Industry Axis

The team that delivered a tilt-up concrete panel solution for the award-winning Olathe West High School project were invited to present at the 42nd Annual Scholer-Peterson Concrete Conference at Kansas State University on February 2, 2019. Jason Blankenship with Needham DBS, along with Travis Downing with McCown Gordon Construction and Aaron Curtis with Lithko Contracting gave a presentation highlighting the challenging design and construction aspects of the project and outlined the process the team used for successfully executing the complex project.

Some of the key points of the presentation were: reviewing the factors in selecting a tilt-up approach, the challenging lateral system design, execution of the segmented arc “black box” panels, detailing coordination, the use of cast-in thin brick and insulated panels.  In addition, the use of BIM for tilt-up panels was discussed. Revit was used for the BIM not only as a design coordination tool, but also as a platform for tilt-up panel detailing, and then leveraging the benefits for construction use.

Associated General Contractors of Kansas has recognized two Needham DBS projects in the announcement of the 2018 Awards.  Winners were announced in March and appeared in the Wichita Business Journal on March 9, 2018.

Shulthis Stadium received the "Award of Excellence" for New Construction up to $2,000,000.

Olathe West High School project was selected for the Judges Award at the Concrete Promotional Group Excellence in Concrete 2017 Awards. The award was presented to the team at the CPG Holiday Party & Awards Banquet on November 7, 2017 held at the College Basketball Experience at the Sprint Arena.

Tilt Up Concrete was designed and detailed by Needham DBS. Lithko Contracting LLC was the Tilt Up Contractor for the project. Other team members who worked on the project were Hollis + Miller Architects, McCownGordon Construction, Musselman & Hall Contractors, Summit Concrete, Fodyce Concrete Co Inc., Penny’s Concrete and Braun Intertec.

Olathe West High School has been awarded a Tilt-Up Achievement Award from the Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA). TCA Members Needham DBS and Lithko Contracting were presented with a plaque commemorating the achievement at the Tilt-Up Awards Gala during the 2017 TCA Convention in Miami, Florida on September 29, 2017.

The Awards Issue of the Tilt-Up Today will be available in January 2018 featuring all the amazing projects from the 27th Annual Tilt-Up Achievement Awards.