PCA Washington Office Moves to Capitol's First Green Office Building

PCA's Washington, D.C. office has moved to the new National Association of Realtors headquarters near the Capitol and House and Senate office buildings. The new location signals a greater presence in Washington for PCA and the cement industry. And as the first LEED-certified building in Washington, the concrete-framed structure also re-affirms the industry's commitment to sustainable development. The tenant improvements of PCA’s office on the seventh floor also comply with LEED guidelines.

Short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED is the widely accepted rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

National Association of Realtors headquarters was the first building within the District of Columbia to receive certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council’s LEED rating program. The 102,000-square-foot, 12-story structure achieved this honor through a variety of innovative features, including an efficient HVAC system and glass curtain wall that reduce energy use by up to 30 percent, the elimination of CFC refrigerants, and the use of a carbon dioxide monitoring system. More.

Read more office building case studies.

PCA Launches Enhanced ConcreteThinker.com

As green building gains momentum, many designers are still in search of reliable, insightful resources for sustainable building solutions. Recognizing this unmet need for available information on green building, PCA introduced a new online resource — ConcreteThinker.com — at the American Institute of Architects 2006 National Convention and Design Exposition in June.

This innovative, first-in-the-industry Web site is a unique clearinghouse for design professionals on the durability, versatility, and high performance of concrete in sustainable design. A Sim City™-styled graphic serves as an interface to take visitors to case studies, explanations of concrete and cement-based applications and products, an extensive reference library, and green specification guidelines.
More at concretethinker.com.

pcaSlab and pcaBeam Upgrades Coming Soon

Version 2.0 of the pcaSlab program for analysis, design, and investigation of reinforced concrete beams, one-way and two-way slab systems and pcaBeam version 2.0 for analysis, design, and investigation of reinforced concrete beams and one-way slab systems will be available next month. A number of enhancements and new features will be implemented and both programs will incorporate provisions of ACI 318-05 concrete design standard in addition to currently supported ACI 318-02, ACI 318-99, and CSA A23.3-94.

More about software products available from pcaStructurePoint.

Fundamentals of Post-Tensioning—Design, Analysis, & Construction Seminars

Fundamentals, design and construction concepts of post-tensioning as applied to elevated structures are introduced in this series of seminars. Gain an understanding of technology, analysis, and construction of post-tensioned buildings. The seminars, which qualify for 4 PDHs/0.4 CEUs, will be held in Spokane, Wash., Memphis, Tenn., Omaha, Neb., Pittsburgh, Pa., Los Angeles, Calif., and Washington, D.C. in the fall. More.

Post-Tensioning Manual (LT195)

Published by the Post Tensioning Institute, this manual contains updated information on the current practices in the use, design, and construction of post- tensioning. The 6th edition has been extensively rewritten and expanded. More information or to order.

New Organization of ACI 318 Building Code

Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318) is the controlling reference for concrete building design and construction in the U.S. ACI Committee 318 and ACI’s Technical Activities Committee have formed a task group to review the format and overall organization of information contained in ACI 318. This fall the task group, chaired by Randy Poston, will collect opinions from members of the institute and other users of the code. The task group will evaluate the information and make recommendations whether ACI 318’s organization should be revised.

ACI welcomes comments and suggestions from the code users:
Click here for the questionnaire.
Click here for the ACI Web site.

Upcoming Conventions

SEAOC 2006 Convention
September 13-16, 2006, Long Beach, Calif.

Tilt-Up Convention
October 4-7, 2006, Englewood, Colo.
TCA will be continuing the celebration of its 20th Anniversary at this second annual event.

ACI Fall Convention - Colorado Concrete
November 5-9, 2006, Denver, Colo.

Greenbuild International Conference and Expo
November 15-17, 2006, Denver, Colo.

Structural Engineers Conference and Expo
November 29-30, 2006, Washington, D.C.

World of Concrete
January 24-26, 2007, Las Vegas, Nev.
Click here for free registration.

Masonry Buildings

Masonry is one of our oldest, most established building techniques. Evolutions in materials, mix designs, and engineering allow for the construction today of even stronger masonry buildings—structures that will last for generations. For more information about masonry's aesthetics, safety and durability, sustainability, applications, and industry resources, click here.

Simplified Design: Reinforced Concrete Buildings of Moderate Size and Height (EB104) Learn timesaving analysis, design, and detailing methods for reinforced concrete buildings. Methods presented are applicable to concrete buildings of any size and height, 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. Special half price sale ends October 31, 2006.
More information or to order.