TOPIC: Commercial Structure In Newton, NJ

I started a new building last week in Newton, NJ (about 140 miles from my house). The building is a Wachovia Bank. Wachovia is owned by Wells Fargo, but they still brand their stores as Wachovia.

The interesting thing about this job is the way it is built. The shell is constructed fron insulated structural, pre-engineered panels from Agriboard Inc. www.agriboard.com/ The panels are constructed from compressed hay, strategically placed framing and an OSB skin. They are considered a green product, and there are even Nachi credits for taking their online class.

I will be posting progress pics. for those interested at least weekly if not every couple of days. I am doing the whole project from soup to nuts, so I will be posting all of the phases of construction.

I thought that not many people get to see all that goes into a commercial project, things that I take for granted because I see them all the time.

Enjoy,

This is day 1 of the project for me. The slab on grade is done and the structural steel is complete

This sill plate is laid first over a foam sill seal. Then the sill plate is attached with expansion bolts 24" OC. The sill provides a key to lay the panels on.

These panels, which vary in size are shipped in from Texas. They have a built in tongue and groove system which is glued and screwed together when setting them

Well, we've started setting them. There are 76 panels in all. The windows, doors, ATM cutouts, ect are all pre-engineered in the panels. The installation reminds you of a commercial freezer box in a large kitchen. 

This panel is the header for the large window opening in the previous post.