In an article about earthquakes published by Scientific American, they explain that, “Lateral shaking is the force that can cause the most damage to a building during an earthquake.” Since the force usually occurs in a direction parallel to the ground, skyscrapers in earthquake prone areas need to have lateral resistance to prevent quake damage and to protect against other lateral forces such as wind.
The Conco Companies are providing concrete services on the new Wilshire Grand Center in downtown Los Angeles, which when finished, will be the tallest structure built in a “seismic hot zone.” For this reason, the building’s design has been put through some of the most advanced and sophisticated earthquake modeling available. The skyscraper’s earthquake resistance is further complicated by the fact that architect, David Martin, designed the building with large windows on every floor that required the construction of a concrete core. Since the core is 33 feet wide along its narrowest side for a building that will be 1,100 feet tall, the geotechnical firm, AMEC, was hired to ensure the building’s resistant to damage from a quake. Their job was to create simulated earthquakes to test the tower design and to evaluate “the maximum acceleration — the greatest jolt — that the building could experience.” After a series of numerous tests and studying damage from past earthquakes in Southern California, the engineers refined the size and depth of the foundation to resist as much as “13.2 million pounds of force pulling up and 25 million pounds of force pushing down on each of the 20 perimeter columns as the tower swayed during an earthquake.” However the test still simulated some buckling so rather than increase the amount of concrete, AMEC’s solution was to add devices called buckling-restrained braces. The devices are long steel bars encased in a steel box filled with grout that allows the bars to compress or stretch when the building moves. The redesign of the Wilshire Grand will now include 170 of these devices. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We have built our reputation with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience. With four regional offices, we serve California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. Sources: graphics.latimes.com/wilshire-grand-earthquakes/ - Sources: Leonard Joseph, Thornton Tomasetti; Tammy Jow, Joseph Varholick, Carey McLeod and Noel Moreno, A.C. Martin; Steve Carroll, Schuff Steel; Ian Aiken, SIE Inc.; Nippon Steel Engineering USA; G.G. Schierle, USC School of Architecture; Dave Eichten, Pankow. scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-earthquake-proof-engineering/
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Along with efficiently using energy resources, it is also important to efficiently use and recycle raw materials whenever possible. As concrete is the most widely used man-made material in the world, it is essential that we responsibly produce, use and recycle it. The benefits of recycling concrete are numerous. Using recycled building materials reduces the amount of new raw materials that must be extracted, transported and processed. Another huge benefit of recycling concrete from demolished buildings and highways is it reduces the amount of material that would otherwise go into a landfill. In the recycling process, once a building is demolished, crews start preparing the concrete by removing as many contaminates as possible including roofing, trash, wood, and other miscellaneous materials. The quality of care that is taken at the job site can improve the outcome of the recycled material. In fact, many recycling facilities will not accept concrete that is not reasonably clean. The recycling process involves crushing, pre-sizing, sorting, screening and eliminating contaminants. It is then cleaned with water to remove dirt and any other remaining materials. It is especially important to remove materials such as asphalt, sealant, chlorides and gypsum. Also of value is the reinforced steel (rebar) that is embedded in the concrete. It is removed at the recycling site using huge magnets that attract and identify the steel. After removal, the rebar is sent to facilities that specialize in steel materials. Recycled concrete is used as aggregate in new concrete as well as for fill, drainage, or as sub-base gravel before asphalt or concrete is poured. The Portland Cement Association says, “The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports that eleven states use recycled concrete aggregate in new concrete. These states report that concrete with recycled aggregate performs equal to concrete with natural aggregates.” The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western U.S. and got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We currently serve California, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Nevada. Source:concretethinker.com/solutions/Recycled-Content.aspx According to the American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA), there is a heightened awareness of ACPA certification, and as such, it has increased the demand for certified pump operators. The ACPA states that, “certification has proven to raise the safety awareness of operators, which can help eliminate the risk of harm when using a concrete pump on the job site.” Last year, the Association saw a 20% growth in their certification training program. They trained a record number of operators despite an estimated loss of 1,000 pumps in the industry since 2006. The program now includes a mandatory ACPA Safety Presentation Program and there have been modifications made to the certification test regarding security and authenticity. Furthermore, when you choose to use an ACPA certified operator at your job site, you are in compliance with the personnel requirements of the ASME B30.27 Safety Standard for Material Placement Systems. Another part of the recently introduced ASME B30.27 includes pump operators performing an “operation test demonstrating proficiency in handling the specific type material placement system, including both pre-start and post-start inspection, setup procedures, maneuvering skills, shutdown and securing procedures.” The ACPA is still looking at how this type of extensive testing should be handled and by whom. At The Conco Companies, every one of our concrete pump operators are ACPA certified and are trained to operate equipment safely and to protect those who work around the pump from harm. In addition to ACPA certification and company specific safety training, Conco obtains inspections of all of our boom pumps and Telebelts every year by certified boom pump inspectors. This ensures the structural integrity of the equipment we operate. Conco has developed and implemented some of the most rigorous pumping safety procedures in the entire concrete industry. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We have built our reputation with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience. With four regional offices, we serve California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. Sources: mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=253083 The Conco Companies served as the General Contractor on the parking structure for the new Brio apartment complex in Walnut Creek, CA. The developer and builder for the 300-unit apartments is SummerHill Homes, a nationally-recognized home builder in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. The Brio is located on a 5-acre site and offers 1 and 2-bedroom apartments for rent that range in sizes from 667 to 1,051 square feet. As the General Contractor on the project, Conco constructed a five-story; cast-in-place parking structure that has parking for 471 vehicles and includes chargers for electric vehicles. We placed 159,028 sq ft of concrete and used 750,000 of reinforced steel. By the time the project was finished, we had used 5,000 cu yd of concrete and 1,500 cu yd of shotcrete. The property is located only four blocks from BART and is within easy walking distance to downtown Walnut Creek and the Broadway Plaza Shopping Center. The apartments feature a clubhouse with a media room, kitchen, and a separate lounge area. A rooftop outdoor terrace offers residents a great view of Mt. Diablo. A central courtyard offers a large swimming pool and spa, 5 outdoor kitchens and dining areas as well as a ping-pong table and natural lawn. As a focal point for the outside of the Brio leasing office, SummerHill Homes commissioned a cylindrical shaped metal art piece by Phillip K. Smith, III from Indio, California. The city of Walnut Creek’s Art Commission participated in the design selection and approval process. The Conco Companies are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. Our extensive experience includes commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects. We currently serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. The Conco Companies are one of the foremost commercial concrete contractors in the Western United States and offer customers a wide range of premium services. In the industry since 1959, Conco has had the opportunity to experience first-hand many of the innovations and techniques that have evolved over more than half a century. One of the advantages of being such a large, established company is that we are able to attract some of the most talented individuals in the field to join our team. As such Conco’s excellent reputation has offered us the opportunity to be a part of some of the most distinguished projects in the area. Furthermore, Conco’s line-up of exceptional resources and facilities has helped to set us apart from the competition. For example, Conco Reinforcing operates two large rebar fabrication facilities located in California and Washington. This gives us the capability to quickly and efficiently service customers’ needs as well as to be a single source for rebar fabrication and installation projects regardless of the size. When you use Conco Reinforcing’s fabrication and installation services along with our concrete formwork and placement crews, you get the benefit of a coordinated one-stop-shop approach. Another one of Conco’s strength is our reinforced concrete design services. This group of professional engineers and estimators work meticulously on offering effective, efficient design solutions that can alleviate or prevent problems and delays on your project. They bring to each job their vast experience and expertise as well as state-of-the-art technology and tools such as BIM, on-screen take-off, and construction management software. Also they are able to make recommendation on the materials and processes needed to ensure a concrete structure meets all sustainability and LEED goals. The Conco Companies are a leading commercial concrete contractor for the Western United States. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects. Conco has four regional offices that serve Northern and Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. At The Conco Companies, we have a lot of experience in the construction of sporting and entertainment venues. Our portfolio in public arenas includes being awarded the full concrete contract for the San Francisco 49ers Levi Stadium, the cast in place concrete for the San Francisco Giants ballpark (AT & T Park) and the foundation package for the HP Pavilion (Shark Tank). In addition we did all cast in place concrete for the LA Live complex and ancillary structures for the Seattle Seahawks Stadium. For the Levi Stadium project, we placed slabs in excess of 2,000,000 square feet and used more than 65,000 cubic yards of concrete. In order to meet the ambitious timeline to complete the foundation, Conco worked on four separate areas simultaneously. The same approach was taken for the multiple deck pours. The AT & T Park, originally opened in 2000 under the name of Pacific Bell Park, is the first MLB facility to receive LEED Silver certification. Our job consisted of doing the entire cast in place concrete for the 41, 503 seat stadium. The privately funded park cost $255 million to build and was designed by the architectural firm of HOK Sport. Construction Managers were Huber, Hunt & Nichols, Inc. and Kajima Construction Services. We were also awarded the foundation contract for the SAP Center that is now the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. The cost to build the multi-use indoor arena was $162.5 million and has a seating capacity of 19,190. The architect on the project was Sink Combs Dethlefs and Construction Manager was Huber, Hunt & Nichols. Another project that we are extremely proud of is the LA Live complex. Conco’s contribution on that project was to build the two-story below-grade parking structure that provides the structural support for the complex. One of the several awards the project received for design and construction elements was the Excellence in Concrete Award from the American Concrete Institute – Southern California Chapter. When your project demands exceptional services and the best value, Conco can deliver. We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have four region offices serving California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget. The Union Station redevelopment project has played a significant role in Denver’s downtown revitalization and is quickly becoming a popular destination for fine dining, entertainment and shopping. The focal point of the large project is the Denver Union Station, which reopened in July 2014 after years of planning and hard work, and to the cost of nearly $500 million. The multi-modal hub is for bus, light rail, commuter rail and Amtrak and was designed to accommodate pedestrians and commuters. The project got its start in 2001 when RTD purchased Union Station and the surrounding site from the Denver Union Terminal Railway Corporation. It is a jointly-funded agreement between RTD, the Denver Union Station Project Authority, the Colorado Department of Transportation and others to form the Partner Agencies. The master plan included remodeling the building and developing the 19.5 acre site as “a multi-modal transportation network with transit-oriented private development.” The project was approved by the voters in 2004 as the FasTracks program. The ambitious project has caught the interest of transportation developers around the world for the contemporary design and emphasis on commuter-friendly transit. The Union Station building contains 14 new restaurants and retail shops as well as the luxurious Crawford Hotel. The redevelopment project also includes 25 new construction projects in the area of which many are completed or set to be done in the next year or two. Once everything is complete, the area will have an addition of 2,100 housing units and two million square feet of office space. The Conco Companies provided the concrete services for the tallest building constructed in the Union Station neighborhood. The Platform, a 21-story luxury apartment building, includes 288 apartment units, 260 parking spaces, and approximately 7,000 SF of retail space. Conco broke ground in early 2013 and the project was completed in 2014. Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise and unsurpassed quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development. Sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_%28Denver,_Colorado%29 denver.cbslocal.com/2014/04/28/denvers-union-station-renovation-watched-around-the-world/ |
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