Aparment conceptual-1
Location: Cuyahoga Riverfront, Cleveland, Ohio
Scale: Over 210,000 sq. ft. facility
Function: World's largest and most advanced sports training, performance, and medical research center. New home for the Cavaliers.
VREcast Role: Supported fast-track construction by enabling installation parallel to structural works, significantly compressing the project timeline.
A groundbreaking facility demanded a breakthrough in building science. The Cleveland Clinic Performance Center is more than a building—it is the world’s most sophisticated hub for athletic potential, seamlessly integrating elite sports medicine, advanced research, and world-class training.
To meet its uncompromising standard for design and delivery, the project required a facade system that was both revolutionary and reliably efficient.
A key engineering milestone in the project was the application of the VREcast Wall Panel System, an advanced lightweight composite façade technology. Comprising cold-formed steel bonded with high-performance concrete, the panels offered superior strength-to-weight ratio, enhanced thermal efficiency, and rapid installation advantages. Their adoption significantly optimized the construction process by reducing material handling, on-site labor, and overall project timelines, while maintaining durability and aesthetic versatility.
METRIC
SPECIFICATION/DETAIL
Wall Thickness
8½ inches (Total Profile)
Weight Reduction
Up to 66% lighter than traditional precast
Composite Connector
GFRP bars for structural shear transfer
Thermal Mitigation
¼” separation gap (No thermal bridging)
Concrete Face
Slim 4 inches
Panel Weight
30 lbs. per square foot
THE CHALLENGE
A project of this scale requires simultaneous excellence: structural integrity, thermal performance, and architectural precision. Traditional construction methods meant long timelines, heavy logistics, and on-site complexity that risked compromising the final vision.
The objective was clear: complete the landmark facade faster, deliver superior insulation, and integrate complex MEP services—all within a demanding, slim 8 and a 1/2 inch wall profile.
ROLE OF VRECAST
The VREcast system was selected to meet the project’s demanding structural and aesthetic criteria while accelerating construction:
Composite Components: Cold-formed steel (CFS) is structurally integrated with concrete using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars for effective shear transfer and stability.
Dimensional Integrity: Delivered large-format panels of approximately 11′ x 13′ with a slim profile of just 4 inches of concrete, installed 18 feet above ground.
