The Korte Company, a Design-Build construction company headquartered in Highland, Illinois, has recently been recognized for its design and construction of the Armed Forces Reserve Center facility in Norman, Oklahoma. The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) is an international nonprofit organization that serves to expand and improve the use of Tilt-Up as the preferred construction method. As in previous years, submittals were judged on aesthetic expression, schedule, size, originality, finishes and special conditions; all characteristics of the projects that would attract and hold the interest of architects and building owners. This year, the panel of judges recognized a total of 23 award recipients, and selected seven overall Excellence in Achievement winners that best represent the heights the industry has attained.
The 217,125-square-foot facility serves as a combined Armory for the Oklahoma Army National Guard and United States Army Reserve, with administration and training areas, a drill floor, arms vaults, classrooms and a kitchen, plus multiple maintenance bays, paint and welding shops, locker rooms, and storage for controlled waste and flammable materials.
Tilt-Up was selected for this project for its ability to help the building earn LEED certification (thanks to the use of regional materials and admixtures with high recycled material content) while meeting anti-terrorism protection requirements. The building was designed to emulate historical armory design, with gun turrets and a rock façade, and a scale and massing similar to original armory structures. Combining local materials with cutting-edge design, the center respects the past while looking toward the future.
