History
Studcast walls are prefabricated, ready-to-erect, high-performance concrete walls that weigh half as much as standard concrete walls. A hybrid between architectural precast concrete and panelized light-gage cold-formed steel framing, studcast walls combine the best features of each material in a way nullifies each material's weaknesses. They have been widely used as an exterior and interior wall system for over a decade.
Studcast concrete was developed by combining the best aspects of two familiar technologies: the durability, fast erection, and architectural versatility of precast concrete and the light weight and high strength of panelized cold-formed steel stud framing. Both materials are widely available and relatively affordable; the benefit of studcast lies in joining them in a complementary and affordable manner that eliminates each of their disadvantages.
Studcast is a hybrid precast wall system that is lightweight, sustainable, fast-erecting, and compatible with a wide range of designs and architectural finishes. These composite walls can be made with as little as two inches of concrete thickness, as compared to six-to-ten inches for the typical precast panel. Utilizing lightweight aggregate, walls can weigh as little as 18 psf. For reference, a six-inch panel of ordinary precast concrete weighs about 70 psf.
The strength-to-weight ratio is high. The precast units can support their own weight and be lifted off the casting tables only 24 hours after casting, making cycle-time short and efficient. Large panel sizes are practical to cast and light enough to handle with lighter equipment, resulting in fewer panels to erect and fewer panel joints to seal.
Double-sided studcast walls were awarded the Hospitality Design and ASID Earth Minded Award for a product in 2009. They were cited for their role in sustainable hospitality design.
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