Ardea Building in Portland Shines with Concrete

The Ardea building on the South Waterfront in Portland, Ore., illustrates how a combination of precast and cast-in-place concrete can drastically reduce construction time and cost, while giving the owner an attractive, low-maintenance, and durable structure. 

The cast-in-place concrete structure consisted of a 386,000 square foot, 31-story tower and an adjacent 55,000 square foot, six-story sidecar building all constructed atop a three-story below grade, cast-in-place parking garage.  The architectural precast skin consisted of more than 1,500 pieces of concrete, all cast off-site.

To minimize the financing carrying costs on the project, critical early occupancy milestone dates were set.  Through innovative shoring and phasing techniques, and a compressed structural schedule, early occupancy of the first 10 floors occurred within 17 months of first pour.  The tower is founded on drilled concrete shafts that were installed from the P-1 level, which allowed tower construction to advance upward while the remaining two levels of structural excavation and parking structure were built concurrently.

After reaching the 8th floor, the remaining floors progressed at 6 days per floor.  A typical floor cycle would consist of pouring the post-tension slab in the morning and by that same afternoon the corewall and columns were poured to the underside of the next floor and deck forming was underway.

The Ardea building is a showpiece project for the city of Portland and was constructed to support the demand for the quality of life that the thriving South Waterfront has to offer. The building was a recent winner of the Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association's "Excellence in Concrete" awards.

PCA Publications Now Available at Cost to PCA Members

To provide PCA members with the most up-to-date resources, the PCA bookstore will now offer publications and other materials at cost.

The PCA bookstore is implementing a new PCA publications discount structure that is more reflective of competitive and fair discounts.  Members of the Manufacturing Technical Committee, American Concrete Institute, and allied organizations such as the American Concrete Pavement Association and National Ready Mixed Concrete Association will continue to purchase publications at a reduced rate; however, the discount amount has been revised.
Visit PCA Bookstore

EPA Releases Proposed Modifications to NESHAP

Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued proposed changes to the portland cement National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).

When fully implemented in 2013, EPA estimates that this rule would reduce annual emissions by at least:  

> Mercury – 11,600 pounds, a reduction of 81 percent
> Total hydrocarbons – 11,700 tons, or 75 percent
> Particulate matter – 10,500 tons, or 96 percent
> Hydrochloric acid – 2,800 tons, or 94 percent
> Sulfur dioxide – 160,000 tons, or 90 percent

In response to the ruling, PCA issued a media statement addressing the industry’s concerns, specifically that the standards are unachievable and rely on technology applications and effectiveness assumptions not experienced at cement plants. PCA stated that “these modifications not only jeopardize the viability of the U.S. cement industry, but also the jobs and communities reliant on cement manufacturing.”

EPA will take public comments on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
View PCA statement
View EPA proposal
Contact Andy O'Hare

Lafarge Dedicates Renewable Fuel Project at Sugar Creek Plant

Last week Lafarge dedicated its Landfill Gas Project at its Sugar Creek, Mo., plant.  Lafarge will use landfill gas to replace up to 20 percent of its coal use.  It is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 33,000 tons per year, the equivalent of removing emissions from more than 5,500 motor vehicles.

Representing a nearly $2-million investment, the landfill gas system removes moisture from the gas, measures its volume and heat value, and transports it through 6500 feet of pipe piping into the plant.

"I will take great pride in sharing news of this project with my colleagues in Washington," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.), who serves on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming said during the dedication ceremony.  "Lafarge is at the forefront of creating opportunities for sustainability."

The plant already uses non-recyclable shredded paper, plastics, textiles, and rubber as fuel.  Along with landfill gas, its renewable fuels use will increase from 7 percent in 2008 to nearly 30 percent of its total energy.

CEMEX publishes 2008 Sustainable Development Report

CEMEX issued its 2008 Sustainable Development Report last week and achieved a Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-checked application level of A+. The report was prepared in accordance with the GRI G3 guidelines and the company is first to achieve this honor.

The report includes a number of other firsts: a public policy section; an assurance statement on CO2 emissions and safety indicators by PricewaterhouseCoopers; as well as the establishment of a Sustainability Advisory Panel of experts.

Some of the report’s performance highlights:
> Increased use of alternative fuels, up 35% from 2007
> Reduced CO2 emissions per ton of cement, on track for 25% cut by 2015
> Biodiversity mapping of all quarry sites globally, in collaboration with BirdLife International
> More than 224,000 families in Latin America supported through Patrimonio Hoy, CEMEX's 10-year-old low-income housing program that provides micro-credit, advice, and affordable building materials
The report is available at www.cemex.com/sustainability/reports

Transportation Construction Group Announces Legislative Fly-In

The Transportation Construction Coalition's "Transportation Builds Our Economy" legislative briefing and fly-in is scheduled for May 19-20, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

The event will begin with a legislative briefing on Tuesday (May 20) from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a Capitol Hill reception. On the second day participants will have the opportunity to visit with their Representatives and Senators to discuss key issues, especially the importance of transportation infrastructure investment to the nation’s economy and the quality of life of all Americans.
Download the registration brochure (PDF)
Contact David Hubbard

Call for Entries: 2010 Concrete Bridge Awards

PCA is seeking nominations for its 12th biennial Bridge Awards Competition.  The program 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. Entries are encouraged for cast-in-place or precast concrete bridges with short, medium, or long spans. Newly constructed, reconstructed, or widened structures qualify for the competition. 

Public and private organizations may submit as many bridges as desired.   Eligible structures for the 2010 competition must have been essentially completed between April 2008 and September 2009, and must be located within the United States or Canada.

Entries are due September 4, 2009. The winnings projects will be presented at the Concrete Bridge Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., in February 2010.
Entry forms are available for download (PDF) at www.cement.org/bridges. Contact Sue Lane