Building Up or Out: Should more cities follow the lead of Ventura County and look at high-rise buildings to accommodate growth as an alternative to the subdivision?
Take the PCA Poll

Bridge Provides Lakefront Access to All in Milwaukee
The Brady Street Pedestrian Bridge in Milwaukee provides function and architectural expression that enhances the beauty of its natural surroundings. The new 125-foot span bridge updates the previous structure that had become functionally obsolete and in need of rehabilitation to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Connecting downtown with Lake Michigan, the cast-in-place post-tensioned concrete box section bridge has varying superstructure thickness. It is at its minimum of 1 feet, 9 inches at the middle of the center span producing a span-to-depth ratio of 71. To reduce the bulk, triangular spandrel openings were provided on either side of the center pier.

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors' desire for minimum maintenance was addressed by using high performance concrete and eliminating deck joints thru the use of integral abutments.

Reopened to traffic in May 2006, the Brady Street bridge was a winner in PCA's 2006 Tenth Biennial Bridge Awards Competition.
More at www.cement.org

PCA Chief Economist to Deliver Spring Forecast
PCA Chief Economist Ed Sullivan will present an updated 2007 economic forecast via Webcast on March 23 at 10:30 am Central. The outlook will cover economic factors affecting construction; the forecast for residential, commercial, and public works markets; and how the performance of these markets will impact cement and concrete consumption.

The Webcast will be archived.
More information or access the Webcast

Cement Consumption to Grow Worldwide in 2007
A recent report from the PCA anticipates world cement consumption to grow by nearly 145 million tons, or nearly 6 percent during 2007. The Chinese market dominates world growth, accounting for more than 46 percent of world cement consumption. The PCA report anticipates that Chinese cement consumption will increase by 110 million tons, reaching a level of 1.24 billion tons.

Overall, PCA expects the world economy to achieve 2.9 percent growth in 2007 with much of the growth occurring in China and lesser developed countries in Asia and Central and Eastern Europe.
Contact Ed Sullivan

PCA Launches Sustainable Development Electronic Newsletter
Concrete Thinking is the latest PCA electronic newsletter. E-mailed 6 times a year, Concrete Thinking contains a wide assortment of information about cement-based applications for sustainable development, including featured projects, green building news, technical resources, upcoming events, and more.

Sustainable development is becoming increasingly important in the building and construction industries. PCA is dedicated to providing building professionals with information for incorporating concrete solutions into sustainable design.
Subscribe or View Concrete Thinking
Contact Susan Newman

Concrete Modular Home System Earns “Fortified” Status
Royal Concrete Concepts is the first manufacturer to provide single-family concrete modular homes that will earn the Fortified...for safer living® designation from the Institute for Business & Homes Safety (IBHS).

“All single-family homes offered by Royal Concrete Concepts will receive the Fortified… for safer living® designation when sited according to our qualifying criteria,” said Chuck Vance, Fortified program manager for IBHS. “By offering affordable homes up to 2,500 square feet, Royal Concrete Concepts is furthering the ‘Fortified’ program’s goal to make disaster-resistant housing an option for more people.”

The “Fortified” program specifies construction and design guidelines to increase a home's resistance to natural disasters such as hurricane winds and flooding, with localized guidelines based primarily on the extreme events that may occur in the region.
For more information on Royal Concrete Concepts
For more information on IBHS
For more information or to register, contact Julie Lisiecki.
Kiln Process
March 26-29, 2007

Cement and Concrete Overview
April 16-17, 2007

Impact of Cement Characteristics on Concrete Properties
May 15, 2007
Midlothian, Texas
September 19, 2007
Bethlehem, Pa.

Raw Mix Chemistry
May 16, 2007
Midlothian, Texas		 Pulverized Fuel Guidelines for the Cement Industry
September 18, 2007
Bethlehem, Pa.
IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement
Industry Technical Conference
April 29-May 3, 2007.
Charleston, S.C.
More information

12th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement
July 8-13, 2007
Montreal, Quebec
More information

 Pervious Concrete—A Stormwater Solution
Detroit—July 10
Lexington, Ky.—July 12
Washington, DC—July 24
Pittsburgh—July 26
Minneapolis—Aug. 7
Milwaukee—Aug 9
More information
The Executive Report is distributed free of charge to members of PCA and to individuals interested in PCA activities or the cement, concrete, and construction industries.

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©2007 Portland Cement Association
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The Portland Cement Association conducts market development,
research, education, and government affairs work on behalf of
its members—cement companies in the United States and Canada.