A couple of months ago, I wrote that I was tapping the brakes on my expectations for the construction economy based on some unexpected changes in circumstances: interest rates are not falling as quickly as had been predicted in the face of stubborn inflation, coupled with consumer sentiment that is on a wholly unexpected slide despite the fact that the…
Read MoreAggregate Recycling Committee Ready to tackle industry challenges By weight, concrete and asphalt are the most recycled materials in North America. This success is attributed to the technology available to process these materials and the economic viability of the marketplace. Recycling aggregates also aligns with society’s recent calls to decarbonize the transportation and construction sectors, further promoting the practice. However,…
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Production and placement of concrete is responsible for an estimated 7 percent of total carbon emissions, worldwide. Recently, significant policy and legislative efforts have been undertaken to limit the embodied carbon associated with concrete and other construction materials. This action has taken place at the municipal, state, and federal levels simultaneously, leading to varied and inconsistent approaches to limiting the…
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A lawsuit involving the concrete and rebar contractor on the Obama Presidential Center (OPC), Chicago, is a study in contract awarding criteria for challenging cast-in-place structural and architectural work. It highlights the importance of proven field experience coupled with firm understanding of construction documents respecting ACI 318, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute guidance. The…
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