The Hawthorne is an apartment complex located on a six-acre site in northern Stratford. The development consists of three six-storey buildings with a total of 275 residential units. Buildings B and C are currently under construction, with each building comprising approximately 84,000 square feet. Construction began on January 5, and occupancy of Building C is scheduled for September 1. Notably, the precast installation for Building C was completed in just 18 working days, highlighting the speed and efficiency of the construction process.

Precast concrete was selected for the project because it offered the most cost-effective and efficient structural solution. In addition to serving as the primary structural system, the precast panels also function as the architectural exterior finish. The panels arrived on site with windows pre-installed and exterior finishes—including wood, brick, and stucco—already completed. Select panels will receive additional on-site staining using a multi-tonal finish on both the wood planks and brick elements.

A key advantage of the system is the long-term durability of the building envelope, as all exterior finishes are concrete-based and designed to withstand the elements for years to come. The project team was also impressed by the sustainability benefits of precast construction. Factory-controlled production minimizes material waste, improves energy efficiency, and ensures consistent quality and durability. In addition, delivering the panels to site as a complete system significantly reduced the number of deliveries required, while also accelerating the overall construction schedule.

Challenges on the project were minimal. The team maintained the construction schedule through rain and snow, and any time lost due to high winds was quickly recovered through increased efficiencies and accelerated installation rates. In fact, the greatest challenge became ensuring that the following trades could keep pace with the speed of the structure installation. The precast producer’s efficient structural grid system reduced the number of panels required, allowing for significantly greater square footage to be completed each day.

Project Highlights for Building One:

• 351 wall panels (6", 8" and 10" panels)
• 24 cornices
• 20 stairs (188 risers)
• 20 landings (8")
• 9,000 sf of balconies (80 pieces)
• 80,230 sf of hollowcore (10")

Finishes: Brick and wood formliner with multi tonal stain + textured paint with single tone paint

Precast was all solid panels: Studs and Spray foam installed onsite.

Photos courtesy of Stubbe’s Precast