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Winter Concrete Protection & Temporary Enclosure System for Healthcare Construction at UM Health

Pouring concrete in the middle of a Michigan winter?

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Yeah… that’s usually where schedules go to die.

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Cold temps.
Wind exposure.
Moisture creeping in where it shouldn’t.

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And concrete?

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It doesn’t care about your deadlines.
It cares about conditions.

Industry

Healthcare​

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Main Purpose

RWES was used to create a warm, controlled environment for winter concrete pours.

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Project Timeline

2025-2026

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Inside Look​

 

This project for University of Michigan Health wasn’t just another build.

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It was a major healthcare facility construction project, with:

  • Multi-phase sequencing

  • Tight timelines

  • Critical structural milestones

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And one of the biggest pressure points?

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Winter concrete work.

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Because when you’re pouring and curing concrete in freezing conditions:

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Everything gets harder.

Everything gets slower.

Everything gets riskier.

The Challenge

 

Let’s call it what it is:

Winter construction is brutal.

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1. Cold Temperatures Kill Concrete Performance

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Concrete needs:

  • Consistent temperatures

  • Controlled conditions

  • Proper curing environments

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Without that?

  • Weak curing

  • Delays

  • Potential rework

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2. Wind + Moisture = Constant Disruption

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Open structures are exposed to:

  • Cold air infiltration

  • Moisture intrusion

  • Heat loss

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Which makes it nearly impossible to:
Maintain stable curing conditions

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3. No Enclosure = No Control

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Before full building enclosure:

  • Crews are exposed

  • Materials are exposed

  • Work becomes unpredictable

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And for healthcare construction?

That’s not acceptable.

The Solution

 

This is where RWES stepped in—and took control of the environment.

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Installed directly to the structural steel, RWES created a fully enclosed workspace that allowed the team to perform critical winter concrete work without interruption. 

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Heat Containment = Game Changer

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RWES didn’t just block wind.

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It:

  • contained heat inside the enclosure

  • maintained consistent temperatures

  • created ideal curing conditions

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Exactly what your doc highlights:
Warmer, stable environment for proper concrete placement and curing 

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Air + Water Tight Performance

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This is where things get next-level.

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With the addition of vertical seam flap detailing, RWES:

  • Reduced air leakage

  • Minimized heat loss

  • Prevented moisture intrusion

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Creating a tighter, more efficient enclosure system 

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Built for Speed and Simplicity

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And let’s not forget:

It went up fast.

It was easier to install than traditional methods.

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Even noted in your doc:
Easier than zip ties through grommets 

The Game Changing Benefits for the Client

1. Reliable Winter Concrete Curing

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This is the headline.

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RWES created:

  • Consistent temperatures

  • Controlled environment

  • Proper curing conditions

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Stronger concrete.
Better performance.
No compromise on quality.

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2. Heat Retention That Actually Works

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Instead of fighting heat loss, the system:

  • Contained warmth

  • Reduced energy waste

  • Maintained efficiency

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Which means:
Fewer disruptions.
More predictable results.

 

3. Protection from Wind and Moisture

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RWES blocked:

  • cold air infiltration

  • moisture intrusion

  • environmental instability

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Creating a jobsite that works with the team—not against it

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4. Faster Installation = Faster Progress

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Time matters.

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RWES delivered:

  • quick installation

  • easy setup

  • minimal complexity

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So crews could:
Get protected faster.
Start work sooner.

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5. Schedule Stays Intact

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Despite winter conditions, the team:

  • stayed on track

  • avoided delays

  • maintained project momentum

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Exactly what your doc confirms—keeping the schedule on track 

Why It Matters

Let’s zoom out.

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Healthcare construction doesn’t pause for weather.

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You’re building:

  • critical facilities

  • long-term infrastructure

  • environments where quality matters

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And winter conditions?

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They’re guaranteed.

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So the question becomes:

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Do you slow down… or do you take control?

The Real Takeaway

The team didn’t wait for better weather.

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They created better conditions.

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They understood:

“If we control the environment, we control the outcome.”

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And with RWES?

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That’s exactly what they did.

Building in cold climates? Winter pours slowing you down?

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Stop letting weather dictate your schedule.

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Control the environment.
Protect your work.
Build through winter.

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Book a demo. See RWES in action. And keep your project moving—no matter the temperature.

Quotation marks

RWES went up very quickly as advertised, the vertical seam flaps are actually easier than using zip ties through grommets.

© 2025 RWES. All rights reserved.

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