Children's Hospital Research Center Brings Work Out of the Laboratory

Nearing completion in Cincinnati is a new research facility that utilized structural concrete to provide a design that fosters collaboration among scientists, encouraging interaction between the departments.

The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is building the 375,000-square-foot facility on the site of a demolished 1929 clinical building. “Location S” will allude to the contextual nature of the campus architecture, but will also seek to reflect the cutting edge, world-class research institution and serve as a distinctive gateway building to the southern end of Children's property.

It will include 10 research floors housing mechanical equipment and a data center. Each research floor is based on an integrated model of wet lab and dry lab research space. A central circulation spine links to an existing research tower and provides interaction opportunities such as meeting rooms, informal breakout space and quieter spaces of respite. All these spaces will be accessible on a wireless network allowing research work to break out of the lab. Double volume overlooks and vistas through the glass curtain wall bring a sense of connection to the exterior as well as provide light.

The project makes use of a wide modular joist framing system.

The design and construction team includes GBBN Architects, Messer Construction, Fosdick & Hilmer, Inc., Jostin Concrete Construction, and THP Ltd., Inc.
Contact Amy Trygestad

Cement Plants Plan to Increase Capacity by 26%

Building upon recent modest expansion activities, U.S. cement companies have announced plans to increase clinker capacity by nearly 25 million metric tons between 2007 and 2012. According to a report issued last week by PCA, this represents a 26 percent increase in capacity compared to 2006 levels. The expansion plans affect 25 plants including seven greenfield sites.

Although the first phases of the expansion will coincide with a slowdown in economic conditions, PCA expects sustained growth in cement consumption during 2009-2012. In 2010, cement consumption growth should outstrip growth in the announced capacity expansion.
Contact Ed Sullivan

Call for Entries: 2008 PCA Education Foundation
Research Fellowships
PCA's Education Foundation is seeking nominations for outstanding graduate students in the fields of engineering and the physical sciences for the 2008 PCA Education Foundation Research Fellowships. Each year the Foundation awards students working on projects related to cement manufacturing, concrete technology, residential, public works, masonry, and engineered structures.

Honorees receive a $20,000 stipend, paid to the university, to cover tuition and other related educational expenses. Applications are due January 15, 2008.

The fellowships are open to any student completing studies towards a masters or doctoral degree from an institution of higher education within Canada or the United States that is accredited by a regional or national agency. The applicant must be pursuing graduate study in an engineering, science, material science, or architectural program.
More information at www.cement.org
Contact Steve Kosmatka

TXI Expanding Hunter Plant

Local leaders joined executives from Texas Industries Inc., at the October 1 groundbreaking of the vast expansion of TXI’s Hunter plant near New Braunfels, Texas. 

The $350 million expansion will increase the plant’s cement output from 0.9 to 2.3 million tons annually and create approximately 35 new jobs for the area.

The project is scheduled to be finished in two years, with the new plant to begin production by 2009.  San Antonio-based Zachry Construction Corp. is the general contractor.

Holcim (US) Awards Scholarship to Morehouse School of Medicine Student

Holcim (US) announced Vincent Walford as the winner of the 2007 Holcim Public Health Scholarship. Walford, a student at the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) will receive $25,000.

The scholarship provides financial aid to public health or medical students at the Morehouse School of Medicine to minimize their post-education debt load and better enable them to provide health care and public health services to underserved communities.

“I am honored to receive this scholarship, and hope to continue the good work that the company has already done in this community,” said Walford, who plans to focus on problems like homelessness and AIDS.

In addition to the scholarship, Holcim worked with the Morehouse School of Medicine this summer to launch a new program to support health care in communities where the company operates. Six MSM students worked in medical practices and clinics for low-income patients near Holcim plants. The company’s relationship with Morehouse began as a post-Katrina initiative that has grown into a partnership to help the communities surrounding a number of Holcim plants.

Seminar Addresses Masonry Inspection Concerns
As codes and other documents evolve, inspection has become more critical than ever for all building materials.  “Inspection of Masonry Construction," a new seminar from The Masonry Society, aims to help inspectors, engineers, and building officials identify and check key quality assurance items on masonry projects, thereby attaining quality masonry construction.

The seminar will instruct attendees on code inspection requirements, proper placement of materials, mortar and grout, flashing, movement joints, determining the compressive strength of masonry, and hot and cold weather construction procedures. Information is based on the 2006 IBC and the 2005 MSJC along with related ASTM standards and inspection guides.

“Inspection of Masonry Construction" will held on November 8, in Pittsburgh.
For more information visit www.masonrysociety.org

Successful RCC Workshops Continue
The Southeast Cement Association (SCA) with PCA, the Great Lakes Cement Promotion Association, and other local interests presented a one-day workshop on roller-compacted concrete (RCC) pavements in Louisville, Ky., that drew more than 140 attendees. 

The seminar provided information on design and construction procedures for RCC.  In addition, attendees viewed an on-site demo and took tours of a construction project at the Essroc plant in Speed, Ind.  Essroc’s Axim Concrete Technology mobile testing  lab was also available for tour.

The next RCC Pavements Workshop is scheduled for November 6 in Atlanta.
More information at www.secement.org
Download an entry form

ICFA Wraps Up Successful Fall Meeting

The Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA) recently held the most successful meeting in its history.  The 2007 ICFA Meeting & Expo in St. Louis attracted nearly 450 attendees, along with more than 50 exhibiting companies.  A number of educational sessions were presented focusing on best practices and legal issues for contractors, an overview of building science and energy efficiency, and marketing techniques for ICFA members.  Jim Niehoff, PCA’s director of residential construction programs, presented at the “Intro to ICFs” seminar.  In addition, he and other PCA staff members participated in several committee meetings.

The Expo also was an opportunity for ICFA members to meet new Executive Director Steven Heller.   The 2008 Meeting and Expo will be held in Portland, Oregon, September 29 – October 1. 
Contact Jim Niehoff

Spread the Word:
Free Registration to World of Concrete

World of Concrete 2008 kicks off in Las Vegas on January 21-25, 2008. The largest show for the concrete industry features more than 1,800 exhibitors in addition to 150 seminars and conference sessions.

As a co-sponsor, PCA offers free admission and a seminar discount for attendees who register through www.cement.org.  PCA receives a rebate from Hanley-Wood for each pre-registered individual who comes to the show.

This year, PCA is pleased to supply printed invitations announcing free registration.  Ideal for distribution to customers, prospects, suppliers, etc., the invitations are available free-of-charge.
To order invitations, contact Pat Schardt.
For free registration and discounts on seminar fees.

PCA Urges Cost-Effective Approach
to Energy Standards

Steve Skalko recently presented to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Board of Directors the challenges faced in evaluating changes to Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.  Skalko is vice chair of ASHRAE’s Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC) 90.1, which is reviewing the standard.  ASHRAE plans to change the standard to achieve a proposed 30% energy savings in buildings presently meeting the 2004 edition of the standard. 

The SSPC will be reviewing changes to the building envelope, mechanical systems and lighting systems for potential improvements to reach the 30% goal with provisions in the 2010 edition.  The present requirements in the standard are economically based. 

Skalko’s presentation stressed the importance of maintaining a cost-effective approach to evaluating increased stringency in the standard.  This approach is consistent with PCA’s philosophy for developing energy efficiency requirements for buildings. 
Contact Steve Skalko

CTLGroup Welcomes New Managers

CTLGroup announces the appointment of three new members to its management team.

Ann M. Caffero has been promoted to microscopy team manager. Caffero has worked in CTLGroup’s microscopy department since joining the firm in 1997. Her principal responsibilities have included microscopical and petrographic examination of construction materials to evaluate their condition, quality, and composition. She earned her B.S. in earth science from Northeastern Illinois University.

Bernard J. Schulze has joined CTLGroup as manager of the structural and transportation laboratory, overseeing the testing of full-size and reduced-scale structural components. Schulze has more than 20 years experience in materials and metallurgical analyses, including a variety of laboratory and field inspection techniques. He has previously served as a staff consultant for Stress Engineering Services, Inc.. Schulze has a B.S. in metallurgical and materials engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology.

Jerzy Z. Zemajtis, PhD, has been promoted to manager of the materials consulting team. Dr. Zemajtis joined the company in 2002 and has served as senior engineer and project manager. He has nearly 15 years experience specializing in bridge design, repair and rehabilitation; corrosion condition assessment; service life estimation; materials evaluation; and creep and shrinkage testing and modeling. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering from the Technical University of Gdansk in Poland, and his Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.