Brownstones Win Gold with ICFs

Insulating concrete forms provided a winning system for The Brownstones at Maywood Park in Oklahoma City.

The 2008 Gold winner in the Insulating Concrete Form Association’s Excellence Awards (see below), these row houses were designed around the ICF system to allow for maximum clear spans and the ability to "clip on" balconies and bay windows for a wide range of custom designs and interior planning.

Built into the design was a geothermal system, passive shading, and active ventilation, which leveraged the strengths of ICFs to make these homes remarkably energy efficient. Efforts were made to include additional green building elements such as low maintenance, locally available materials, building orientation to maximize solar, pedestrian friendly lighting, and access to public transportation.

The developer promoted not only the energy efficiency of ICFs, but also the acoustical qualities and the protection from tornadoes. These were important features, as the townhouses are located only a few blocks away from the central rail line and are right in the middle of “Tornado Alley.”

The houses were designed by Anthony McDermid, TAP Architecture, and used BuildBlock Building Systems.  Triangle Development served as the general contractor and John Joyce from Engineering Solutions was the project engineer.

 ICFA Design Winners Announced

The Insulating Concrete Forms Association (ICFA) announced the winners of the 2008 ICFA Excellence Awards last month at its annual Conference and Expo in Portland, Ore.

Even though the guidelines for the 2008 awards were revised to include more ICF industry-specific information and criteria, a record number of applications were submitted through the new on-line process.  The winners set new benchmarks for the industry in design and sustainability.

The Gold winners were:

>Large Commercial—The Brownstones at Maywood Park, Oklahoma City. (See Project of the Week above.)

>Small Commercial—SouthFace Energy Institute, Atlanta (see Project of the Week, November 14, 2005) 

>Large Residential—Onekama Residence, Onekama, Mich. (see Project of the Week, April 7, 2008) 

>Small Residential—Vitale Extreme Home Makeover, Athens, Vt. (see Project of the Week, November 19, 2008) 

>International—Valencia Heights, Georgetown, Grand Cayman

>Sustainability Award-- Onekama Residence
More at www.forms.org

Call for Entries: 2009 Environment
and Energy Awards

PCA and Cement Americas magazine are seeking entries for the 2009 Cement Industry Energy and Environment Awards. The awards program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America and recognizes projects and activities that have been initiated or completed in 2008.

A panel of independent judges awards plants for achievements in six categories: environmental performance, land stewardship, outreach, innovation, energy efficiency, and overall environmental excellence.

The deadline for entries is Wednesday, February 13, 2009. Entry forms will also appear in several forthcoming issues of Cement Americas magazine.
Contact Donna Wortman.

Ash Grove Honored for Outstanding
Landscaping Efforts

The Overland Park, Kan., City Council last week honored Ash Grove Cement Company for its outstanding landscaping efforts.  Ash Grove was one of five area businesses recognized by the Council's Legacy of Greenery Committee for outstanding landscaping efforts, judged on initial design, continued maintenance and preservation of existing landscaping features.

Ash Grove was recognized for the use of low maintenance plants in “a unique and surprising pattern” and for its “beds of manicured grasses that create interest and soften all that is harsh.”  The committee also cited the company’s use of ground cover ivy and flowering magnolias to provide employees with “a view to enjoy from their office windows.”

Holcim Plant Recycles Emissions into Algae Food

A Holcim plant is recycling its carbon dioxide emissions to grow algae for use in high-value feeds, foods, and fuels.

The plant, near Jerez, Spain, started the project in December 2007 with a field assessment unit that has successfully grown a variety of naturally occurring algae strains using Holcim flue gases.  The next phase includes the successful inoculation and subsequent harvests of a prototype algae-solar bioreactor.

After this is complete, construction will begin on a 1,000-square-meter algae greenhouse and harvesting facilities adjacent to the cement plant.
When completed, 100 hectares of algae greenhouses will produced 25,000 tons of algae biomass each year.   Algae can be harvested daily, rather than seasonally, uses water very efficiently and does not require arable land like other crops.

Arroyo honored by SEAW:  The Structural Engineers Association of Washington (SEAW) honored John Arroyo, executive director of the Northwest Cement Producers Group, with the association’s “President’s Award” for the involvement and support that the NWCPG and PCA staff provided to SEAW throughout the year, including at the northwest regional conference.

Maryland presents “Concrete in the Residential Market”:   Building professionals attending the inaugural “Showcase of Concrete Construction” in Frederick, Md., had the opportunity to learn more about concrete’s role in residential building.  Jim Niehoff, PCA’s director of residential programs, presented an AIA credit presentation entitled “Concrete in the Residential Market” to a group of architects, builders, engineers and concrete contractors.  The Showcase was sponsored and administered by the Maryland Ready Mixed Concrete Promotion Council and its members, and attracted more than 200 participants.  The event also featured exhibitor booths, additional seminars, and an outdoor display area.