HercuTech Inc. — the Tempe-based maker of insulated concrete panels — is embarking on its first project using zero wood framing at a build-to-rent community in the city of Maricopa.
Called EVR Porter, the 194-unit build-to-rent community is being developed by Scottsdale-based El Dorado Holdings Inc.
This also will be HercuTech's first HercuWall project in Maricopa as well as the first project to use HercuWall on exterior and demising walls, paired with cold-formed steel studs and trusses, resulting in zero wood framing, said Jason Rhees, CEO of HercuTech.
HercuWall prefabricated wall panels are made of insulating foam, steel and concrete.
"We manufacture the entire wall assembly in our factory and deliver it to the job sites," Rhees said. "This project here would be eliminating any wood that would typically be used in interior walls or wood trusses."
With total development costs of $55 million, EVR Porter has begun framing, said Dave Brown, head of the EVR Communities build-to-rent division at El Dorado Holdings.
SoDella Construction is general contractor for the project, which is expected to be completed next summer.
Brown said the only wood that will be used in the project will be the doors, cabinetry and baseboards. Everything else is steel and HercuWall, he said.
In fact, he said, there's less waste using HercuWall than traditional wood framing.
"Each home we fabricate, there is less than a bucket of waste of steel," Brown said.
Rhees said any waste is recycled to be reused for other products, such as picture frames or patio furniture.
The technology has been approved by International Code Council, which oversees building codes worldwide. It also has a hurricane rating of 245 MPH winds.
"From a disaster durability standpoint, there's not a better system in the market," he said.
Plus, Rhees said, there's no mold or terminates.
With 600 build-to-rent units in the pipeline, Brown said he plans to use the HercuWall technology at its next project — the 172-unit EVR Bella Vista community slated to break ground by the end of the year in San Tan Valley.
Switching to the HercuWall doesn't save money, Rhees said. It saves energy, he said.
"Eliminating wood helps with deforestation and it's a non-combustible structure, Rhees said. Overall, the energy savings and environmental impact is much better. It will outperform traditional methods."
Brown said the El Dorado team is always looking for sustainability solutions.
Toward that effort, the first phase of the EVR Porter project will use tankless water heaters.
"We are looking at other environmentally sensitive solutions," Brown said.
Besides not having to worry about the price fluctuations of lumber, Brown said all of the product will be in stock.
"From a supply chain standpoint, we control it all now," he said. "You're paying a little more but El Dorado is willing to do that just to make a better product."
