2011 PCA Professors' Workshop
August 1-5, 2011

PCA is pleased to announce the new, combined Professors’ Workshop, being offered August 1-5, 2011 at the PCA headquarters in Skokie, Ill. This year introduces a new format which includes tracks covering Engineering and economics of concrete buildings; Design and construction of concrete bridges by the AASHTO LRFD; Concrete materials properties; and Design, construction and performance of concrete pavements.

The Professors’ Workshop is designed to provide faculty in engineering, architecture, and construction management programs the tools to teach the latest developments in concrete design, construction, and materials. The week-long session includes networking opportunities to exchange ideas with professors from many universities.

More information on the PCA Professors’ Workshop.

Concrete Panel Systems Create Sustainable Buildings

Tilt-up concrete construction is one of the fastest-growing building technologies in North America, with at least 10,000 structures—enclosing more than 650 million square feet of space—being built every year. While tilt-up has been in existence for more than a century, the 1940s saw a surge of interest in the method, and today tilt-up builds more than 15 percent of industrial buildings in the U.S., according to the Tilt-Up Concrete Association. More on tilt-up concrete.

Precast concrete systems combine structural and architectural components to create long-lasting buildings and structures. From high-rise office buildings to landmark bridges, parking structures to correctional facilities, stadiums to schools—even in high seismic zones—precast concrete can achieve safe, beautiful, and durable results. More on precast concrete.

Precast Concrete Provides Detail at Economical Cost
The new addition for the home of the American Pharmacists Association, a mid-rise office building in Washington, DC, required special attention. A National Historic Landmark on the Mall, the design required a great deal of detail. In addition, the color, a very light buff, had to be controlled relative to the historic structure so the façade material choice was of critical importance. More on the APA addition.

Eye Institute Visualized with Tilt-Up Concrete
Built with cost-efficiency and low maintenance in mind, the new Eye Institute of Texas in Dallas rests in the heart of a booming medical community. The use of tilt-up allowed the design and construction schedules to be compressed, thereby decreasing costs and achieving the owner's goal of constructing a contemporary, low-maintenance facility. More on the Eye Institute of Texas facility.

PCI Design Handbook, Precast and Prestressed Concrete - 6th Edition

The sixth edition of this definitive publication has been revised to reflect the most recent changes in building codes and standards. The handbook provides easy-to-follow design procedures, numerical examples, and design aids. Published by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.

The Tilt-Up Construction and Engineering Manual - 6th Edition

This manual is the leading resource on tilt-up design and construction as it is practiced today. This sixth edition has been significantly expanded to reflect feedback from experts throughout the industry. An important reference for those just getting started as well as those with years of experience. Published by the Tilt-Up Concrete Association.

PCA Notes on ACI 318-08 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete with Design

The tenth edition of this classic PCA resource has been updated to reflect code changes introduced in the latest version of Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, ACI 318-08. These notes will help users apply code provisions related to the design and construction of concrete structures. Each chapter of the manual starts with a description of the latest code changes. Emphasis is placed on “how-to-use” the code. Numerous design examples illustrate application of the code provisions.

Reinforced Concrete Design Course in Chicago
May 24-25, 2011

PCA is teaming up with ACI to present seminars on Reinforced Concrete Design. This intensive two-day course will bring participants up-to-speed with the latest design requirements of the ACI 318-08 Building Code. You will benefit from this seminar if you are designing concrete now, but feel there must be a better way; need to do some concrete design and your skills are rusty; did not take reinforced concrete in engineering school but are now faced with designing concrete structures; are preparing for the Professional Engineers’ or Structural Engineers’ exam; or simply need Professional Development Hours to maintain your professional engineer status (worth 15 PDHs).

Middle School Addition Earns LEED-Platinum Certification

At the Hood River Middle School in Oregon, a new music and science addition is a hands-on learning laboratory, where students interact with the site’s resource systems. Portland-based Opsis Architectural designed the structure to meet LEED-Platinum certification while maintaining the visual spirit of the school’s main building, which was built in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. More on the Hood School.

Building Code for Sustainable Construction Emphasizes ‘Functional Resilience’

Each year in the United States, more than $35 billion in direct property loss is caused by natural disasters. Yet, while states and municipalities are seeking to adopt ordinances that require “green” or “sustainable” construction, they are overlooking disaster-resistance construction.

To allow local governments to adopt green building codes that address high performance as well as conventional sustainable features, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) have developed High Performance Building Requirements for Sustainability 2.0. The criteria are written in mandatory language that amends and appends the International Code Council International Building Code (IBC). More on the HPBRS.

White House Introduces “Better Buildings Initiative”

On February 3, President Obama announced the “Better Building Initiative,” aimed at improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings by 20 percent during the next 10 years. The White House estimates the plan could save businesses nearly $40 billion during the next decade in lower energy costs. The initiative is based on a package of proposals including new tax credits and a grant competition among states and cities dubbed “Race to Green.” Read more in Engineering News-Record.

Novak Selected as "Speaker of the Year"

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) selected Larry Novak, PCA director of engineered structures, as the Educational Activities Committee “Speaker of the Year.” The Institute established the Speaker of the Year award in 2000 to recognize ACI seminar speakers who have made signification contributions to the association’s educational seminar program. Novak was lauded for his “excellence as an instructor” for programs such as PCA’s “Reinforced Concrete Design” and “Simplified Design of Buildings of Moderate” seminars.

PCA Helps Kick Off 2011 Engineers Week

To kick-off Engineers Week on Sunday, February. 20, the Chicago Architectural Foundation (CAF) held their first ever family engineering day. Several hundred children and their parents attended the fun-filled event, which was listed by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of the top 10 things to do in Chicago during the weekend.

To cap the conclusion of this year’s National Engineers Week celebrations, the annual DuPage Area Engineers Week Expo was held on February 26, 2011, at the Illinois Institute of Technology. More than 1,250 students and their parents attended this annual event. The Engineers Week events provide children and adults with the opportunity to experience and explore the many fields of engineering through a series of interactive displays and presentations. More on Engineers Week 2011.

StructurePoint Releases spSlab v3.18

StructurePoint recently announced the release of spSlab v3.18 (formerly pcaSlab/ADOSS). This version continues the enhancement of engineering features available for the investigation of strength and serviceability of existing concrete floor systems undergoing renovation or change of occupancy. spSlab is widely used in optimization of newly designed floor systems where punching shear is a dominant design limit state. Download updated program, review new program manual or visit spSlab v3.18 page.

More about StructurePoint’s reinforced concrete analysis and design software.