Spancrete of Illinois, Inc. finished supplying the precast concrete products for the first of two, 9-story buildings that will make up the new University Village Mid-Rise lofts located in Chicago, Illinois. The complete structural system and internal framing of the 98 unit, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom housing complex was constructed using precast, prestressed concrete products. The second building will begin construction in 2003.

The design-build team included one of the developers, New Frontier Companies, as well as Fitzgerald Associates Architects, Matrix Engineering Corporation, Linn-Mathes, Inc. and Spancrete. This team worked well with each other to create the most cost-effective design.

Pete Robinson, Director of Residential Construction for New Frontier Companies, said, "I have been very satisfied with Spancrete’s ability to innovate and create a design that meets my cost objectives and produces the framework for a handsome building. The cost for this building’s structural system was approximately $300,000 less than conventional cast-in-place methods and the ability to immediately work on the floors below the floor that is being constructed without the impediment of shoring or re-shoring was a major advantage.’" In addition, the speed of construction and the uniformity of the underside of the Spancrete plank required no additional finish coat to applied to the ceilings of these new lofts. "I was very pleased with the performance of work and the quality of Spancrete’s products," said Robinson.