In 2016, the roof of the performing arts center at Murphysboro High School in southern Illinois collapsed under the weight of heavy equipment, causing the exterior walls to buckle. No one was injured, but the incident put pressure on the school to replace the facility with a more durable structure. The ensuing project included building a new, larger facility that would accommodate 700 seats (up from 400), as well as renovating the administration area.
The designers choose to replace the original building, which had a timber roof and concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls, with a precast concrete structure, which would provide increased stability, durability, and energy efficiency. “Precast concrete was particularly welcomed in this circumstance by the school district and all parties to avoid another structural failure,” says Dirk McClure, director of business development for Enterprise Precast Concrete.