In August 2011, the new North Carolina Central University Chidley Hall North Residence Hall in Durham, North Carolina opened for students, replacing the original 60 year old Chidley Annex on the same site.
The 135,000 square foot four-storey residence hall houses more than 500 students in hotel-like living arrangements. It includes a kitchen and study room on each floor, a computer lab, and offices for staff and housekeeping. Also included are associated site utilities, parking as required to meet the NC Accessibility Code, and service parking. The design of the building is consistent with the architecture of Chidley Main. The complex also features a courtyard with two large oak trees between the buildings, with landscaping that includes engraved bricks recognizing alumni donors.
According to the project architect, Lord Aeck & Sargent, insulating concrete forms (ICF) were specified for this project quite simply for stewardship reasons including reducing materials, labor, and energy usage. Using ARXX ICFs for the building envelope helped reduce the size of HVAC equipment required. This move was also encouraged by a recent law in North Carolina which requires all state-funded building designs over 20,000 square feet to undergo life cycle cost analysis. The purpose of the law is to ensure that such buildings exceed ASHRAE 90.1 2004 energy efficiency standards by 20% for buildings constructed through calendar year 2010, and 30% through calendar year 2015. This project has achieved LEED NC 2.2 certification.
The spec for the ICF assembly was narrowed to a non-combustible tie. The strength and integrity of the steel tie as a substrate for fastening masonry ties for the brick façade was also a preference. Special adaptations were required in order for the ARXX Steel ICFs to accommodate hollow core plank application, particularly with the integration of shallow lintels above punched openings, and pilasters contained within the thickness of the wall. The flexibility of the ARXX ICF assembly to incorporate these needs met the structural engineer's requirements. One such flexibility of the ARXX Steel system was the availability of both 24" and 12" forms for speed within the tight parameters of a 12" on center rebar schedule through the wall assembly.
View the construction video.
View the project Architect (Lord Aeck and Sargent) Introduction to ICFs video.
View the finished campus tour video.