NRMCA, Build With Strength Present Concrete Innovation Awards in Pacific Northwest

Recently, Build With Strength Senior Director, Building Innovations, Patrick Matsche presented to the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association and American Concrete Institute's Washington chapter on how companies can achieve their sustainability goals through consistent performance-based specifications and partnering with ready mix producers early in the design process. Matsche cited the Concrete Innovation Award winners in Washington State, including the Seattle Storm Center for Basketball Performance, Hubbard’s Corner, Seattle and Habitat for Humanity, Tacoma/Pierce County, WA, as prime examples of his presentation.

The Center for Basketball Performance Center achieved major sustainability reduction goals to reduce the overall embodied carbon of the project. In partnership with NRMCA Producer member Stoneway Concrete, the 50,000-square-foot project achieved a 68% reduction in its carbon footprint for project elements while also earning LEED® Gold Certification. The project team was led by Stoneway Concrete Michael Gardner, Sellen Construction's Sarah Carlson, Shive-Hattery and Jeff Lewis, and ZGF Liz Shearer.

Hubbard's Corner, Seattle, introduced cement-free concrete; C-Crete was used by NRMCA member Heidelberg Materials. Hubbard’s Corner’s Don Davies; Davies-Crooks was not only the owner of the project, but also the structural engineer of record. Hubbard’s Corner was recognized for the innovative use of 60 tons of C-Crete in the foundations and shear walls of a commercial building. This design build marked a significant advancement in cement-free concrete technology which uses zeolite, a naturally occurring crystalline material as a replacement for portland cement. The project team was led by Don Davies, Davies-Crooks; Joe Sheehy, Heidelberg Materials; C-Crete's Rouzbeh Savary and founder and Bright Street Construction's Martin Josund.

Habitat for Humanity’s Gig Harbor project constructed sustainable homes that boast a lower environmental impact. Through the generous contributions from NRMCA member companies, Build With Strength has built close to 90 homes in 40 states. Solid Carbon’s BioLock Admixture, used in conjunction by NRMCA member Heidelberg Materials, supplied the concrete for the project. BioLock admixture’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) show some of the lowest recorded carbon footprint for commercial concrete in North America. The project team included H4H Tacoma/Pierce County, Heidelberg Materials's Joe Sheehy (seen here at center, with Matsche at left and WACA's Bruce Chattin in the foreground at right), Clark Construction's Casey French and Solid Carbon's John Mead.

As part of the Build With Strength campaign, NRMCA promotes sustainable concrete solutions for buildings and infrastructure. Sustainable construction, led by a focus on resiliency, is driving new construction techniques. Build With Strength is also a leader in supporting structural engineers, architects and specifiers in the specification of low carbon, high-performance concrete. For more information, contact Patrick Matsche at pmatsche@nrmca.org or 415-672-5275.