Earth Week and Concrete: Concrete's environmental benefits range from durability to energy efficiency. Which concrete product or application makes the biggest contribution?
Take the PCA Poll


Concrete Hits All the High Notes for Concert Hall
The California Construction and Industrial Materials Association has named the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater project of the year. Each year, the group honors an outstanding project in Southern California with the award.

Adjacent to the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, Calif., the $200-million complex includes the 2,000-seat Rene and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and the 500-seat Samueli Theater.

The building was named after real estate developer Henry Segerstrom, who donated $40 million to the privately funded project in 2000, and the Samueli Foundation, which donated $10 million in 2001.

Concrete applications include almost 5 miles of cast-in-place concrete beams; elevated cast-in-place decks; radius stadium-style cast-in-place decks; shotcrete reverberation chamber doors; and 34-inch-diameter free-standing columns up to 60-feet tall.

This building also incorporated some encasement of structural steel beams and columns in concrete. Concrete mixes for the various applications included 13 separate design strengths from 2500 psi up to 6000 psi.

Project designer was Cesar Pelli, Pelli Clarke Pelli. The award-winning project team included Gruen Associates (architects), John A. Martin & Associates (structural engineers), Fluor Enterprises (general contractors), Largo Concrete (concrete subcontractor), and National Ready Mixed Concrete (concrete supplier).

Contact Attila Beres

PCA Announces Fall Schedule of Courses
PCA's fall course schedule continues its commitment to offering seminars that address current industry concerns and challenges. Courses use a combination of practicing professionals with solid experience and the latest in simulations to enable participants to master the skills they need. The courses stress discovering and understanding real-world problems through laboratory experiences that reinforce practical and immediate solutions.

Here’s the fall schedule:
  • Aggregates and Chemical Admixtures for Use in Concrete - October 1-2
  • Kiln Process - October 1-4
  • Mill Grinding - October 22-24
  • Concrete: Principles & Practices - October 22-25
  • Cement Manufacturing for Process Engineers - November 5-8
  • Troubleshooting: Solutions to Concrete Field Problems - November 5-7

In addition, PCA will sponsor American Concrete Institute Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade I Certification examinations on Sept. 21 at its Skokie, Ill., office. Recertification is necessary every five years, and requires successful completion of both a written and performance examination.
More at www.cement.org/learn

RMC Research Foundation Changes
Name to Better Reflect Mission

The RMC Research Foundation Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the Foundation to the RMC Research & Education Foundation. The new name better reflects the activities of the Foundation since the education and professional enhancement of the industry’s personnel is an integral aspect of its goals.

The mission of the RMC Research & Education Foundation is to support research and educational programs that will increase professionalism and quality in the concrete industry.

More at www.rmc-foundation.org

University Outreach in California: PCA’s Mike Collignon briefed two California schools last week on the benefits of and advancements in residential concrete. He spoke to two construction management classes at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo on residential wall and floor systems, decorative flatwork, self-consolidating concrete, and photocatalytic cements. At California State University, Chico, th diverse audience included builders, architects, engineers, ICF distributors, ready-mix employees, faculty and students.
Contact Mike Collignon

Reminder—RCC Seminars in the Southeast: The Southeast Cement Association has scheduled two roller-compacted concrete seminars for 2007. “Roller-Compacted Concrete Design and Construction Seminar” will take place on May 25, 2007, in Nashville, Tenn. Additionally, the 4th Annual Roller-Compacted Concrete Design and Construction Seminar will be on November 8, 2007, in Atlanta, Ga. The seminars are sponsored by PCA, the Southeast Cement Association, and the Southeast Chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association.
More at www.secement.org

Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans Dallas Mega-Project: PCA's Amy Trygestad is teaming up with member companies and the Cement Council of Texas to promote concrete for an extensive Blue Cross Blue Shield Campus in Dallas. The complex will include 1.1 million square feet in a 15-story, 7-story, and twin 3-story buildings. The decision for steel vs. concrete structure is still pending.
Contact Amy Trygestad

Concrete Finisher’s Guide: This PowerPoint ® presentation demonstrates the standard practices and procedures for planning, building, and finishing interior or exterior concrete flatwork (sidewalks, driveways, patios, floors), and steps. The presentation is based on PCA’s Concrete Finisher’s Guide (PT122; $15.00; free to PCA members; 119 slides, 17.9 MB).
More information

Self-Consolidating Concrete: This report from the Advanced Cement-Based Materials Center summarizes self-consolidating concrete (SCC), focusing on three areas: robustness of SCC, innovations in testing, and formwork pressure. These topics are critically important to successful use of SCC, and this document will be valuable to those new to use of SCC as well as concrete technologists, specifiers, and other technical personnel interested in controlling and optimizing performance of SCC (RP440; PDF only; no charge).
More information

Effect of Pervious Concrete on Potential Environmental Impacts From Animal Production Facilities: Studies show that pervious concrete can increase water quality in urban areas as stormwater or wastewater passes through the concrete matrix. Pervious concrete could reduce pollution when used for animal feeding pads, manure storage pads, or floor systems in animal buildings. The objective of this study was to provide more information concerning the use of pervious concrete in agricultural settings. Tests were conducted on replicated pervious concrete specimens to determine various hydrologic properties, solid material retention capacity, and the effluent nutrient reduction capacity of the material. The pervious concrete exhibited the potential to provide environmental benefits by reducing nutrients from compost effluent and significantly fecal coliform concentrations after only one week of rainfall simulations (SN2993a; PDF only; no charge).
More information

U.S. Forecast—Combination Offer: Includes all three U.S. Forecasts for 2007 – Spring, Summer, and Fall. PCA views 2006–2007 as a temporary pause in cement consumption growth. Since 2003, cement consumption increased by 19 million metric tons—reflecting an 18% gain. Despite a brutal housing correction, cement consumption during 2006 was remarkably flat. The housing correction will drag down cement consumption in 2007 (ER376; $350.00; PDF only; free to PCA members).
More information

Canadian Forecast—Combination Offer: Includes all three Canadian Forecasts for 2007 – Spring, Summer, and Fall. The Canadian Forecast provides a five-year analytical and data perspective of provincial economic growth, construction spending, and cement demand. Forecasts of key provincial economic indicators in the labor and housing market share are reflected in a provincial forecast for construction spending, and cement demand by eighteen individual market segments (ER377; $350.00; PDF only; free to PCA members).
More information

Reinforced Concrete Design – Teaching Aids – Powerpoint Presentations: This CD contains PowerPoint presentations prepared by PCA for use by civil engineering faculty, students, and engineering professionals. The purpose of the CD contents is to (1) assist in updating an existing, or in introducing a new, structural concrete design course and (2) serve as a refresher for practicing engineers. The CD contains more than 1,200 slides pertaining to analysis and design of concrete structures (CD334; $195.00, less discount).
More information

Do-It-Yourself Promotion Zone: This innovative Web site from PCA enables concrete promoters, home builders, or contractors to create customized print ads, brochures, event postcards, and e-mail "blasts" for use in promoting residential concrete products to both consumer and non-consumer audiences. Our vendor, Redleaf Digital, can also act as a print fulfillment source, and can ship the completed items directly to you, or to a mailing list that you provide to them. There is no fee to register and begin using this dynamic new service. All fees are charged on a pay-as-you–go basis, whether you are creating a PDF file to take to your own printer, or using Redleaf as your print provider.
More information

Results from Last Week:
Engineers Call the Shots for Dams

Which of the following groups is most influential in the selection of materials and construction methods for dams?

  • Contractors: 6.56%
  • Design engineers: 73.77%
  • Owners: 13.11%
  • Regulators: 6.56%

Take the current poll

For more information or to register, contact Julie Lisiecki.
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.



 
RCC for Dams and Dam Rehabilitation
April 25-26, 2007
Atlanta, Georgia
More Information

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

 

 

 
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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.