Build With Strength, NRMCA Member and Industry Groups Showcase Concrete Innovations on National Mall

This past weekend, the 2022 Innovative Housing Showcase, co-hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), took place on the National Mall in Washington, DC, between the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol. Several innovative housing solutions were highlighted as considerations for low-cost housing in the U.S. market, including full-scale mockups of modular homes, portable or “tiny home” units and even an opportunity to see an example of a wall constructed using 3D printing technology. The Build With Strength/Holcim/ICF-MA booth (seen under construction here) experienced some of the highest traffic volume of the show due to the presence of a brand new mixer truck provided by NRMCA Producer member Holcim that showcased its new low-carbon concrete mix ECOPact. The booth was constructed as a partial full-scale ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) home mock-up featuring actual windows, door openings and finishes.

NRMCA Executive Vice President, Strategy, Gregg Lewis, AIA, and Senior Director, Building Innovations, Frank Gordon along with Concrete Design Center team members Derek Torres and Derek Logan were joined by ICF-MA members BuildBlock, Nudura and FoxBlocks as they promoted the advantages of ICF for low-cost housing solutions. Malachy Joyce, NRMCA’s new content creator and communications manager, joined the staff on-site and debuted NRMCA’s new TikTok channel while highlighting some of the event’s lighter moments. On Friday, June 10, the booth welcomed HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman who was impressed by the technology and requested an opportunity to visit an area project featuring ICF construction. NRMCA is now working with Ms. Todman’s office to schedule a visit to a local Habitat for Humanity project utilizing energy efficient and resilient ICF construction.

Special thanks to ICF manufacturer BuildBlock Building Systems and President/CEO Brian Corder for donating the ICF block and helping design, coordinate and construct the booth for the showcase. Build With Strength and NRMCA also thank Virgilio Barrera for coordinating the delivery of the Holcim mixer truck on the Mall.

Please contact Gregg Lewis at glewis@nrmca.org on how to host a similar booth or display at your next convention, tradeshow or event.