Podium construction is becoming the go-to model for mid-rise multifamily housing in dense urban and suburban markets because of its enhanced durability, fire ratings, and sound insulation compared to an all-wood structure. This construction type achieves many of the density advantages of high-rise buildings, but without the full construction cost and complexity of a high-rise system.
Podium construction (also known as pedestal or platform construction) describes a building approach in which the lower levels — typically one or two floors — are made from noncombustible, high-performance materials (like concrete, steel, or masonry). Above the podium, lighter construction such as wood framing can maximize height allowances under building codes while controlling costs.
Under the International Building Code (IBC), these podium buildings leverage horizontal building separation (IBC § 510.2) to treat the lower podium and upper portion as virtually independent structures for determining height, area, and fire restrictions.
Typical podium arrangements include:
The podium level often contains structured parking, retail space, or shared amenities like fitness centers and lobbies.
Podium construction enables a number of advantages — especially when paired with precast or prestressed concrete systems — that make it a powerful tool for multifamily project developers.
Podium construction allows developers to build parking (above or partly below grade) right under residential floors. In dense contexts, this stacking maximizes land utilization. Underground or covered podium parking also offers benefits in colder climates: temperature control, protection from snow and ice, and improved security compared to surface lots.
The podium level must satisfy noncombustible construction requirements and a minimum 3-hour horizontal fire separation under IBC § 510.2 to isolate the lower building from the upper building. Above the podium, the multi-story wood (or light framing) portion is treated under its own code limits. This separation allows the combined structure to exceed the building height limits that would normally apply to a fully wood-frame structure.
Concrete absorbs and dampens sound more effectively than wood construction. A well-designed concrete podium provides robust separation between parking noise, vehicular traffic, and residential units above — helping deliver more comfortable acoustics for residents.
One of the most common building materials for podium structures is hollowcore plank. This versatile flooring and roof system provides many advantages during design, construction, and occupancy.
Because of its high strength and prestressed design, hollowcore allows for long clear spans with fewer columns than would be required with other construction methods. Prestressed hollowcore planks can be manufactured up to 45-feet wide, giving designers maximum flexibility in parking layouts and amenity spaces.
One of the biggest advantages of hollowcore is the ability to shorten construction schedules. The precast elements can be produced concurrently with sitework, and once delivered, they can be installed in a matter of days and with less labor than other materials. After installation, the podium slab provides a working deck for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades, eliminating the need to wait for on-site concrete curing.
The efficiency of hollowcore can shorten construction schedules compared to cast-in-place methods. For example, County Prestress’ Hollowcore was specified for the podium of Hayden Grove Senior Living, an assisted living community in St. Anthony, Minnesota, because of its efficient installation and ability to maximize usable space in the underground parking garage. Despite dealing with an early snow and job site delays, the erector and contractor installed 35,000 SF of hollowcore in just 10 days.
Hollowcore slabs are engineered to carry the combined weight of multiple stories above the podium, enabling popular configurations like “5-over-1” without costly transfer structures. Also, the factory-controlled production environment yields precision, fewer field errors, and easier coordination for embed locations, penetrations, and openings.
Hollowcore systems meet multi-hour fire resistance requirements, providing the fire separation needed between residential and parking levels. This eliminates the added fireproofing steps required with other building systems.
While hollowcore is the structural backbone of podium slabs, it also integrates well with other precast elements that can further streamline the construction process:
Total precast systems help project teams reduce on-site labor, improve schedule predictability, and deliver higher quality with fewer variables.
By combining structural capacity, schedule advantages, and code performance in one product, hollowcore is one of the most efficient ways to deliver podium projects on time and on budget.
Rely on County Prestress & Precast’s podium construction products to simplify your project timeline and minimize risks. Talk to our team to learn how precast can help shorten the schedule of your next project. Contact us to get started.