designs
Custom designs for the am-cor™ system
Macdonald Architecture & Technology has a number of designs and house plans specific to the am-cor™ structural system. You can find them here.
am-cor inc. is a supplier of an unified steel and cement building system, and as such does not site assemble or design structures. However, we can:
Please see GETTING STARTED for information on submitting designs for pricing and ordering.
If you have an existing design or wish to create one, please consider the following.
Engineers, architects, and designers may easily apply am-cor™ structural principles to their projects. am-cor inc. provides extensive design support through consultation during the preliminary design phase, and sealed structural drawing sets for building permit submission and bidding upon placement of order. Standard light gauge cold rolled steel framing, normally used as non-bearing partitions and ceilings, when imbedded in horizontal concrete diaphragms and coated with a unifying continuous reinforced thin amcorite™ skin, becomes extremely rigid and capable of acting as the main structural frame.
The amcorite™ continuous cement skin expands and contracts at the same rate as its framework and is bonded to the entire frame surface, whereas standard detailing employs various types of sometimes incompatible materials at thresholds, sills, eaves, balconies, beams, columns, floors and foundations. The various properties of these materials make each intersection a possible location where change of temperature or ambient moisture can cause long term deterioration. Architects often joke that curtain-wall buildings are held together by the goo. In fact, the life of these buildings is dependent upon the durability and resistance to ultra-violet sunlight of exposed plastic and rubber based sealants.
Details and joints, normally complicated and problematic in traditional design, are simplified when translated into am-cor™ unified steel and cement construction. For instance, in the design for a terraced building where the roof of one level acts as the balcony for the unit above, such as in a ski lodge situated on a slope, several problem areas increase the cost and complexity of a standard structure.
These are areas in normal design where flashings, back flashings, waterproofing, balcony and surrounding wall surfaces, railing posts, copings, parapets, scuppers are all usually of different materials with various coefficients of expansion, reaction to moisture, and exposure to weather. Furthermore, slope of the balcony and step up into the unit above may require a lower ceiling in part of the lower unit under the balcony. Insulation of this ceiling area is also problematic. Such a configuration becomes straightforward when designed using am-cor™ unified monocoque structural cells surfaced with continuous amcorite™ skins, in turn surfaced with ceramcorite™ cohesive ceramic cement traffic resistant waterproofing.
am-cor inc. is a supplier of an unified steel and cement building system, and as such does not site assemble or design structures. However, we can:
- suggest existing architectural designs customized for the am-cor™ system:
- cottage, villa, commercial designs and house plans; hurricane, earthquake, and tornado specific regional designs and house plans
- cottage, villa, commercial designs and house plans; hurricane, earthquake, and tornado specific regional designs and house plans
- analyze your plans, from whatever source (as long as the necessary information is included), and suggest changes that will:
- strengthen and streamline your design for the am-cor™ system
- recommend whatever OPTIONS may be applicable for your environment, region, and taste
- strengthen and streamline your design for the am-cor™ system
- after a proposal is accepted, panelize your plans for use with the am-cor™ system
Please see GETTING STARTED for information on submitting designs for pricing and ordering.
NOTES ON DESIGN
If you have an existing design or wish to create one, please consider the following.
Engineers, architects, and designers may easily apply am-cor™ structural principles to their projects. am-cor inc. provides extensive design support through consultation during the preliminary design phase, and sealed structural drawing sets for building permit submission and bidding upon placement of order. Standard light gauge cold rolled steel framing, normally used as non-bearing partitions and ceilings, when imbedded in horizontal concrete diaphragms and coated with a unifying continuous reinforced thin amcorite™ skin, becomes extremely rigid and capable of acting as the main structural frame.
The amcorite™ continuous cement skin expands and contracts at the same rate as its framework and is bonded to the entire frame surface, whereas standard detailing employs various types of sometimes incompatible materials at thresholds, sills, eaves, balconies, beams, columns, floors and foundations. The various properties of these materials make each intersection a possible location where change of temperature or ambient moisture can cause long term deterioration. Architects often joke that curtain-wall buildings are held together by the goo. In fact, the life of these buildings is dependent upon the durability and resistance to ultra-violet sunlight of exposed plastic and rubber based sealants.
Details and joints, normally complicated and problematic in traditional design, are simplified when translated into am-cor™ unified steel and cement construction. For instance, in the design for a terraced building where the roof of one level acts as the balcony for the unit above, such as in a ski lodge situated on a slope, several problem areas increase the cost and complexity of a standard structure.
- waterproofing the various retaining walls and floor to wall joints where each level meets the ground
- structuring the retaining wall support mid-slab of the unit above for differential settlement
- specifying a traffic-resistant finish to the balcony surface
- joint details between balcony waterproofing and the structure at:
- door threshold to the upper unit
- at balcony edge
- railing attachment
- door threshold to the upper unit
These are areas in normal design where flashings, back flashings, waterproofing, balcony and surrounding wall surfaces, railing posts, copings, parapets, scuppers are all usually of different materials with various coefficients of expansion, reaction to moisture, and exposure to weather. Furthermore, slope of the balcony and step up into the unit above may require a lower ceiling in part of the lower unit under the balcony. Insulation of this ceiling area is also problematic. Such a configuration becomes straightforward when designed using am-cor™ unified monocoque structural cells surfaced with continuous amcorite™ skins, in turn surfaced with ceramcorite™ cohesive ceramic cement traffic resistant waterproofing.