The University of Michigan is conducting an interesting study that involves developing a more durable concrete using raw acid mine drainage from abandoned mines in Northeast Pennsylvania. The research is focused on whether the impacted water, taken from boreholes in Solomon Creek, could be used in a “mixture for bendable concrete that can withstand four times the amount of pressure than regular concrete.”
Haoliang Wu, a Ph.D. student at the U of M, contacted the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) to get about 180 gallons of the water shipped to the university’s laboratory. The executive director of EPCAMR, Robert Hughes, says the research team wants to use the mind drainage in concrete to build roads, bridges and highways. He explains, “They don’t have any raw mine drainage in Michigan that meets the kind of chemistry and criteria that we have here in the water in Solomon Creek coming from the boreholes.” In addition the concrete will be tested to see if it can better protect against rusting and cracking. The EPCAMR is also excited to learn if the acid mine water is a good fit for the experimental concrete as it could lead to a new partnership with the university and a beneficial way to reuse mine drainage in Pennsylvania. A more durable concrete also means bridges and roads would have a greater lifespan and be more sustainable. Furthermore, Hughes is excited at the prospect that something such as the acid mine drainage that has been a pollutant for the area could be a reusable resource in the future. They have plenty of impacted waterways as over 5,500 miles of streams have had run-off from the mines and the group has been trying to find ways to clean up the polluted streams. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services throughout the Western U.S. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products and are now one of the foremost concrete contractors in the region. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, industrial and public works projects as well as parking structures. Sources:thetimes-tribune.com/news/local-acid-mine-drainage-helping-in-concrete-research-1.2182101, wnep.com/2017/04/20/power-to-save-acid-mine-drainage-to-concrete/
0 Comments
Along with our broad range of commercial concrete services including pumping, shotcrete, rebar fabrication and installation, trucking, and design/build, The Conco Companies also offer superior formwork. This all-important temporary structure is designed to contain and mold poured concrete until it hardens into the required shape.
As formwork controls the concrete’s position and alignment, it needs to be strong enough to support its own weight, that of the concrete, as well as the workers and any equipment or materials that will be used in the process. Over the last couple of decades, there have been major advancements in formwork that have resulted in greater cost-efficiencies and have improved workers’ safety. The process behind creating topnotch formwork is a collaborative effort between the concrete contractors, engineers, and architects. The group must take into account factors such as the quality, cost, and safety requirements needed in order to design and implement forms that meet their project’s specifications. The materials used to construct the forms will depend on the type of job it is designed to do. Forms used to be built out of lumber, but today, a variety of materials is used including plywood, aluminum, and steel as well as custom-made plastic and fiberglass forms. With the development of newer types of forms, it has helped to improve the safety, speed, and manageability on a jobsite. Once the form is built, concrete is placed into it. After the concrete has hardened, the forms are disassembled or “stripped” and can be used again. It is important to not strip the forms or remove the shoring before the concrete has sufficiently cured and is able to support its own weight. In the U.S many forms are now made from prefabricated modules that allow the forms to be assembled quickly and cost-effectively on the jobsite. The modules can be reused thousands of times whereas older wood forms had to be replaced much sooner. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western U.S. We 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 have four regional offices serving California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Colorado. The term “Life-cycle assessment” (LCA) is defined by Wikipedia as a cradle to grave analysis used to assess the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life. This includes raw material extraction and materials processing as well as the manufacturing, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling of the product.
The demand for green building projects is motivated by owners and developers as well as the marketplace as they offer reduced operating costs, improved health benefits, and perform better environmentally throughout the life-cycle of the building. The EPA states that green buildings should reduce the environmental impact on human health and the natural environment by:
When sustainable criteria are considered early in the planning and design stages, it can offer a greater cost-efficiency as well as influence design. ConstructConnect reports on a recent study done for the USGBC by Booz Allen Hamilton that states, “Green construction spending to increase from $150.6 billion in 2015 to $224.4 billion in 2018.” The study also suggests that, “between 2015 and 2018, green construction will generate $303.4 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP); support 3.9 million jobs, and provide $268.4 billion in labor earnings.” Typically green products are made from reused or recycled-content or from renewable resources. The EPA explains that the product should promote clean air and reduce the emissions of VOC (volatile organic compounds) and formaldehyde. They should not contain CFCs, HCFCs or other toxic substances and need to promote practices that conserve energy and water. Furthermore, they should offer good durability and ease of maintenance, and aid in reducing a building’s overall operating cost. 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. While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the complete concrete package for the Levi’s Stadium along with other notable projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_assessment archive.epa.gov/greenbuilding/web/html/about.html constructconnect.com/blog/green-construction/green-sustainable-building-future/ High-tech advancements and innovations in the construction industry have made many of our modern buildings possible. The Conco Companies’ team follows many of these developments and implements advanced methods when applicable to our concrete services.
For the last several decades, researchers have been interested in discovering ways to extend the life of concrete used in buildings, bridges, and highways and to make it more sustainable. One of the ways this may be accomplished is to develop self-healing concrete, which is a process to embed concrete with a reactive substance that will begin to fill in cracks as they appear and harden. A recent article on the ConstructConnect website reports on efforts from the University of Victoria in British Columbia to develop self-healing concrete and asphalt. In this particular study, researchers are experimenting with a variety of fibers including fly ash and wood cellulose. In another study a group of researchers from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is using “dormant bacteria spores to create a bioconcrete.” In this process as the concrete begins to crack and the spores of bacillus bacteria are exposed to water, they are activated and begin “feeding on calcium lactate, consuming oxygen in the process.” Once the oxygen is gone, the calcium lactate converts to limestone and hardens and seals the cracks. The Delft University has another team that has been “adding small steel wool fibers to the porous asphalt concrete mix to make the pavement electrically conductive.” Once induction heating is applied to the asphalt, it heals the cracks. Please visit Conco’s website to learn more about our impressive portfolio of projects. We offer a wide range of concrete services including pumping, rebar fabrication and installation, shotcrete, formwork, design/build, turnkey and general contracting solutions. We also provide construction hauling in some of our service areas. At The Conco Companies, we are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Source:constructconnect.com/blog/construction-technology/future-building-materials-transparent-wood-self-healing-concrete/ The Conco Companies are proud to have an excellent safety record and work at it every day to make sure our entire workforce is trained on and adhere to all safety rules and regulations. Whenever applicable, members of our team are certified on the machinery they operate including our concrete pump operators, shotcrete nozzlemen, and crane operators.
Operating heavy equipment on a construction site can be dangerous and serious accidents can happen such as running over a crew member, rollovers, or having someone get caught between machines. Drivers of heavy equipment need to remember to take care when mounting or dismounting from their machinery and to follow proper procedures for starting up the equipment. Experts advise that workers never attempt to dismount a moving vehicle, and when shutting down equipment, they need to engage the parking brake and release any pressure from hydraulic controls. Drivers also need to be aware of their surroundings at all times including watching out for obstacles overhead and underground. Power lines should be deactivated or protected to avoid contact and underground utilities should be identified and marked in advance of any digging. The website, ConstructionConnect also advises that, “Operators should be aware of their swing radius, especially when working in tighter spaces, to avoid hitting other workers, bystanders, or other vehicles or equipment in the vicinity.” As with any vehicle, drivers of heavy equipment need to wear their seat belt. In addition equipment should not be used to exceed lift capacity or overloaded, and should only be used for its intended purposes. All jobsite workers need to wear the required proper personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, hard hats, sturdy boots and gloves. Furthermore, when backing up equipment with workers in the area, a spotter or radio contact should be used to ensure blind spots are clear. The Conco Companies are one of the foremost suppliers of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in 1959 in the Bay Area by offering clients the best value on a broad range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Washington. Source:constructconnect.com/blog/construction-safety/heavy-equipment-construction-safety-tips/#comment-10681 Along with the trend to construct energy efficient high-rises and skyscrapers, there is a move to develop energy efficient neighborhood communities. In 2010 the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) joined forces with the Congress for the New Urbanism and the U.S. Green Building Council to launch LEED for Neighborhood Development, or LEED-ND to formally rate a community’s environmental footprint.
Designed to acknowledge “communities that were truly doing things right—embodying the principles of smart growth rather than suburban sprawl,” the group set up LEED-ND to define the most important component to creating a smart community. The NRDC stressed that they only wanted to consider projects that were in smart locations such as “vacant city lots, old industrial buildings, or suburban sites adjacent to existing construction.” In addition they wanted to reject sites that would require new water and sewage infrastructure unless it had already been planned. In other words, the NRDC’s vision was that LEED-ND certification would be given to communities that model historic city neighborhoods. This means they need to have walkable streets and nearby services such as retail, entertainment venues, restaurants and public transportation. The committee agreed that, “LEED-ND should emphasizes sustainability, and respects both the human ecosystem, as described by urban activist Jane Jacobs, and the surrounding ecosystem of wetlands, biodiversity, and animal habitats.” NRDC states there were 401 certified LEED-ND projects completed or under construction as of 2015 worldwide. A NRDC consultant who also served on the LEED-ND’s launch committee, Jessica Millman, explains that it is much easier for communities to now understand the benefits of a project as they have a list of environmental measures they can use to evaluate it. At The Conco Companies, we are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Source: nrdc.org/stories/why-nrdc-helped-develop-leed-ratings-neighborhoods At The Conco Companies, we have earned a reputation for delivering high-quality concrete services and proudly deliver these services in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. As a team of dedicated professionals with a broad scope of experience, Conco works closely with contractors, engineers, developers and owners on various concrete methodologies in order to develop the best standards and practices in the industry today.
To be able to offer customers a variety of innovative concrete solutions, we have all of the tools and resources at hand starting in the pre-construction stage right through to an on time and on budget finish. One of the ways we are able to achieve such stellar results is our willingness to develop and implement unique solutions that take advantage of high-tech equipment and techniques. When we needed to pump concrete to the upper levels of a new skyscraper without generating air pollution or creating too much noise for adjacent office buildings, we purchased a state-of-the-art electric pump. Conco was the first concrete contractor on the West Coast to use the powerful electric pump to pump concrete, which became our workhorse by successfully pumping more than 100,000 yards of concrete 650 feet horizontally and as high as 1,125 feet vertically. Another innovation Conco helped to design was the Schwing M36/31 concrete pump. The new pump (Conco has two of them), was specifically designed to meet the challenges of our drilling customers and was a result of a collaboration between Conco and Schwing America. The innovative tremie pump is capable of lifting long tremmies into caissons without the need for a crane assist. In addition the roll and fold design of the boom does not interfere with typical drilling operations. Please visit Conco’s website to learn more about one of the nation’s leading commercial concrete contractors. We have the resources and manpower to tackle your project’s most difficult challenges. At The Conco Companies, we are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. The 1 Bligh Street office tower in downtown Sydney received a "6 Star/World Leadership"-certification, which is the highest score from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). The tower was designed by Ingenhoven Architects + Architectus, who won an international contest commissioned by the property owner, Dexus Property Group, in 2006.
Right from the earliest design elements, the 30-story building was geared toward energy efficiencies and nature inspired features starting with its elliptical shape to the orientation that takes advantage of the serene Sydney Harbor views. The tower is the first high-rise in the country to have a double skin façade and natural ventilation. As tall as the building, the atrium is the central focal point and allows natural daylight and ventilation into the office space as well as the balconies that look out to the atrium. The glass elevators in the atrium offer a great “spatial experience” with each ride. In addition 1 Bligh Street has an outdoor terrace on the 15th floor and a large rooftop terrace that offer views of the harbor. Other energy efficient features include a combined cooling, heating, and electric power generation system as well as a vacuum tube solar collector that produces electricity. Furthermore, the building has a dedicated water filtration plant with the capacity to clean more waste water than the building creates. This is especially important in Australia as water is a precious commodity. Construction materials include using more than 20% recycled aggregate and replacing almost 41 percent of the cement with industrial waste by-products. Data on the construction also reports that “ninety percent of the structural steel has a recycled content of at least 50 percent, and, all timber used was either recycled or from an FSC-certified source.” While not the tallest building in the city, 1 Bligh Street strives to set new standards for “site consciousness and sustainability.” The building’s ground level is only 40 percent enclosed with the rest open to the public and includes an open-air café, meeting areas, and a children’s play area. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western U.S. We 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 have four regional offices serving California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Colorado. Sources: archdaily.com/169173/1-bligh-office-tower-ingenhoven-architects skyscrapercenter.com/building/1-bligh-street/10711 Extremely tall buildings over 600 meters (around 2,000 feet) have been designated as “megatall” by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). One example of a megatall skyscraper currently under construction is “The Tower,” which will surpass the 2,716 feet high Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest building, by a “notch.” The Jeddah Tower is another mind-bogglingly megatall skyscraper that will reach the architectural height of 3,280 feet (1,000 meters, or one kilometer) tall, once it is completed in 2020. By 2020, The CTBUH predicts there will be at least eight such buildings internationally.
However a recent article from CNN Style asserts that the most likely trend for new skyscrapers in the future will not be “freakishly tall designs.” Rather they speculate that modern skyscrapers will be highly efficient, versatile building that “will be essential to cope with growing urban populations and keep cities running.” New energy efficient skyscrapers with carbon-neutral footprints are being called the “fifth generation” of skyscrapers by architects. These modern buildings feature things like “renewable energy generation, solar shading and double-skin facades with natural ventilation.” They also may have landscaped atriums, underground heat storage and water catchment systems as well as recycling, and linear induction elevators. Modern skyscrapers are being constructed with vertical urban farms and green areas along with facades and roofs used to generate electricity. One prime example of a skyscraper of the future is the Council House 2 (CH2) in Melbourne, Australia. As part of the city’s commitment to achieve zero emissions for the municipality by 2020, the CH2 office building was designed “to be a holistic system with its occupants as participants. The design follows a model that promotes a more interactive role between the city and nature, in which all parties depend on each other.” The building’s facades are nature inspired and help to moderate climate with tapered ventilation ducts that integrate day lighting. An undulating concrete floor plays a key role in the building’s heating and cooling system. The CH2 was the first commercial building to meet and exceed the Green Building Council of Australia’s six star rating. Conco is one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offers a wide range of quality services and products. While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the entire cast-in-place concrete for the Wilshire Grand, the tallest building west of the Mississippi, along with other notable projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Sources: cnn.com/2016/12/08/architecture/rise-of-glass-skyscrapers/index.html archdaily.com/395131/ch2-melbourne-city-council-house-2-designinc The Conco Companies have been providing a variety of concrete services for the Salesforce Tower currently under construction in downtown San Francisco. Once completed in 2018, the $1.1 billion office building will be the center-piece of a new South of Market neighborhood that includes the Transbay Terminal. The scope of the project involved Conco completing two floors per week for the 61-story skyscraper, which was done in a 3-day work cycle for each floor in order to meet the accelerated pace.
To see how we accomplished this task, we encourage you to visit our facebook page to view our time-lapse video that depicts the last full core wall lift on the 1.4 million square-foot tower. Conco used a unique self-climbing form system that allowed us to do a pour cycle, also known as a “lift,” once every three days. As you will see from our video, the self-climbing form, which is secured to the existing wall below, made the concrete pours on upper floors very efficient. To allow access to the building’s 14-foot 9-inch floor-to-floor heights, the form was raised in increments of 15 feet, and involved both the exterior and interior sections of the system moving independently. To complete a “jump”, the exterior sections require about 20 minutes to complete, and the more complex interior system takes about 45 minutes to complete a jump. Once it is in place, the crews aligned and secured the panels to allow the walls to be enclosed and ready for the pour. This innovative equipment allowed us to begin the next cycle just 6-8 hours after the pour was finished. The job also required using the most powerful concrete stationary pumps in the industry to pump the concrete to the height of the upper floors. We recognize that this feat required absolute organization, management and execution from the top down including our hard-working, dedicated pump operators and rebar, formwork, and placement crews. In addition we are thankful for the support, partnership and collaborative efforts of the project’s general contractor, Clark/Hathaway Dinwiddie, a Joint Venture. Conco also acknowledges that we could not have done the job without the cooperation of all of our other trade partners as well as the project owner, Boston Properties, and our concrete supplier CEMEX. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services throughout the Western U.S. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products and are now one of the foremost concrete contractors in the region. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, industrial and public works projects as well as parking structures. |
Archives
October 2021
Categories
All
|