The Locks Tower is a landmark residential development in downtown Richmond, Virginia, recognized for introducing an innovative precast structural system to the city’s skyline. Rising 11 stories with a two-story steel penthouse above, the 301,814-square-foot tower was among the first high-rise apartment buildings constructed in Richmond’s downtown core in decades, helping drive renewed urban residential growth in the area.

The building utilizes a total precast structural system, where precast concrete wall and floor panels function as both the structural frame and the building’s exterior enclosure. This integrated approach allowed the project team to achieve efficient construction sequencing, improved structural performance, and enhanced thermal and acoustic separation between residential units. The exterior façade features sandblasted white architectural concrete, creating a distinctive appearance within Richmond’s traditionally red-brick architectural context.

TRC Worldwide Engineering provided precast engineering services for the structure, supporting the design and implementation of the precast concrete system used throughout the tower. The project also required careful structural coordination for several architectural features, including the 10th-floor rooftop pool positioned above occupied residential units, which required specialized structural design to accommodate the significant water loads and associated structural transfers.