ames

USGS NASA Ames

Mountain View, CA
  • GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) and Architectural Precast

* PCI Certification confirms that a manufacturing plant has an ongoing quality assurance system in place. PCI Certification requires that the plant must consistently demonstrate their commitment to quality principles and procedures. A 120 point audit examines all aspects of plant operation including engineering practices and management commitment.

PCI Certified