Jack Travers of Black Micro Construction said they have been using precast concrete made from pre-stressed beds on Guam for the past 30 years, but this construction technology is new in the CNMI.
“One year is a short time to finish the construction, but with the pre-cast concrete beds, we are able to work faster,” said Travers, who was yesterday’s guest at the Saipan Rotary Club meeting at the Hyatt.
The Sandy Beach Homes project broke ground in December last year.
Travers said it took them a couple of months to prepare everything before they finally cast the first planks last month. The work is progressing well, he added.
Travers said one of the advantages of using the precast beds is that it can produce slabs faster, requiring shorter time compared to the cast-in-place method or conventional construction.
He said Black Micro Construction partnered with Hawaiian Rock Products whose quarry is located near the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport, a few minutes’ drive away from the construction site
During the groundbreaking, project developer Sandy Beach Homes LLC promised to turn over the keys of the finished project to its tenants by December this year.
The project involves the construction of 60 three-bedroom, two-bathroom units measuring 1,400 sq. ft. each on the six floors of the buildings with above ground level parking.
The project, which is designed to meet the shortage of three-bedroom housing units on Saipan, will also feature energy-efficient design and materials, including a solar water heater.
