Prescient is an innovative company founded in 2012 in the United States that specializes in designing and constructing buildings using a proprietary light gauge steel system. Their construction methods are now being applied to mid- and high-rise buildings, offering significant savings in construction costs and project timelines. However, integrating window washing or fall protection systems into Prescient's unique building design presents challenges.
Prescient Construction Method
The Prescient building design comprises a series of vertical columns and horizontal trusses. Unlike conventional steel structures where window washing anchors can be located on beams or joists with appropriate reinforcement, anchors on a Prescient structure can only be placed at the top of column locations. This restriction limits the areas where window washing anchors can be installed, often making the design less than ideal for accessing all windows.
Challenges in Window Washing System Design
The percentage of surface area on a Prescient roof that can accommodate permanent roof anchors is approximately 5%. Due to this limitation, designs often require swing stages to access all windows. In rare cases, specific windows may be noted as inaccessible in shop drawings.
A prescient roof can’t have a design delegation to a contractor due to how complicated it is to design it in the first place. Most subcontractors in the industry would refrain from bidding on a project with this type of complexity- especially if there’s a strict deadline. It might not even be possible to design a rooftop anchorage system with the finalized drawings, and last minute changes would have to be made. This could risk a project delay.
This makes early involvement with architects critical to ensure that the design and placement of anchors are well-coordinated. Designing a rooftop fall protection or window washing system might take longer than a typical structure.
Installation of Tieback Anchors and Wall Anchors
The prescient extends the column approximately 6 inches above the metal deck at roof anchor locations and provides a plate with pre-drilled holes. A Pro-Bel permanent roof anchor with a base plate is bolted to this lower Prescient plate. Typically, a thermal break material, supplied by others, is required between the Pro-Bel plate and the Prescient plate.
Prescient columns can also be extended into the parapet upon request. In such cases, the Prescient provides a plate on the face of the column in the parapet to receive a Pro-Bel wall anchor.
Projects with Prescient
Pro-Bel has completed several projects with Prescient, including Novel Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia, and Live Grandscape in Texas. These projects demonstrate the importance of early collaboration with architects to integrate Pro-Bel’s systems seamlessly into Prescient structures.
Download our detailed anchor guides below for more technical information on the requirements for installing roof and wall anchors on Prescient buildings.
Download Prescient Anchor Details
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