Panelization and connections for rapid erection of high-rise elevator and stair cores

Stairs and elevator shafts not only allow vertical movement of occupants from floor to floor, their cores often serve as the main lateral stability system for these multistory structures. Due to the magnitude of loads often applied to these cores, they are stout and consume valuable space. This case study is of a 12-story-plus-basement dormitory that has a precast concrete elevator core, two precast concrete stair cores, and a free-standing precast concrete shear wall. This paper presents the process of development and implementation of the cores from a design concept to completed construction.