Florida buildings are unprepared for hurricanes: Phil Procacci

As Hurricane Irene approaches the U.S., some commercial real estate owners are biting their nails, but Phil Procacci, CEO of Procacci Development, doesn’t have a worry. His class A office buildings are built to withstand winds up to 185 miles an hour, according to GlobeSt.com.

“After hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne, I saw the devastation major storms can cause businesses. I realized the need for a different kind of office building that would protect tenants from the damage of a major hurricane,” Procacci said. “We use more steel and stronger connections in the tilt-wall panels. The glass and frames that hold it are larger and stronger. We use a structural concrete roof that can withstand the wind uplift of a Category 5 storm.”

Procacci said most Florida buildings aren’t prepared for these events.

“Less than 1 percent of Florida office buildings are able to withstand a direct hit from a major hurricane,” he said. “There’s not much of an appetite on the developer’s side to spend the extra money to harden their buildings, and on behalf of the developers, they don’t feel there’s a willingness on the tenant side to pay for that level of protection.” [GlobeSt]