Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, located in Phoenix, Arizona is home to over 1200 students and teachers. Also known as Founders Hall, this 82,500 square foot masterpiece utilizes BuildBlock ICFs everywhere, from the exterior walls to elevator shafts to bathroom stall dividers. In total, over 98,000 square feet of ICF wall was used in the building itself with an additional 5,000 square feet of ICF was used in landscaping. Using ICF throughout the entire structure is the best way to get the most out of your investment. The environmental and structural benefits of ICF are multiplied and the finished product is strong, efficient, and cohesive.

The insulating concrete forms are comprised of two 2 ½ inch expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam panels connected by eight strong, high-density plastic webs. The forms are secured with rebar and filled with concrete, providing a monolithic concrete wall that is impenetrable by tornadoes and hurricanes. The structure is also extremely fire and earthquake resistant and meets all of today’s building codes as well as those anticipated in the future.

The nature of ICFs make Founders Hall an extremely energy efficient building as well. The school is built to LEED-Platinum standards, with LED lighting, electric vehicle charging stations, and a state of the art chiller system. The cost of operating and maintaining this structure is far less than that of similar buildings built with traditional materials.

Xavier is an excellent example of how any design plan, large or small, can incorporate ICF. The structure boasts 28 different wall heights, dozens of large arches, intricate wall intersection, and several different concrete core widths. The steel dome roof is supported by a towering 50 foot ICF radius wall.

In 2012 BuildBlock won the ICF Builder Award Competition in the category of Heavy Commercial with the Xavier project. Even though ICFs are a well-established building material in Arizona, this project garnered the attention of many architects and engineers across the country. Gary Fetters, who co-lead the construction crew on Xavier, said: “We hosted approximately 25 field trips over the last few months for architects and engineers who were very interested in an up-close look at Xavier and how ICFs were utilized and all the creative ways ICFs can enhance a structure as grandiose as this.”

The school website states, “Founders Hall is a cornerstone of Xavier’s foundation for growth and will keep Xavier in the forefront of educational excellence and will give students a central place on campus to meet socially and develop their leadership skills on a daily basis.”