North Fork Peachtree Storage Tank | Atlanta, Georgia 

Maximus Construction Partners with EFCO for Proven Results

To tackle this complex infrastructure challenge, Maximus Construction Services took on the storage tank portion of this project. At the same time, Ruby Collins served as general contractor and handled the pump station work. Given the project’s demanding specifications, Maximus chose EFCO because of their reputation for reliable, cost-effective solutions and responsive field support that helps contractors achieve the Lowest in-Place Concrete Cost (LIPCC).

EFCO addressed these complex requirements with a comprehensive solution. The contractor used EFCO LITE® and PLATE GIRDER® systems for the walls, providing the flexibility needed for the stepped wall design. For worker safety at height, SUPER STUD® Jump Platforms ensured secure access throughout the construction process. Additionally, EFCO’s tieless REDI-RADIUS® System was utilized for the pump station.

Tieless above-ground tank forming

Beyond the storage tank work, EFCO successfully secured the pump station portion of the North Fork project with Ruby Collins, showcasing another dimension of our formwork capabilities. This separate but equally important component features a concrete wet well that extends approximately 87 feet in depth, requiring specialized forming solutions for its unique curved geometry. For this challenging application, the REDI-RADIUS® system was contracted for the curved wall forming, which required nine lifts to reach full height.

Engineering Challenges of Variable Radius Design

The pump station’s design presented an interesting engineering challenge that differed significantly from the storage tank requirements. As the formwork rises, the interior radius remains constant at 20 feet (26.5 m), while the exterior radius gradually decreases from 23 feet (7.0 m) to 22 feet (6.7 m) and then to 21 feet 4 inches (6.5 m). A key advantage of the REDI-RADIUS® system is the contractor’s ability to easily adjust panel radius on-site, providing flexibility to accommodate design variation without complex modifications or special equipment.

Construction Sequencing and Form Stability Management

Ruby Collins used 11-foot (3.4 m) formwork stacks for the first three lifts to accommodate 10-foot-tall (3.0 m) pours. However, to optimize productivity, exterior forms were introduced with a 20-foot (6.1 m) form stack at lift four to stay one cycle ahead of the interior forms. To ensure form stability and prevent movement during the concrete pour, the contractor focused on pouring equally around the entire form perimeter. A yoke system at the top of the formwork helped maintain precise alignment between the interior and exterior forms throughout the placement process.

Tie-Less Forming Solution

Most importantly, EFCO provided exceptional value on this project by offering a solution that no one else in the industry can match. EFCO’s innovative approach, utilizing tension and compression rings with the REDI-RADIUS® system, delivered a completely tie-less solution. This tieless round tank design provides significant advantages beyond just installation efficiency—it eliminates the labor-intensive process of installing and stripping ties, and crucially, the contractor had no tie holes to patch afterward. This is often a critical detail for tank work because tie holes represent potential leak points, and their elimination ensures superior watertight Integrity. This unique capability gives EFCO a significant advantage over the competition for structures of this size and complexity, enhancing efficiency while simplifying the forming process and delivering superior results.

Eliminating Ties Saves Time and Money

What set EFCO’s approach apart was the strategic use of different systems for different applications. While the EFCO LITE® and PLATE GIRDER® systems used ties for the 5-foot (1.5 m)-thick walls, EFCO’s REDI-RADIUS® System used on the pump eliminated the need for ties entirely.

The tieless innovation on the pump structure, combined with the large tie spacing of the EFCO LITE® and PLATE GIRDER® systems, delivered significant savings in materials and labor compared to alternative systems requiring extensive ties or support structures. This optimized approach reduced consumable costs across the project’s 111 total pours (which included tank pours that utilized ties), with each pour averaging 50 linear feet (15.2 m) of wall—a critical benefit on a project of this scale.

Smart Platform Systems Boost Safety and Speed

In addition to the wall-forming solutions, EFCO’s SUPER STUD® Jump Platforms provided safe work areas for crews building the 60-foot-tall (18.3 m) structure. Inside platforms used typical jump platforms attached to the forms, while outside platforms operated independently of the forms and could be positioned precisely where needed for each lift. The system also included custom pour bridges connecting columns, meeting the contractor’s specific access requirements while maintaining safety standards. This flexible approach kept crews productive throughout the vertical construction process.

Custom Solutions Drive Productivity

Moving beyond the standard forming challenges, the storage tank’s internal beam structure required specialized formwork extending from perimeter walls to interior columns. While EFCO’s PLATE GIRDER® beam tubs were initially planned, the engineering team replaced them early on with the E-Z DECK® system, which offered faster installation, improved reusability, and eliminated the need for traditional shoring. This solution created four standardized pour patterns that could be reused with minimal adjustments, allowing crews to move quickly between different wall sections while maintaining Quality and consistency.