Masonry Magazine October 1978 Page. 16
2-5000 SQ. FT. UNITS & OFFICES
The building featured on our cover is one of Ray Prossen's concrete masonry showcases, a 15,000 sq. ft. multi-use industrial facility constructed with 50 ft. clear span bays and designed to be broken up into 25 ft. bays for various tenants. The rigid frame has 8" x 12" x 16" through-the-wall, split-ribbed spl concrete masonry units: 4"x8" x 16" solid units were used in the archways and painted brown. Architect: Arthur W. Seidenschwartz, AIA,
RIGID FRAME CONSTRUCTION
continued from page 15
After initial contact is made with a potential customer, Prossen will submit a preliminary floor plan including an artist's rendering of the completed structure. His estimators then develop the price from the required basic materials. "We emphasize cost accounting in all our pricing procedures." Prossen explains. "We know exactly what the cost/profit structure will be, down to the last detail. We then can come up with an extremely accurate bid."
The outline specifications and a letter-of-intent with a firm, "not-to-exceed" price are then presented to the buyer. Once the construction go-ahead is received, work starts on the final plans.
Prossen developed his Rigid Frame system several years ago through his association with R. R. "Bob" Simmons, a negotiating contractor in Temple Terrace, Florida, who operates in much the same manner as Prossen. Possessing a good basic knowledge of block and concrete as well as a desire to "package" masonry buildings, Simmons decided to do some pioneering on behalf of the masonry industry and buck up against the metal people. Having once sold metal buildings himself, he realized that the success of the metal argument was in offering a pre-engineered shell-from this slab up.
In his recent brochure, A Basic Study of Industrial Concrete Masonry Structures published by the National Concrete Masonry Association, Simmons expresses his views about metal buildings:
"I have been amazed at what some people think constitutes a metal building. The opinions are so varied it would be impossible to list them, but somehow this handful of prefabricators has convinced American industry that it has the supreme product...
"Actually metal building manufacture is a very simple business because the metal people very early recognized a major need and established it a real sales force. They have not outdone masonry, they have outsold it!"
continued on page 19
These three floor plans showing variable sized bays illustrate the design flexibility that is possible with concrete masonry units. Each Rigid Frame structure fits the dimensions of precast columns, beams and roof planks, eliminating waste and excess costs. The system literally amounts to controlled construction, yet the design capabilities are countless.
50
OFFICES
16 MASONRY/OCTOBER, 1978
1-2500 50
FT. UNITS & OFFICES
25
25
25
OFFICES
OFFICES
OFFICES
OFFICES
2500 SQFT UNITS & OFFICES