Tilt Wall Construction in Schertz, Texas

On a large tilt-up building in Schertz, the casting bed is the first thing we design and the last thing we want to move. The slab doubles as the form surface for every panel, so its size, flatness and drainage decide how fast the walls rise. We lay out the bed, the stacking plan and the truck court together, before the owner commits to a building footprint.

The city's economic development corporation reports that about 8 million square feet of industrial space is planned or already built here, and a 257,000-square-foot retail and dining center along Interstate 35 has opened its first tenant. Industrial and retail growth side by side means competing uses for the same highway frontage, so a builder has to be organized about access, laydown and construction traffic.

Exits 174 through 180 on Interstate 35 serve the north end of Schertz, while a thin strip of San Antonio carrying Interstate 10 touches the city boundary to the south. Both routes put a distribution or manufacturing user within reach of a metro labor pool, and both bring congestion on days when we want a long run of heavy deliveries.

Cibolo Creek forms the line between Guadalupe and Bexar counties and runs through Schertz just south of the historic downtown. Its largest recorded flood was in 1913. We use that history as a reminder: ground near the creek can be wet, soft or both, and brace footings need competent bearing. We test footings before each lift and move the panel layout if the soil will not carry the brace load.

On lift day the rigging zone is closed to everyone not involved. A spotter watches the swing, a competent rigger signs off on each connection, and the crane operator has the authority to stop. Our temporary panel bracing plan lists footing sizes, brace lengths and release conditions panel by panel.

A casting bed that is too small forces stacking, double handling or extra lifts. One that is too large wastes slab area and adds cost. We find the balance by testing the panel schedule against the footprint, then pricing the slab to the specification the building needs.

Other drivers include fill and grading, truck court thickness, dock equipment, and crane size. A taller panel needs a larger crane, and a larger crane needs a firmer pad. Our panel casting bed scope spells out which of these items are included and which depend on the soils report.

Panel casting runs ahead of the crane. The first panels cast are the first to lift, which means the pour schedule is drawn backward from the lift order. We tag each panel, document its location and tie it to a delivery of rebar, embeds and concrete.

Because the same highway serves both industrial and retail growth, we plan truck arrivals with the owner and avoid peak traffic. If the lift falls on a day when the wind picks up, the sequence lets us stop cleanly with panels braced and stable.

Truck courts, dock aprons and utility connections are all part of a Schertz build. The truck courts and dock aprons have to be thick enough for trailers and flat enough for drainage. They also have to be built after the crane has finished so that heavy outriggers do not damage fresh paving.

We plan that order with the owner so site paving and building work do not collide. Where a fire line or detention basin is part of the job, the utility trench is cut early and backfilled before panels are cast.

Buyers here include industrial developers and REITs building speculative space, logistics operators looking for a regional hub and manufacturers who want a plant close to San Antonio. Military posts in the region (Randolph, Lackland and Fort Sam Houston) also support a skilled workforce and a stream of defense-adjacent suppliers.

We do not claim to build for those bases. We do point out that the market has contractors and tenants who understand security, schedule and documentation, and we hold ourselves to that standard.

A tilt-up building goes through the same plan review as any commercial structure. The building department reviews the permit, the fire marshal reviews fire access and suppression, and the engineer of record reviews the panel and connection design. Inspections are scheduled at the slab, the panel reinforcement, the lift and the roof.

Our permitting and inspections coordination keeps those reviews moving. We ask for the review comments early, and we do not schedule a pour before the reinforcement inspection is on the calendar.

Panels, joists, deck and rigging gear all need a place to sit. We map laydown areas, crane positions, truck entry and exit, and employee parking before work starts. On a tight lot, that map decides whether we can run a continuous lift or have to work in stages.

We also consider future expansion. A knockout panel or a reserved pad for a second building can save a year of schedule if the owner grows. Mark it on the plan now, even if it is built later.

The Schertz City Council unanimously adopted an economic development strategic plan on September 9, 2026, following a seven-month partnership with a consulting firm. A plan like that signals priorities to builders: industrial users, retail, and the infrastructure that supports them.

Nearby cities such as New Braunfels, Seguin and San Antonio share trade partners and equipment with our Schertz work, which helps when a crane has to move from one site to another.

Send the lot and the building size. We will sketch the casting bed, crane position and truck court and tell you what they imply for schedule and cost. The overall approach is described under tilt wall building construction.

Why is the casting bed designed before the building elevation?

The slab is the form surface for the panels, so its size and flatness limit what can be cast. If the bed cannot hold the panel schedule, the plan changes. We test it early.

Can panels be cast off the building slab?

Yes, on a separate temporary bed, but it adds cost and handling. We prefer to cast on the slab when the lot allows, and we use stacking to save area.

How do you handle a site near a creek?

We review the soils and drainage first, then size the brace footings and set the pad elevation. The civil engineer owns drainage design. We test the ground before each lift and move the plan if it fails.

What decides crane size on a Schertz job?

Panel weight, height and the radius from crane to panel. A bigger crane has a larger reach but needs a stronger pad. We check the radius for each pick and place the crane to minimize moves.

Do truck courts get poured before or after the lift?

After. Outriggers and heavy deliveries can damage new paving. We pour the building slab first, lift the panels, and place the truck court once the crane has left.