Paper

Precision and Constructability: Formwork Design for the Pulitzer Arts Foundation in St. Louis

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Abstract

Construction means and methods and the ingenuity of tradespeople are often de-emphasized when discussing award-winning architecture. Means and methods are contractually isolated from the architect’s design and regularly the specifics are not documented as tradespeople seek to protect their own knowledge. Through the example of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, this paper provides a narrative on how excellence can be achieved, not just through design, but also through construction means and methods. As a case study, this paper considers the specifics of the design and installation of the formwork for the Pulitzer Arts Foundation in St. Louis which was completed in 2001. It frames construction decisions within a broader discussion of the difference between precision and accuracy. It examines measure in relation to constructability, and how error was handled not on a case-by-case basis but through an ever-evolving process of refined decision making. Discussion includes the selection of the formwork material, processes for maintaining consistency in attaching the formwork to the structure, adapting the Peri Formwork system to meet the specifics of the project, and how the team invented individual solutions to fit the particularity of the pours. It examines how the legacy of the precision of Japanese construction was scaled and translated to the United States, allowing this project to meet the standards of quality that Tadao Ando established in projects in his home country.

Keywords: Means, Methods, Constructability, Concrete

How to Cite:

Hancock, L., (2023) “Precision and Constructability: Formwork Design for the Pulitzer Arts Foundation in St. Louis”, Building Technology Educators’ Society 2023(1), 66–71. doi: https://doi.org/10.7275/btes.1935