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Quebec Manufacturer Involved in a Large Housing Development in Maryland

Words: Dan KamysThe masonry market is showing signs of recovery in the U.S., as evidenced by a significant construction project of residential buildings for university students – a project that is distinguished by the presence of several FRSM-20K units from Fraco.

In 2014, Towson University in Maryland began the construction of phases 3 and 4 of West Village Housing, a residential project adding 700 beds to the university campus that already has more than 2,100. For this project, two 9- and 11-story buildings have been built simultaneously in order to meet the growing demand for residences on campus. The additional housing is scheduled to be available in summer 2016.

In order to meet a tight schedule, the general contractor, Whiting Turner Contracting Co. (Baltimore, Md.), and masonry contractor, Banner Masonry (Gwynn Oak, Md.), asked Fraco Products to prepare an offer of work platforms capable of accommodating several trades with access to the building envelope. Fraco’s offer had to take into account constraints such as limited access to buildings and nearly incessant pedestrian and vehicle traffic near the site.

Fraco’s solution consisted of providing 28 FRSM-20K work platforms and two SEH Series construction hoists with a capacity of 7,000 lbs. each. The SEH Series elevators were necessary because of the impossibility of reaching certain heights with forklifts. Delivery and installation were completed at the end of summer 2015.

Considering the tight schedule and the difficult conditions of the job site, Fraco platforms were considered the best solution to allow the various trades to work cooperatively to complete the exterior envelope of these two buildings.

For more information, contact: Daniel Hurley, sales representative, Fraco USA Inc., (443) 250-7221, dan.hurley@fraco.com, or Jacques Lainé, director of marketing, Fraco Products Ltd., (514) 713-1212, jacques.laine@fraco.com.
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