The Sand Palace- Mexico Beach, Florida

Hurricane Michael left a path of destruction when it battered Florida's Bay County in October 2018, decimating 94% of the approximately 1,700 buildings in Mexico Beach. Out of the shambles, one home, aptly named the "Sand Palace," remained largely untouched, standing tall amidst the debris.

This durability was not by accident. Owners, Dr. Lebron Lackey and Russell King meticulously designed it in 2017 with one goal in mind – to withstand "the big one". They used state-of-the-art materials, including Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), to ensure their beach house could endure winds of up to 250 mph, going far beyond the state codes only wind-resistance up to 120 mph.

Constructing with ICFs is an efficient and more durable alternative to conventional wood framing techniques, providing unmatched protection against severe storms. The Sand Palace's resilience during Hurricane Michael is a testament to this.

Years after the storm, the Mexico Beach waterfront is still rebuilding, but the Sand Palace remains standing as a clear example of how disaster-resilient construction methods can withstand the most hazardous weather conditions.