Build With Strength, Iowa State Affiliate Demonstrate Case for Concrete Multifamily Construction

Last week, more than 40 attendees at a roundtable event co-sponsored by the Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association (IRMCA) and NRMCA/Build With Strength learned about the ownership and construction benefits that insulating concrete forms (ICFs) provide to multifamily owners and contractors. The event was organized around the ongoing construction of The Lab, a downtown Des Moines mixed use project and one of the tallest buildings in the East Village area, where buildings top out within zoning restrictions designed to maintain uninterrupted views of the Iowa Capitol. The 7-story project features 110 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as 4,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.

The event was organized and hosted locally by the IRMCA staff with Regional Services Manager Aaron Kjolhede serving as presentation moderator. Scott Myers, senior project manager for the developer Heart of America Group, shared the history of business strategies that have led it to build consistently with concrete. Speed of construction, energy savings and quieter living environments are making the developer's projects far more profitable than wood frame projects they built in the past. Developer/builder Ryan Bedford discussed his success with concrete both as a multifamily owner and as an insulating concrete form installer. Bedford described the insurance savings, reduced maintenance, lower tenant turnover and operating savings as all contributing to improvements to the investment value of his projects.

Representatives of the Insulating Concrete Form Manufacturers Association presented the basics of ICFs and answered questions posed by the developers, contractors, installers and designers in attendance. ICF installer KB Walker shared innovative approaches that further improves quality, efficiency and speed of installation.

NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Donn Thompson provided background on lower embodied carbon concrete strategies and results of studies demonstrating little difference between the sustainability of concrete versus steel or wood construction when full cradle to grave life cycle impacts are considered. Heart of America then lead a tour of the multifamily construction site (seen here), allowing attendees to inspect the installation of ICFs.

For more information, contact Donn Thompson at dthompson@nrmca.org.