 Rate
the influence of architects, engineers, and other decision-makers
over the selection of concrete vs. steel as the structural
framing system of low-, mid-, and high-rise buildings.?
Take the PCA Poll
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University Takes
Design-Build to Next Level With BIM
The
University of Minnesota broke ground last week on a building
still in the design phase, thanks to Building Information Model
(BIM) technology.
 When
completed in 2008, the $39.9 million, four-story Herbert M.
Hanson Jr. Hall will expand classroom space for the Carlson
School of Management. The 124,000-square-foot building uses
a wide-modular pan and joist concrete framing system.
The BIM provides a virtual catalog of all project information
in a computerized model. All project disciplines are connected
more closely than ever before by having access to this central
database.
In addition to the design and component coordination, the BIM
model incorporates the fourth dimension of time into the model.
This allows for everyone on the project team to access the real-time
drawings, schedules, and subsequent changes - during design,
construction and into operation.
The overall BIM integration into consulting firms reduces coordination
errors, provides more efficient scheduling, improves cost estimates,
and enhances the quality of the end product.
Contact
Amy Trygestad
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Shaw to Head PCA's Washington
Office
John Shaw has been named
PCA's senior vice president of government affairs. He succeeds
Tom Gibson, who is leaving PCA at the end of the month.
Shaw will head the association’s Washington office and
represent PCA and its members before Congress, the Administration,
and the White House. He joined PCA in April as the vice president
for legislative affairs. He is succeeded in that position by
David Hubbard. (See below.)
Shaw brings a strong record of accomplishments to PCA with a
wealth of experience in politics and environmental affairs roles
with government agencies and as an advisor to and within the
private sector. Most recently, he served as assistant secretary
for environment, safety, and health at the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE).
More
in news release
Contact John Shaw
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Hubbard Named Vice President,
Legislative Affairs
David S. Hubbard has been named PCA's vice president of legislative
affairs. Hubbard, who was appointed staff vice president for
legislative affairs in April, has represented the interests
of the cement industry on Capitol Hill for the past 17 years.
He will manage PCA’s federal legislative advocacy efforts
on a variety of fronts including environmental compliance,
transportation and infrastructure legislation. In addition,
Hubbard is also the treasurer of PCA PAC, the Portland Cement
Association political action committee.
More
in news release
Contact David Hubbard
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Revised Standard
for Frost Protected
Shallow Foundations in the Works
The
National Association of Home Builders continues to encourage
the advancement and use of frost-protected shallow foundations
(FPSF) as a way to reduce call backs, save initial costs and
reduce home prices, and to provide “green building.”
Shallow foundations could potentially erode cement use in single-family
housing by reducing basement construction. NAHB has reported
that shallow foundations save an average of 7 yards of concrete
per home.
A new round of code revisions could further advance the use
of shallow foundations, which some homebuilders are eager to
accept. The committee to revise and update American Society
for Civil Engineers (ASCE) Standard 32-01 - Design and Construction
of Frost Protected Shallow Foundations has scheduled its first
meeting on Tuesday, October 24, 2006.
ASCE 32 addresses the design and construction of FPSF in areas
subject to seasonal ground freezing. The code addresses foundation
drainage and insulation requirements and presents design guidance.
Steve Skalko of PCA will continue to participate in the standard
development to assure the provisions are technically substantiated.
Contact Steve
Skalko or Steve Szoke.
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| Asia Pacific Partnership
Cement Industry
Task Force Approves Action Plan
Members of the Asia Pacific Partnership’s
cement sector task force met last week in China to put the
finishing touches on an action plan. Present were government
and cement industry representatives from Australia, China,
Korea, India, Japan, and the United States. The Asia Pacific
Partnership is a multi-national program focused on promoting
energy efficient technology deployment and the development
of sustainable communities.
The task force, chaired by Dr. Junichi Kitami
of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and
co-chaired by Mr. Tongho Sui of the Chinese Building Materials
Academy, discussed specific milestones and additional collaborative
projects to be incorporated in a multi-year action plan. The
group reviewed and approved project proposals offered by the
United States, Japan, Australia and India and plans to include
several in the final plan.
The task force will meet again next spring in
India to review progress on implementing the action plan.
Contact
Andy O'Hare
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| PCA Brings Concrete Knowledge
to the Big Easy
PCA and other members of the National Association
of Home Builders' Concrete Home Building Council participated
at “Housing Solutions Summit," New Orleans, La.,
September 29-30. Thousands of area residents and builders
attended the show to gain answers to their questions on financing,
planning, construction, and energy savings. More than 500
national and local companies were present with numerous exhibits
showcasing cement-based wall systems and concrete products.
Summit attendees also had the opportunity to tour a fully-furnished
modular concrete home.
PCA's Michael H. Weber presented the advantages
of rebuilding with concrete building systems at the "Emerging
Building Systems" seminar on September 30. Weber further
explored concrete homes during live interviews on “Home
Talk,” a nationally syndicated radio program based in
Louisiana.
PCA was a sponsor of this event presented by
Entergy and the Home Building Association of Greater New Orleans.
Contact
Michael Weber
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| Results
From Last Week:
What's Monumental, What's Not
Which one of the following
concrete projects would you rate as most monumental?
Responses (percent)
- Hoover Dam 104 (42.11%)
- Three Gorges Dam (China) 62 (25.10%)
- Chunnel (Tunnel under the English Channel)
42 (17.00%)
- Petronas Towers (Kuala Lampur, Malaysia)
18 (7.29%)
- Burj Dubai (U.A.E.) 17 (6.88%)
- Taipei
101 (Taiwan) 4 (1.62%)
Take this
week's poll
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PCA's education and
training group will conduct the following courses at PCA's Skokie,
Ill., facility. Customized and off-site courses are also available.
For more information or to register, contact Julie
Lisiecki.
|
Concrete:
Principles & Practices
October 16-19, 2006
|
SCMs
& Ternary Blends
October 25-26, 2006 |
|
| Aggregates
& Chemical Admixtures for Use in Concrete
October 23-24, 2006 |
Troubleshooting:
Solutions to Concrete Field Problems
November 13-15, 2006 |
|
Mill
Grinding
October 23-25, 2006
|
Cement
Manufacturing for Process Engineers
November 13-16, 2006
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PCA
Fall Meeting
October 29-31, 2006
Sea Island, Ga.
Contact
Jan Farnsworth
|
2nd
Annual Joint Western Regional Mine Safety and Health
Conference
October 23-26, 2006
Mesa, Ariz.
More
Information
|
1st
Annual Southeastern U.S. Mine Safety and Health Conference
October 31-November 2
Nashville, Tenn.
More
Information |
|
Free
Register Online
Las Vegas, Nevada
Exhibits: January 23-26
Seminars: January 22-26 |
National Concrete
Masonry Association Annual Convention
February 20-24, 2007
Orlando, Fla.
More
information
|
Manufactured Concrete
Products Exposition
February 22-24, 2007
Orlando, Fla.
More
information |
|
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| 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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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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©2006 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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