Commercial Site Visit: Undergraduate Admissions and Visitors Center Building Observations

          I took a walk around the Undergraduate Admissions Building job site and wanted to take some detailed notes on some of the materials and methods used to erect the exterior walls of the building.  The first place I started at was the mock-up sectional wall next to the site trailer.  This wall is required by the university on all new buildings constructed in order to get certain building certifications and show that the structures are up to code.
          The Undergraduate Admissions Building is a steel framed structure using 6" studs and top and bottom tracks.  The studs are screwed together with sheet metal screws.

Here shown is a double stud wall which is enclosing a stairwell.

Because stairwells must be fire rated for a certain time, a double stud wall is being constructed with a 6" gap between them for extra sheathing and a space for conduit to be run.  This double wall will act as a fire wall.

          Over the studs a sheathing of 5/8" Extended Exposure GWB was placed and covered with stucco.  This was later followed by two 1 1/2" layers of foam core for insulation and then a plastic corrugated material to allow water trapped behind the Hokie Stone veneer to drain.  Finally the Hokie stone veneer was placed as the exterior faciad.

          It is imporant to note that the veneer provided no structural support for the structure, however it is tied back into the structure at certain intervals.  This allows for the Hokie Stone to move as needed and be self supporting.

This a a cut view of the exterior wall as described above.

Betweeen the GWB and Foam Core layers it is imporant to place flashing to prevent water from running all the way down behind the wall.  The flashing is usually placed at each floor and is held to the foam core using a caulking material (the yellowish material) as seen in the photo.