Century City Sprouts a ‘Green Blade’
in Novel Nouvel

Renowned French Architect Jean Nouvel is planning his first building west of Minneapolis in the high-rise cluster of Los Angeles’ Century City.

His 45-story, $400-million self-titled “Green Blade” residential tower is designed as vertical garden. Nouvel is proposing a narrow glass structure with sweeping views through the building and extensive greenery ringing each floor. Each of the tower's 177 units, ranging from 3,400 to 9,500 square feet, is designed as a home in the sky with floor-to-ceiling glass.

It's also green as in sustainable. Developer SunCal Cos is aiming for certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program. The building's slender dimensions—600 feet tall, 325 feet wide and just 50 feet deep—will allow sunlight to reach deep into each unit, reducing energy for lighting. Those dimensions also allow natural ventilation, lowering air-conditioning use. Shops are within walking distance, so residents can leave their cars parked in the tower’s underground garage.

Even in times of economic uncertainty, the demand for luxury housing continues unabated on the west side of Los Angeles, says PCA's Attila Beres. Among the several projects planned in the area with significant concrete use:

• Last year, British developers paid $500 million for the former Robinson-May department store, where a 252-unit condo and retail complex designed by prominent architect Richard Meier has been proposed.
• Westfield, the owner of Century City's shopping center, plans to build 262 upscale condos or apartments to complement its recent $170-million makeover of the mall.
• Century City landlord JMB Realty Corp. plans to build 483 units on Constellation Boulevard.
• Owners of the Beverly Hilton Hotel also plan to add  condos as part of a major upgrade and expansion on the property.

Contact Attila Beres

PCA Committees, Board to Meet in Chicago

The PCA Spring Meetings will be held on April 28-30, 2008 at the Chicago Marriott O’Hare. Most committees of PCA's Research and Technical Council and Market Promotion Council will meet, as well as committees of the Cement Association of Canada.

In addition, the Boards of PCA, CLTGroup, and the Cement Association of Canada; the Educational Foundation; the Legal Counsels Committee, and the Government Affairs Council will hold meetings.

Presentations include the announcements of the 2008 Environment and Energy Award winners and the Promotion Progress Awards.
Register for the meeting online
Contact Michelle Nyquist

Foreign Investment Bolsters
Flagging Development in West

The credit crunch and real estate downturn has delayed or cancelled some building projects. But others are benefiting from an infusion of new funding as the cheap dollar fuels foreign investment in some significant projects in the Western U.S.

For example, last August, Dubai World invested $2.7 billion for a 50 percent stake in the Las Vegas CityCenter project, and committed another $2.4 billion to buy MGM Mirage common stock. Now, foreign developers have taken stakes in several major Los Angeles projects:

• Developer Cris Pak  is working on a Korean Cultural center Superblock, a sprawling complex in mid-town. It will include a 40-story residential building used for condos, retail, a Korean bank, and the Korean consulate.
• British developer Candy and Candy bought out a multi-building luxury condo project in Beverly Hills, the 9900 Wilshire, designed by Richard Meier for $500 million—up from the $33.5 million that the prior owner paid for it 3 years ago.
• One of the major downtown LA area developments, The Grand, now has a major financial backer in the Dubai Royal Family.
• Park Fifth, the tallest building planned in the Western US, have developers who are partnering with the Africa Israel Investment Ltd.

Contact Attila Beres

S/S Seminar and Project Tour

On April 22, 2008, PCA and the Southeast Cement Association will sponsor a seminar and tour presenting information on the principles of solidification/stabilization (S/S) treatment technology and its design and application for remediation of contaminated property.

The seminar will include a tour of the Brunswick Wood Superfund Site in Brunswick, Ga. S/S treatment was used to remedy this former commercial wood preserving facility. More than 60,000 cubic yards (46,000 cubic meters) of wood preservative-impacted soil and sediment will be treated. Tour participants will be able to observe exsitu S/S treatment of the impacted soil and sediment.
More information and registration for seminar

Canadian Cement Consumption
Continues to Grow

According to a report by PCA economic research, 2007 marked the ninth consecutive year of increases in Canadian portland cement consumption. Lead by a 5.9 percent gain in British Columbia and Territories, overall consumption increased 2.4 percent, to more than 9.5 million metric tons. Masonry cement consumption in 2007, however, marked its third year of decline, and consumption fell 6.3 percent. Exports of portland increased 11.5 percent.
Contact Dave Czechowski

Students Learn about Engineering and Concrete at Open House

The DuPage chapter of the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois held an Open House for grade school and high school students and their parents on February 23, 2008, to celebrate Engineering Week. 

The Expo featured interactive displays and presentations designed to enhance children’s interest in math, science, and engineering. 

Displays and presentations this year focused on sustainable engineering.

The DuPage Program, now on its 24th year, is a joint effort among professional engineering and scientific societies, area national laboratories, businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations. 

Larry Novak (pictured left), PCA’s manager, buildings and special structures, demonstrated how concrete building materials are used and how water can stop building motions.

Soil-Cement Workshops Scheduled for Colorado

The Rocky Mountain Cement Council and ARS, Inc., will present Sustainable Soil Solutions for Pavements, a series of workshops focusing on the benefits of soil-cement technology in paving applications.

Three workshops are scheduled:

• Fort Collins, March 18
• Colorado Springs, March 19
• Grand Junction, April 2

Presentations for the one-day workshops focus on how municipalities are using full-depth reclamation and other soil cement techniques to stretch limited roadway budgets, provide long-lasting pavements, and offer green construction solutions.
Download a registration form
Contact Don Clem

Fiorato Chairs ASTM Concrete Committee

ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates has named Tony Fiorato, current chairman and former president and CEO of CTLGroup, as its new chairman.  ASTM Committee C09 consists of approximately 900 members responsible for more than 155 standards published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards that are essential to the construction of civil infrastructure. These include the primary standards for concrete materials and testing.

In addition, ASTM International Committee C09, jointly with Committee C01 on Cement, oversees the activities of the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL), which operates programs that promote the quality of testing in construction materials laboratories. Included are the inspection and proficiency sample programs that provide laboratories with a mechanism for improving the quality of their testing of hydraulic cement, portland cement concrete and aggregates, steel reinforcing bars, pozzolans and masonry materials using ASTM standards.