NRMCA Announces 2013 State Association of the Year Award Winner

NRMCA is pleased to announce the Tennessee Concrete Association (TCA) as the winner of the 2013 State Association of the Year. This is the 10th annual award and the second time TCA has received this recognition, having previously won in 2008.  Some highlights from Tennessee’s nomination include:

• 2013 Week of Concrete – 2013 debuted this five-day event that covered numerous concrete markets, including decorative flatwork, decorative vertical concrete, sealers and stains, pervious concrete, decorative pervious, high-performance concrete construction, Green Schools and more.

• TCA helped design and install a beautiful pervious parking lot for the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation at its new office location in Nashville. This was the first commercial installation of a ‘small-stone’ pervious using 7/32" crushed limestone aggregate.

• In the advocacy arena, significant progress was made in regard to air content on bridge decks and numerous changes are being implemented in the way that TDOT handles and tests acceptance cylinders. Potential savings from direct penalties for low cylinder breaks and other out-of-pocket costs associated with acceptance testing on TDOT projects are estimated to be at least $250,000 per year for ready mix producers in Tennessee.

• TCA has created a campus in Nashville, with the vision of it serving as a concrete showplace and hands-on learning lab for all things concrete. In addition to hosting two technical tours for the national Construction Specifications Institute trade show (CONSTRUCT) in September, the TCA Campus also hosted groups, including the National Conservation Resource Service, Middle TN Chapter of the US Green Building Council, Middle Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University, the Wilmot Company, Tennessee Department Environmental and Conservation, and numerous individuals. The entire facility is designed with QR codes and signage throughout to provide visitors the opportunity to gain additional information about the concrete options they are viewing.

• In addition to being a long-time supporter of the RMC Research & Education Foundation, and participating in research at a variety of educational institutions across the state, TCA’s primary research project for 2013 took place during the Week of Concrete event on the TCA Campus. Seven different pervious mixes were tested, along with two different finishing techniques. The results of this research are being used by TCA in its ongoing educational outreach and promotion efforts targeted to the design and regulatory communities.

For more information on this NRMCA award program, contact Nicole Maher at nmaher@nrmca.org.