ICF use in the heavy commercial sector is well-established in Arizona. The trend is supported by competent, qualified ICF installers and building owners that understand the value of ICF construction. The Phoenix Archdiocese of the Catholic Church is one such owner, and their latest project, New Founders Hall at Xavier College is one of the most outstanding ICF projects on
the continent.

The specifications of this enormous and complex ICF wall system project are mind-boggling. The construction challenges Rod and Gary Fetters faced with their crew at ICF Specialists were many: a freestanding 45-foot radius tall wall with no intermediate supports, dozens of large arches, multiple intersecting walls of various core sizes, and 28 different wall heights with 1,500+ embeds. The embeds in one massive radius wall supports a steel domed roof. The list goes on: a seven-foot diameter window 25 feet off the ground, integral ICF columns and arched patio entrances, and integrated ICF pilasters.

The building is built to LEED-Platinum standards, with LED lighting, electric vehicle charging stations, and a state-of-the-art chiller system.

The scale of the project is massive. With a footprint of 82,500 sq. ft, it called for 98,000 sq. ft. walls to be erected with BuildBlock ICF. That works out to be all exterior and nearly all interior walls—plus and additional 5,000 sq. ft. of ICFs used in landscaping. ICF was used for virtually everything, including multiple ICF elevator shafts, stairwells, parapets, sidewalks, even baseball dugouts. The Fetters report even some of the bathroom stall dividers are ICF. The modified Giraffe Brace system they used was able to handle both the tall walls and the tight spaces without budging.

“We hosted approximately 25 field trips over the last few months for architects and engineers who were very interested in an up-close look at Xavier and how ICFs were utilized, and all the creative ways ICFs can enhance a structure as grandiose as this,” says Gary.

The wall system supports 35,000 sq. ft. of Hambro composite steel joists with poured concrete slab flooring in between the first and second story floors.

The school website states, “Founders Hall is a cornerstone of Xavier’s foundation for growth and will keep Xavier in the forefront of educational excellence and will give students a central place on campus to meet socially and develop their leadership skills on a daily basis.”