Masonry Magazine April 1972 Page. 9
Taking time out from the seminar sessions to pose for this picture were (from the left) Neal English, Executive Director of IMI; Donald R. Bidwell, Plymouth, Mich., Chairman, IMI Board of Trustees; Eugene B. George, Kitchener, Ont., Canada, IMI Trustee, and Charles F. Velardo, Newton Highlands, Mass., Trustee and Secretary of IMI.
Situated at Nordic Hills Country Club. They represent unique hexagonal architecture with penthouse accommodations topping 12 pie-shaped rooms on each floor. Each of the twin structures has 63,000 sq. ft. of space with exciting Scandinavian decor. The buildings are nestled in a woodland setting offering golf, swimming, recreation and country club services.
While from a distance one might think the towers are of glass and poured concrete, a close-up view of the exterior, or a step inside, reveals exposed piers (party walls) of jumbo brick radiating outward from the center concrete-block core to the points of the hexagon. Exposed masonry, wood and glass provide interior finishes.
High-strength mortar combined with brick and concrete block masonry afford the loadbearing capacity for the concrete floors made in pie-shaped "flying forms." A floor, each 7,000 sq. ft., was installed every seven days with utilities included in the concrete slabs, according to Carson International's Martin Wellman.
All washrooms are located toward the core to speed construction and save on utility costs. As quickly as the slabs were in place, the impressive 30 ft.-long brick piers and concrete block core walls were built. Construction got underway in January, 1971 and is continuing "right on schedule" with completion of both buildings expected in May, 1972, according to Architect Holsman.
"Our experience indicates that reinforced brick costs less than column-and-beam construction," Holsman said, "and we plan to use this system again."
Mason Contractor Clarence Esche said this was the first high-rise loadbearing project in which his firm has engaged. "If we can do it," he told the mason contractors in the audience, "you can do it, too."
The concluding speaker was Ed S. Hoffman, of the Engineers Collaborative, who has been involved in code changes in the Chicago area and in loadbearing projects such as the Cathedral of Christ the King, the Great Lakes Service School Barracks, and the Geophysical Science Lab Building at the University of Chicago.
Participants at the seminar included 159 Chicago area architects, engineers and building commissioners, with the remainder of the registrants consisting of union officials, manufacturers, building suppliers and mason contractors. More than 100 reservations were declined due to the unusually large turnout and the physical requirements of the presentations.
Among the national participating organizations were the National Concrete Masonry Association, Portland Cement Association, Structural Clay Products Institute, National Association of Distributors & Dealers of Structural Clay Products, the Bricklayers, Masons & Plasterers International Union, and the Mason Contractors Association of America.
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Among the BM & PIU officials attending the seminar were (from the left) James Richardson, Research Director; Nicholas Popovic, President, Local No. 21; and Edward M. Bellucci, Treasurer, Robert Shepherd, Ninth Vice President, and John T. Joyce, Secretary, all of the international union. Richardson, Bellucci and Joyce also serve as IMI Advisors.
masonry April, 1972