Cemex Names Finalists In Its First U.S. Building Awards

A Cemex Building Awards ceremony in late May honoring 12 finalists in outstanding construction and design achievement marked the company’s inaugural U.S.

A Cemex Building Awards ceremony in late May honoring 12 finalists in outstanding construction and design achievement marked the company’s inaugural U.S. awards competition. Designers, contractors and engineers behind three projects selected as best in the nation took the U.S. title in either Housing, Institutional/Industrial, or Infrastructure project categories, and were presented with concrete and glass awards to commemorate the event. In November, at the 15th Cemex International Awards in Monterrey, Mexico, U.S. recipients will compete against winners from approximately 30 countries for the world title.

Award recipients were recognized for use and application of concrete, innovation, project execution, architectural or structural design, urban concept, and environmental responsibility. Serving as judges were three U.S. architects: Dr. Harvey Bryan, an AIA Fellow and professor of architecture and design at Arizona State University; Marley Carroll, an AIA Fellow and managing partner with Odell Associates in Charlotte, N.C.; and, Jerry Regenbogen, a landscape and urban architect who is principal-in-charge of Regenbogen Associates, also in Charlotte.

HOUSING Û FREMONT MEWS APTS., SACRAMENTO, CALIF.

Offering a blend of mixed-income housing with open space, Fremont Mews reserves 48 of its total 119 units for low-income residents as it provides all residents close proximity to light rail stations and the state’s recently completed East End Office complex. In addition, 19,200 square feet of land formerly used for community gardening will be maintained as a permanent garden and open area. Underground parking and close access to the light rail system also promote environmental stewardship.

Cemex supplied the project’s ready mixed orders, a combination of fly ash-bearing or conventional mix designs. The general contractor was J.R. Roberts Corp., and the concrete contractor was RJS & Associates.

INFRASTRUCTURE Û SANTANA ROW, SAN JOSE, CALIF.

The $700 million Santana Row project combines high-end residential, office and retail facilities to create a city-within-the-city of San Jose. In addition to town-square areas and park-like settings, the development includes 1,200 residential units, local and national restaurants, cafes, high-end clothing stores, a food market, and a hotel. While the complex generally follows an Old World theme, structures were designed to appear as if built during different eras.

To construct post-tensioned decks supporting parking and residences above retail space, 37,000-plus yards of Cemex-sourced concrete was used. Significant benefits of the post-tensioned concrete construction were reduced building volume and an excellent acoustical barrier. Project principals included architects Sandy & Babcock, concrete contractor RJS & Associates, and general contractor Bovis Lend Lease.

INSTITUTIONAL/INDUSTRIAL Û CALPERS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, SACRAMENTO, CALIF.

A recent expansion included a new 660,000-sq.-ft. headquarters building for the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS), combining office and retail space, plus two levels of underground parking. Of the 70,000 yards of concrete supplied by Cemex, a large portion utilized high-volume slag and fly ash mix designs. The slag concrete incorporated an environmentally responsible building material as it provided a better mix for the technically demanding job Û denser, less permeable, and higher in ultimate strength with fewer cracks. Since slag concrete also produces less heat when hardening, it was instrumental in pouring the building’s slab foundation, which was eight to 10 inches thicker than average. The use of recycled materials has allowed CalPERS to pursue a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The CalPERS building was designed by Kendall/Heaton Associates. Contractors were Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and Amaroso Construction Co.

HOUSING AWARD FINALISTS

  • Morgan Residence, Waynesville, N.C. Û In the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the 18,000-sq.-ft. home, designed by architect Raymond Smith, complements its surroundings.
  • The President’s Residence at Rollins College, Winter Park, Fla. Û Contractor for the 7,200-sq.-ft. Barker House was Wharton-Smith, Inc.
  • The Railla Residence, Brentwood, Calif. Û Concrete was used to accommodate a tightly sloping hillside with difficult-access issues. From the moisture-proof wine cellar to the roof tiles, the project showcases ingenious applications of architectural concrete products. Concrete contractor and owner of the residence is Andy Railla of DNM Construction Co.

INFRASTRUCTURE AWARD FINALISTS

  • CATS Vehicle and Maintenance Facility, Charlotte, N.C. Û The five-building complex is designed to house offices, employee parking, a bus terminal, dispatch office, and maintenance facilities for all city buses. Contractor for the job was Edifice, Inc.
  • Oakdale Plaza, Oakdale, Calif. Û Part of a downtown revitalization project, the plaza’s centerpiece is the Bianchi Community Center, a multi-purpose building. General contractors were Greg Opinski Construction for the Bianchi Community Center and DL Falk Construction for Oakdale Plaza. The project’s architect was RRM Design Group.
  • Riverplace, Greenville, S.C. Û A revitalization project for downtown Greenville, Riverplace includes an office building, condominiums, a parking deck, streetscape and a colored concrete river walk. The project was designed by Cooper Carry Architects, and Harper Corp. served as general contractor.

INSTITUTIONAL/INDUSTRIAL AWARD FINALISTS

  • Air Force One Pavilion at the Ronald Reagan Library, Simi Valley, Calif. Û An addition to the hilltop site occupied by the Ronald Reagan Library, the 90,000-sq.-ft. pavilion offers a majestic view through a glass wall, making the Air Force One aircraft appear as though flying. Clinger & Spina and Associates designed the project; John Martin & Associates served as engineer; and, Hathaway Dinwiddie was general contractor.
  • International Technology Research Center at the International Center for Automotive Research, Greenville, S.C. Û Developed by Clemson University and BMW, the facility will serve as a research center for the automotive industry. Architect for the project was Design Strategies, and the general contractor was Harper Corp.
  • New Mexico State University Golf Course Clubhouse, Las Cruces, N.M. Û A design incorporating different elevations resulted in a distinctive structure presenting a challenge for contractors. Excavations, piers and columns required exact measurement and placement in order to support the upper floors. Highland Enterprises was the contractor for the project.