Green and Silver Concrete Hospital

Dedicated in September 2003, the $53M Boulder Community Foothills Hospital became the first hospital in the nation to receive LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The 200,000 square-foot, 60-bed hospital features many environmental innovations and was awarded a Silver Rating.

The structural system used in this project was carefully considered for functionality, as well as environmental impact. Because of the thin structural depth, a 10.5-inch flat-slab concrete was chosen and yielded 38 inches of plenum space to house substantial M/E/P systems. The concrete floor mass and monolithic construction addressed the design teams concern with deflection and vibration. More.

Durable and energy efficient, concrete is frequently employed in green buildings and sustainable developments to make a positive contribution to their owners, occupants, the environment and the community at large. Relying on concrete’s environmental attributes and energy efficiency, design professionals are obtaining LEED certification for more and more building projects More case studies.

Producer Price Index: September Increase Noteworthy

Over the last twelve months asphalt prices have raised the least at 2.7% while concrete products are up 7.2% in the same time frame.

In September, the price of concrete products rose 1.8%, the largest monthly increase in over five years. Steel mill products rose 1.1%, lumber prices remained the same, and asphalt products rose 0.7%.

Simplified Design: Reinforced Concrete Buildings of Moderate Size and Height

Revised and updated to ACI 318-02, this book incorporates loading calculations and seismic design provisions in accordance with IBC 2003 and ASCE 7-02. Timesaving analysis, design, and detailing methods are presented for reinforced concrete buildings and are particularly economical for heights of one- to seven-stories. Significant guidance is provided for preliminary design and overall structural economy through formwork and reinforcement details. More.

Simplified Design Seminars Continue Through December

You can still attend the PCA and the ACI sponsored Simplified Design of Concrete Buildings of Moderate Size and Height seminars before the end of the year. Information presented helps simplify design procedures, reducing the time to analyze, proportion, and detail buildings in compliance with ACI 318-02, "Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete." Upcoming locations include Detroit, Dallas, Portland, New Brunswick, and Los Angeles. More.

ACI Meets in San Francisco

Meeting October 24-28, the American Concrete Institute (ACI) held its Fall Convention at the Hilton San Francisco. In addition to committee meetings, exhibits, and technical sessions, the meeting was marked by centennial festivities under the theme, "Concrete--A Century of Innovation." Founded in 1904, ACI is a technical and educational society dedicated to improving the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of concrete structures. Tony Fiorato is the current president of ACI. At this convention three new technical committees were formed:

• Design and Construction with Insulated Concrete Forms, ACI 560
  Develop and report information on the design and construction of concrete buildings with insulating concrete forms.
• Simplified Design for Buildings , ACI 314
  Develop standards and guides for simplified design and construction of low- and mid-rise concrete buildings.
• Sustainable Development Task Group
  Develop a technical publication on the environmental attributes of concrete.

Click here to visit ACI's Web site.

Updated pcaStructurePoint Web Site Features Network Licensing

Is your copy of pcaStructurePoint software up to date? Frequent updates of PCA software products are made to help you have the best design tool possible. pcaWall version 3.02 was released on July 13, 2004 and pcaColumn version 3.63 was released on October 26, 2004. Click here to see if you have the most current version.

All pcaStructurePoint concrete design software now comes license protected. Unlicensed copies will not run. Although stand-alone licensing is available, customers report that even a single user can benefit from having a network license because of the added mobility and flexibility it offers. More.

Cement Plants Take Steps to Go Green

The cement industry is embracing new technologies and initiatives to make its manufacturing process cleaner, less energy-intensive, and more environmentally friendly. “With the federal, state and local governments providing incentives to construct ‘green buildings’ that conserve environmental resources, the building, design and construction industries are placing an additional focus on long-lasting, energy-wise structures,” says David Shepherd, AIA, LEED AP, director of sustainable development for PCA.

Announced in June 2004, the Cement Manufacturing Sustainability (CMS) Program is one component of a multi-year industry initiative to encourage sustainable cement manufacturing processes. “The CMS Program represents a common vision among manufacturers to formally adopt principles, performance measures and reporting protocol designed to guide business practices in an environmentally responsible manner,” says Shepherd. More.

Availability of cement, the key, binding ingredient used in concrete, has been limited in some regions of the U.S. since the spring. What began in Florida has expanded, but remains a regional problem with 35 states experiencing shortages. Tight supplies are fueled by residential construction and a curtailment in imported cement, which traditionally accounts for 20-25 percent of total consumption.

A list of FAQs and more information is available at www.cement.org.

Final Post-Tensioning Seminar of 2004

There's still time to register for Fundamentals of Post-Tensioning: Design, Analysis and Construction being held in Oakland, California on November 17th. The seminar presents the technology, analysis and design, application, and construction of post-tensioned buildings. Seminar participants can earn PDH/CEU credits. More.

Save on World of Concrete

As a cosponsor of the World of Concrete, PCA offers free registration and reduced costs on seminars. The annual concrete-industry trade show is scheduled for January 18-21, 2005, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Click here for a free registration through PCA.