ICF wall systems offer improved energy performance and lower heating and cooling costs. Pervious concrete for sidewalks and similar hardscapes around the exterior of the building will improve stormwater drainage. The pervious concrete will also reduce heat storing capacity, creating a cooler surface, a particularly important asset in cities like Atlanta, where the urban heat island effect raises temperatures significantly. A concrete-based “green roof” will reduce stormwater runoff, provide additional insulation, and further help reduce the heat island effect.

Designed by Lord, Aeck & Sargent, the 10,000-square-foot-Eco Office is scheduled to be completed in summer 2006. More than 30 member companies of the Georgia Concrete & Products Association have pledged to donate cement-based materials.
Contact David Shepherd

The industry's commitment to sustainable development and profile at the show was bolstered by the first Greenbuild concrete pavilion, an aisle gathering of 13 concrete and cement-based manufacturers and associations.

During the show, David Shepherd, PCA’s director of sustainable development, met with several members of the media to discuss concrete's advantages in sustainable design. He led reporters from Eco-Structure and Architectural Record on tours of the new Eco Office of the Southface Energy Institute. The tours provided reporters with a first-hand look of how concrete and cement-based contribute to sustainable development.

At Greenbuild PCA also hosted the second meeting of its Sustainable Development Advisory Council. The group provided feedback on PCA’s Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World program and discussed ways to strengthen the message of the benefits concrete and cement-based products in sustainable building. The Advisory Council consists of leaders from government, building and architecture sectors, with no direct connections to the cement industry.
Contact David Shepherd

PCA, EPA Join Forces on Sustainable
Redevelopment of Contaminated Sites
PCA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in partnership with the EPA’s Environmentally Responsible Redevelopment and Reuse Initiative (ER3). ER3 is designed to encourage the reuse and redevelopment of contaminated and previously contaminated property in an environmentally responsible manner, incorporating concepts of protective remediation and subsequent sustainable development of the site.

ER3 network partners are organizations that have expertise in sustainable development and sustainable facilities and are willing to share their expertise with project decision makers and other interested parties. PCA will be listed on the ER3 Web site as a resource on site remediation and sustainable development. Future plans include working with the EPA on the potential development of panel sessions on Sustainable Brownfield redevelopment at brownfield and remediation conferences.
For more information on ER2
Contact Chuck Wilk

Call for Entries: 2006 Concrete Bridge Awards
PCA is seeking nominations for its 10th biennial Bridge Awards Competition. The program, co-sponsored by Roads & Bridges magazine, recognizes excellence in design and construction of concrete bridges. All types of bridges—highway, railway, pedestrian—in which the basic structural system is concrete are eligible.

Newly constructed, reconstructed, or widened structures qualify for the competition. Structures must have been essentially completed between June 2004 and March 2006 and must be located within the United States or Canada. Entries are due March 31, 2006. PCA and Roads & Bridges will announce the winning projects at the American Concrete Institute Fall Annual Convention, November 5-9, 2006.
Download entry form (PDF)
Contact Shri Bhide

Holcim also announced last week that it has begun a feasibility study to add 300,000 metric tons of capacity to its Florence, Colo., plant. For the last six months, the plant has been operating at its annual design capacity of 1.7 million metric tons.
More at www.holcim.com

Lecture Series Explores the Impact of Katrina, Rita
The National Building Museum, in collaboration with major nonprofit organizations, government agencies and private industry, is organizing a series of symposia and lectures exploring the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Building in the Aftermath will bring together experts from a variety of disciplines to examine reconstruction plans and address issues such as housing the homeless, the restoration of protective ecosystems, and the need for infrastructure engineering improvements, among other issues.

The Building in the Aftermath series is sponsored by Lafarge North American, The American Planning Association, and the American Society of Landscape Architects.
For more information and a schedule of lectures

LEED 2.2 Released
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched the latest version of LEED for New Construction (NC) last week at the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Atlanta, Ga. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.

USGBC will allow projects registered between November 11 and January 1, to apply for either the new LEED-NC version 2.2 or version 2.1.
Contact David Shepherd

State Economic Profiles Published in
Web-Based Resource
PCA has published an extensive Web-based resource of state economic, construction, and industry data for use in media relations and government affairs. Included in the state profiles are data from 1999-2004 in the following areas: Economic data such as state finances, demographics, growth, expenditures; highway statistics such as lane miles, congestion, and safety; and cement and concrete industry information on capacity, employment, and contributions to the state economy.
Visit the site

PCA Launches R&D Web Site
The newest section of PCA’s Web site is devoted to the Association’s research and development programs. Among the features:

• Breakdown of PCA research expenditures
• Summaries of ongoing projects and access to past projects
• A form to suggest new research
• Profile on PCA’s Education Foundation, including information on applying for research fellowships awarded by the Foundation.
Visit the site
Contact Steve Kosmatka

Skokie Courses

Troubleshooting: Solutions to Concrete Field Problems
March 20-22, 2006

Kiln Process
February 6-9, 2006

Cement Manufacturing for Process Engineers
December 5-8, 2005

Cement and Concrete Overview
February 9-10, 2006

Concrete: Principles and Practices
February 27-March 2

Aggregates and Chemical Admixtures for Use in Concrete
March 13-14

Supplementary Cementing Materials (SCMs) and Ternary Blends
March 15-16

Microscopy of Clinker and Cement
February 13-17, 2006

Mill Grinding
March 20-22

2006 Professional Promoters' Workshop
April 10-12, 2006, St. Louis, Mo.
Contact Amanda Coppola