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Minnesota College Goes for LEED Gold with Concrete
The new science complex at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., is benefiting from the economic and environmental benefits of concrete construction.
 Originally proposed with a structural steel frame, the new three-story, 180,000- square foot complex that includes research space, classrooms, teaching labs, and a science library, will use a standard pan and joist concrete framing system. This system accommodates a floor layout with flexible and technology-rich classrooms that keep pace with emerging scientific discovery. The concrete frame also provides the necessary stiffness to minimize vibration concerns that coincide with laboratory workspaces.
PCA's
Amy Trygestad partnered with Ceco Concrete Construction and Cemstone, a local ready mix supplier, to provide a feasibility study that included an economical concrete framing alternative.
The new Science Complex will be a "green" building, one that measurably lowers operating costs, minimizes the impact on the environment, and promotes whole health for the users. The project hopes to achieve LEED Gold certification. St. Olaf worked closely with the architect and engineer (Holabird & Root) and design-build contractor (Boldt Construction) to carefully selected building materials based on recycled content and lifecycle costs. Concrete helped achieve both criteria.
Other sustainable buildings features include the abundant natural light penetrating deep into the interior spaces and the accessible rooftop terrace containing a green roof.
Contact Amy Trygestad
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Panel Says No to Expanding Flood Program
The Administration and the insurance industry signaled their opposition last week to a measure that would expand the federal government's flood insurance program to allow wind-damage coverage.
More
Agency Issues Final Rule on Chat in Transportation Applications
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week issued mandatory criteria for the environmentally protective use of chat in transportation projects carried out, in whole or in part, with federal funds.
More
Rail Competition Hearings Expected in September
U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) announced plans to hold a number of hearings after Labor Day on H.R. 2125, the Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act of 2007.
More
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Readers Sound Off on Executive Report
The results are in from a survey of PCA members on the Executive Report. Conducted online through surveymonkey.com, the survey asked 15 questions on the newsletter's content, format, and effectiveness in keeping PCA members informed about PCA activities and industry news. Among the key findings:
When asked to rate how well the Executive Report kept them informed about PCA activities and resources on scale of 1through 5, 80 percent of respondents indicated either 4 or 5 (very well).
Economic and market information was the highest rated topics, with 78% of respondents rating it in the 4 or 5 category (very useful). Announcements of seminars and educational courses ranked second.
About 7% of the 3,000 PCA members receiving the Executive Report responded to the survey. Results will be used to re-evaluate and refine the scope, content, and graphic design of the weekly e-newsletter. Complete survey results are available as a PDF.
View or download survey results
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 June PPI: Steel, Lumber Up
Steel prices increased by 0.4% from May to June while lumber prices were up 0.9 percent, according to the June Producer Price Index (PPI). Asphalt and concrete prices were flat, increasing 0.1% from the previous month.
Steel prices have increased by 10.6% during the last year. Asphalt prices increased 7.7% and concrete prices are up 4.5% over the same period. Lumber prices have declined by 7.9%.
Source: Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics. The information is provided by PCA to aid
in the promotion of concrete and cement-based products.
More
information
Contact Craig
Schulz
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Conference Creates the Right
Chemistry Between Academia and Industry
More than 500 delegates from 64 countries presented nearly 300 technical papers at the 12th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement held July 8-13, 2007, in Montreal. This is the first time the Congress has been held in North America since 1960. As the only international conference in this field, the Congress attracts top researchers and industry representatives from around the world.
The theme of the 2007 conference was "Cement Systems: A Knowlege-Based Innovative Approach." The conference was organized by the Cement Association of Canada (CAC), the Institute for Research in Construction, and the National Research Council of Canada. CAC also cohosted the opening ceremonies.
Both PCA and CAC exhibited at the Congress and presented papers. CAC's George Venta presented "Cement Industry, Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol: Canadian Perspective." PCA's Steve Kosmatka presented "Long-Term Performance of Concrete in the PCA Outdoor Test Facility." This was the final report of the durability performance of concretes placed between 1958 and 1963 in the Skokie test plot. Other PCA research presented included "Effect of Relative Humidity on Expansion and Microstructure of Heat Cured Mortars" by Luis Graf and "Chemical Path of Ettringite" by Yuki Shimada.
The next congress is scheduled for Madrid, Spain, in 2011.
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Hall Joins Codes and Standards
Jay Hall has joined PCA's Codes and Standards Department as a manager of regional code services, working out of Virginia. Hall will participate in codes and standards development, initially having an emphasis on ICC proposed changes and standards development. His certifications include Building Official, Fire Official, Commercial Building, Commercial trades, Residential trades, and Accessibility. Prior to joining PCA, Hall served as a Deputy State Fire Marshal with Virginia’s State Fire Marshal Office where he was very involved with national and state code development processes.
Contact Jay Hall
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| Regional Mine Safety Conferences Scheduled
Committed to exploring ways to improve health and safety in its profession, the mining industry will present two regional conferences this fall. Each conference allows mining professionals to foster relationships and open communication between industry and federal agencies and create a better understanding of how to send healthy miners home after each shift.
The Third Annual Joint Western Regional Mine Safety and Health Conference will take place October 22-25 in Las Vegas. The Second Annual Southeastern U.S. Mine Safety and Health Conference is scheduled for November 13-16 in Pensacola Beach, Fla.
Both conferences are excellent opportunities to gain vital health and safety information and network. Members of mining associations and companies, safety and health professionals, state grant coordinators, mining equipment manufacturers, mineworkers, and students are encouraged to attend.
More information or to register for Western Regional conference
More information or to register for Southeastern Regional conference
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For more information
or to register, contact Julie
Lisiecki.
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Pulverized
Fuel Guidelines for the Cement Industry
September 18, 2007
Bethlehem, Pa.
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Aggregates
and Chemical Admixtures for Use in Concrete
October 1-2, 2007
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Kiln
Process
October 1-4, 2007
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Mill
Grinding
October 22-24, 2007
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Concrete:
Principles & Practices
October 22-25, 2007 |
Troubleshooting:
Solutions to Concrete Field Problems
November 5-7, 2007 |
Cement
Manufacturing for Process Engineers
November 5-8, 2007
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Pervious
Concrete—
A Stormwater Solution
Washington, DC—July 24, 2007
Pittsburgh—July 26, 2007
Minneapolis—August 7, 2007
Milwaukee—August 9, 2007
More
information
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National
Concrete Masonry Association Midyear Meeting
July 25-29, 2007
InterContinental Hotel
Boston, Ma.
More
information
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PCA Financial and Administrative Executives Committee Summer Meeting
July 29-31, 2007
Chicago, Ill.
More Information
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Building Professors'
Seminar
July 30-August 1, 2007
Skokie, Ill.
More
information |
Bridge Professors' Seminar
August 2-3, 2007
Skokie, Ill.
More
information |
Practical Application
of PCA Economic Forecast & Market Assessments
August 7-8, 2007
Skokie, Ill.
More
information |
PCA Fall Committee
Meetings
September 10-12, 2007
Chicago, Ill.
More
information
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3rd Annual Joint Western Regional Mine Safety and Health Conference
October 22-25, 2007
Las Vegas
More Information
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2nd Annual Southeastern U.S. Mine Safety and Health Conference
November 13-13, 2007
Pensacola Beach, Fla.
More Information |
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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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Skokie, Illinois 60077
847.966.6200 info@cement.org
500 New Jersey Ave. N.W.
7th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20001
202.408.9494 fax 202.408.0877 |
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©2007 Portland Cement Association
All rights reserved
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.
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