Architectural precast presents unique challenges that set it apart from standard production. Unlike cookie-cutter projects where plant crews reuse forms for repeating design elements or large-scale production, every architectural precast order is different and presents a near-constant learning curve. In a recent Spokane Public Schools contract, Spilker Precast proved how critical attention to detail can be in executing architectural…
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Riccelli-Northern Ready Mix, Klaw Industries prove Performance of recycled glass-derived pozzolan A carbon management-minded approach to infrastructure specifications has compelled the City of Syracuse, N.Y. to adopt Pantheon, a recycled glass-derived supplementary cementitious material, as a 20-30 percent replacement for portland cement in concrete. Officials have observed the pozzolan’s performance in flatwork projects involving North Syracuse-based Riccelli-Northern Ready Mix; Pantheon…
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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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Canadian artisan David Umemoto has teamed with Cemvision, Stockholm-based developer of portland cement alternative binders, on a demonstration of low carbon concrete interpreted in a sculpture whose eight pieces representing building blocks toward a sustainable future. While better construction materials are critical, Cemvision officials contend, a broader movement among designers, suppliers and regulators is needed to transform the present production…
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Cambridge Pavers business plan paints bright hardscape product prospects as outdoor living areas garner a greater slice of the American Dream dollar A recent National Association of Home Builders Best of American Living Awards showcase leads off with “Emphasis on Outdoor Living,” where “winning designs highlight the importance of providing spaces to promote relaxation, communication, and entertainment. Cozy firepits, conversational…
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The National Association of Home Builders and 15 state attorneys general have filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division seeking to stop the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture from stipulating 2021 International Energy Conservation Code and ASHRAE 90.1-2019, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential…
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The American Society of Civil Engineers’ Southern Idaho Section has awarded the Whistle Pig Tank development Project of the Year in the less than $10 million category. The 2.65-million-gallon concrete tank provides vital water supply to South Ada County, Idaho residents and businesses, and is fully buried within a steep hillside to harmonize with its surroundings. Developed in collaboration with…
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Federal agencies have spent more than two years reviewing carbon dioxide emissions associated with load-bearing construction material processing or production. Officials recognize regional or local factors affecting the CO2 emissions profile of concrete, asphalt and steel, and have positioned 2025 as a turning point for procurement terms applicable to federally funded transportation and building work. The Federal Highway Administration took…
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The American Society of Civil Engineers salutes the Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement with Gold honors in the 2024 Outstanding Civil Engineering Awards (OCEA) program. The largest, most complex bridge project in Los Angeles history, the $588 million crossing replaces an iconic double-steel-arch structure, one seen in many movies and TV series, with a span featuring 10 pairs of sculptural arches.…
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This year began with a shareholder vote realigning the portfolio and ownership of Denver-based Summit Materials Inc. around Argos North America Corp. cement and ready mixed production assets and top shareholder Cementos Argos S.A. It closes with prospects for a similar action transforming New York Stock Exchange-traded Summit Materials to a subsidiary of privately held Quikrete Holdings Inc., Atlanta. The…
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