Hy-Vee grocery has established itself as one of the top 25 grocery retailers in the country. The organization has built 240 stores throughout eight midwestern states and employs over 85,000 people. A common thread to the grocery chain’s expansion? Fabcon Precast.
DIFFERENT BUSINESSES. A COMMON APPROACH
As the go-to provider of precast concrete panels for many grocery chains throughout the country, Hy-Vee looks to Fabcon for expertise in both the production of precast panels and the build-out of its stores.
“The biggest thing for grocery – and retail clients in general – is speed of construction,” said Fabcon’s Matt Smith. “They want to get the registers up and running as quickly as possible. The fastest way to do that is with precast.” While speed is always vital, the grocer has grown to appreciate our service throughout the entirety of a project. And much like itself, also the way we’ve proven to help them keep costs in check.
CLIMATE CONSIDERATIONS, INSIDE & OUT
“Like many of the grocers we work with,” said Fabcon’s Don Johnson, “Hy-Vee gravitates to our 12” VersaCore+Green™ sandwich panels and their impressive R-value of 28.2.”
Featuring edge-to-edge insulation, these panels meet energy efficiency requirements and are effective at maintaining a comfortable shopping environment, regardless of climate. This helps to enhance the customer experience, but it also saves plenty of money in heating and cooling throughout the life of a store.
Not all grocery stores are created equal. And Hy-Vee is no exception. So if the in-store experience was so much better than its competitors, why look like everyone else? Fabcon has worked closely with Hy-Vee’s architects and designers to produce a custom finish for their precast panels. This helps the chain’s stores stand out from the pack. And create a positive impression of the brand the moment a customer approaches the store.
Experienced crews and better engineering insure that Fabcon walls go up fast making room for other subcontractors to get to work quicker.
QUICK TO BUILD. QUICKER TO MARKET
“Because of the close working relationships, all parties at the table develop a kind of “short hand” when working with architects, general contractors and management from the grocery chains,” said Johnson. “’It’s just like the one we built in Cedar Rapids,’ for example, that only serves to speed up the process and eliminate pitfalls along the way.”
This means that from the plant to the install crews, many of our employees have direct experience with a Hy-Vee project. And it shows as subsequent builds go that much easier. With multiple production facilities, we’re able to produce the required panels to handle multiple projects at one time.
“On the larger end of things, there are always efficiencies when you repeat a design,” said Smith. “Even if the architect is designing buildings in several states, you’re not starting from scratch each time – both in terms of production and build-out.” This is how Hy-Vee moves so quickly from Ground Breaking to Grand Opening.
Then it’s off to the next store and another call to Fabcon Precast.
Related Stories
Sponsored | Concrete | Mar 2, 2018
English inspired church built with insulated concrete forms
The challenge was to mirror the style of a historic place of worship while using modern technologies which comply with today's codes of practice.
Concrete | Jul 13, 2017
LF Driscoll and Balfour Beatty recently wrapped the largest concrete pour in Philadelphia’s history
The pour created the foundation for the Foster + Partners-designed Pavilion on Penn Medicine’s Campus.
Concrete | Jul 7, 2017
The secrets held within Ancient Roman concrete could improve future building practices
Not only has the concrete stood the test of time, but it has actually become stronger.
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: Next-gen materials for the built environment, Blaine Brownell, Transmaterial
Architect and materials guru Blaine Brownell reveals emerging trends and applications that are transforming the technological capacity, environmental performance, and design potential of architecture.
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: A case for Big Data in construction, Graham Cranston, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Graham Cranston shares SGH’s efforts to take hold of its project data using mathematical optimization techniques and information-rich interactive visual graphics.
Sponsored | Concrete | May 31, 2017
Fabcon helps bring new life to brownfield sites
With brownsites, the real trouble lies in the unseen: namely the hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants that remain in the soil.
Multifamily Housing | May 17, 2017
Swedish Tower’s 15th floor is reserved for a panoramic garden
C.F. Møller’s design was selected as the winner of a competition organized by Riksbyggen in Västerås.
Mixed-Use | Apr 25, 2017
Dutch building incorporates 22 emojis into its façade
The emoji building is part of a larger mixed-use development built around a 150-year-old oak tree.
Concrete | Apr 7, 2017
‘Cool’ pavement creates ice rink aesthetic outside NHL practice facility
The concrete contains unique colors, aggregates, and textures.
Sponsored | Concrete | Mar 8, 2017
Building success with NUDURA Insulated Building Technology
Research provides evidence that schools throughout North America are moving toward greener and healthier building solutions and the demand for energy performance has become increasingly more important.
