Vertical ICF Project!

Smart Structures, the Little Rock, Arkansas Dealer that specializes in the construction of Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) buildings, was chosen by Vertical Development to assist in the design and construction of 22 new, vertical lofts planned in downtown Little Rock.  The project was designed with the use of Eco-Block insulated concrete forms, and PermaCrete’s exterior finish system. The finished project received a coveted LEED Gold certification.   

The 44,000 square foot project was designed in 3 different colors.  Matt Bell, the owner of Smart Structures, began the project with a wet skim coat of PermaCrete’s Tropic Set Matrix over the ICF blocks. Bell’s crew then embedded the 4.5 oz. PermaMesh into the wet coat to bridge the seams and add additional flexural strength to the Eco-Block system.

Matt and his crew continued with PermaCrete’s Tropic Grit Matrix to achieve the desired sand finish in the final exterior coat.  Tropic Grit Matrix has retarders formulated into the mix so that, in very hot temperatures, it doesn’t set up too quickly before application.

The final surface layer was an application of PermaSeal Stain Sealer.  Matt used three colors in rotation from the 170 standard colors available for PermaSeal Sealers:  Saddle Tan, Dry Wheat, and Baroque, were the 3 sealer colors Smart Structures selected.

This vertical housing project is at the forefront of environmentally conscious design and construction.  The Eco-Block wall system coupled with the PermaCrete’sexterior finish system has unmatched qualities for durability, insulation, and overall performance, and is additionally significant for its LEED Gold rating certification.

Congratulations to Matt and Smart Structures on a great job!