Award-Winning Total Precast Solution

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The Wilbur O. and Anne Powers College of Business at Clemson University stands as a testament to smart engineering, architectural elegance, and construction efficiency. Lucas Concrete was a key contributor to this award-winning project, delivering a total precast solution that helped resolve major construction and design challenges—without compromising the vision of the campus or project schedule.

What began as a consultation to resolve a stair climb head-height issue evolved into a comprehensive redesign of both architectural and hardscape elements. The resulting precast stair and retaining wall system not only aligned with the overall design language of the building but also enhanced site functionality and durability.

The stair climb system—now a focal point of the campus circulation—was fabricated off-site, allowing for high-quality finishes, improved control over detailing, and a dramatic reduction in on-site labor and complexity. By integrating precast retaining walls and hardscape elements, the final installation delivered a seamless blend of form, function, and buildability. The contractor was able to regain lost time on the main building schedule, and the client praised both the quality and the efficiency of the final result.

Lucas Concrete was initially brought in to consult on a critical design issue affecting the central stair climb at the Wilbur O. and Anne Powers College of Business: the head clearance in a middle section of the stairs was too low. Working closely with the project team, Lucas helped rework the geometry to resolve the head-height conflict—unlocking the path to a successful and compliant stair design.

However, the scope quickly expanded. Much of the surrounding earth had already been removed during the foundation work for the main structure, creating constructability issues for the hardscape and retaining wall system originally planned as cast-in-place. Recognizing the risks to schedule and sequencing, Lucas Concrete proposed a reimagined solution: replace the complex foundation wall and in-situ formwork with precast retaining walls and strip footings.

This move eliminated the need for deep foundation walls, simplified site access, and allowed the contractor to focus resources on the main structure. Meanwhile, the stair system and retaining components were fabricated off-site—improving quality control and speeding up overall installation.

Further complications such as water infiltration, retainage issues, and erosion control added to the complexity, making the precast solution even more valuable. In the end, not only was the design intent preserved, but the contractor was also able to regain control of the construction schedule—delivering a successful project that reflects the best of engineering innovation and architectural integration.