Precast Soundwall Panels Make Ideal Housing Components

Existing precast concrete soundwall forms were used to produce wall panels to construct the facades for single- and multi-famny residences in Chicago, Illinois. The precast concrete panels produced a fire rating that allowed designers to maximize the widths of the homes, creating more options for interior layouts. The panels also provide a quickly finished exterior frame, with the precast concrete erection finished in one day. Their texture and design emulates brick, with limestonelike accents added to provide dimensionality and to hide joints. Special care was taken in fabricating the forms to ensure mortar lines remained straight and matched at returns and joints. Using the panels also eliminated the need for foundation wails, as the panels could be placed directly on the footings of the basement. Several homes already have been built, with more in the planning stage. Ideally, the designers hope to create a modular "kit" approach in which components can be stored and used as needed to build various sizes of residences quickly and cost-effectively.