Total Precast
Caledonia Community Schools Athletic Complex
Overview
The Caledonia Community Schools Athletic Complex is a major new community hub located approximately 20 miles southeast of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. At approximately 47,000 square feet, this modern two-story facility brings a diverse set of wellness, recreation, and educational amenities under one roof.
2026 PCI Award: School (K-12) Honorable Mention
2026 PCI Award: BIM Award Honorable Mention
Project Details:
General Contractor
Rockford Construction
Architect
Stantec Architecture Inc.
Erector
Assemblers Precast & Steel Services, Inc.
The Calplex is an athletic facility is a joint venture between the Caledonia Public Schools and the YMCA.
From a full-size gym and indoor walking track to a community aquatics center with an eight-lane competition pool and seating for 175 spectators, the complex was designed from the start to serve students and residents alike.
Problem
Originally designed with a structural steel frame and insulated metal panels, the project faced rising costs, supply chain delays, and long-term maintenance concerns. With budget pressures and an ambitious delivery timeline, the design team knew they needed a smarter structural solution that could meet functional needs while controlling cost and schedule impacts.
Solution
Fabcon partnered with Stantec Architecture and Caledonia Community Schools early in the process to explore an alternate structural system. Fabcon’s team utilized advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) to fully demonstrate the advantages of a precast concrete solution over the originally specified steel frame. By digitally integrating precast with the existing interior design and systems, BIM allowed designers, engineers, and the owner to visualize how precast elements would coordinate with mechanical, plumbing, and architectural systems without sacrificing layout or design intent.
This collaborative approach built confidence in the switch to precast concrete, resulting in a system that matched, and in some cases exceeded, performance expectations. Fabcon provided 137 precast pieces — including columns, beams, wall panels, double tees, and slabs — that delivered structural efficiency, long-term durability, and cost savings. A specially formulated corrosion-inhibiting admixture added to the precast panels ensures reduced maintenance over the life of the facility.
Results
The transition to a precast concrete structural system delivered measurable benefits across cost, schedule, and long-term performance. By leveraging off-site manufacturing and coordinated BIM modeling, the project team maintained schedule certainty while staying within budget.
The precast solution improved construction efficiency, reduced on-site labor requirements, and ensured precise integration with interior systems. In addition, the use of corrosion-inhibiting admixtures enhanced durability and lowered future maintenance needs, helping Caledonia Community Schools deliver a high-quality, long-lasting facility that will serve students and the broader community for years to come.
”Precast offered several key advantages, including reduced long-term maintenance in the high-humidity, corrosive pool environment, an issue that would have required special marine coatings on traditional structural steel. It enabled an accelerated construction timeline to enclose the building quickly. This helped reduce costs and lead times compared to conventional structural joists, ultimately bringing the project within budget.
Ed Bloom, Vice President of EducationRockford Construction
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