True Life Ministries
Racine, Wisconsin

Project Background

For owners and tenants of a new commercial building, the new accel-E® Steel Thermal Efficient Panel (S.T.E.P.) wall system can mean earlier occupancy, quicker positive cash flow and reduced financing costs. For members of the True Life Ministries congregation in Racine, Wis., however, the innovative new wall system provided even more important benefits.

“We’ve got five new day care classrooms opening, and we do have a waiting list for some of the children, so the sooner we can get it open the better off we will be,” said Ronald Bogard, superintendent of construction for True Life Ministries.

A Faster Solution

The new 39,000-square-foot building will house the congregation’s sanctuary, as well as 11 new offices, a bookstore, daycare rooms, youth room and other facilities. Using the accel-E® system enabled the congregation to shave many weeks off the 18-month construction schedule.

“I was impressed with the way the accel-E® panels went up so fast,” added Bogard. “We were able to cut our construction time significantly.”

In addition, the accel-E® S.T.E.P. wall system was also considerably less costly when compared to the insulated concrete construction (ICF) which was originally planned for the project.

A Better Result... With Energy Savings

“In my opinion, after looking and researching alternatives, this is the best wall system that’s out there in this type of building construction,” said Ken Rosploch, owner of New Wall Construction, which specified and installed the panels.

Bogard concurred, adding: “I think this is going to revolutionize construction. It simplifies things.... You would spend a lot of time stacking blocks and tying steel reinforcing rods in the forms before you could pump concrete. But these panels went up so quickly you could cut your construction time.”

Another particular advantage was the availability of panels in virtually any height – an important consideration for the True Life Ministries building, where wall heights varied from 24 feet to as much as 48 feet.

“We required custom lengths because of a three-story prayer tower and elevator area that required a straightthrough configuration, which they were able to supply without a problem,” said Bogard. “So there is less chance of water intrusion since there are no horizontal seams to allow moisture to collect.”

While construction cost and speed were the factors that initially attracted the congregation to the S.T.E.P. system, Rosploch said that, in the long term, the energy savings provided by the accel-E® panels will ultimately prove to be of even greater value.