NRMCA, Industry Partners Promote Low Carbon Concrete Solutions Before Minnesota Engineers

Structural engineers from throughout Minnesota gathered at the annual Minnesota Structural Engineers Association Annual Seminar and Trade Show held in Edina last month. The program featured two ready mixed concrete industry presentations that demonstrated the sustainability as well as the versatility of concrete products. Donn Thompson, NRMCA senior director, building innovations (seen here at right presenting the Concrete Innovation Award to Cemstone Senior Materials Engineer Kevin Heindel, PE) and John Lee, director of business development for NRMCA Producer member Cemstone Products Co., co-presented Sustainability in Concrete, outlining available tools and strategies for lowering the embodied carbon in ready mixed concrete specified for buildings, pavements and infrastructure projects. Thompson also highlighted the functionality of NRMCA’s new online Concrete Carbon Calculator to the group of more than 60 attendees.

Prior to the presentation,the project team involved in the 2024 Concrete Innovation Award winning Minneapolis project, I-35W Stormwater Storage Facility, was acknowledged. It was recognized for its creation of 4.8 million gallons of underground water storage across six interconnected below pavement concrete tanks, designed to mitigate problematic flooding.

Cemstone played a critical role in the design, testing and supply of 32,000 cubic yards of concrete, essential for ensuring the facility’s watertight integrity while lowering carbon footprint by as much as 21%. The complex project site had to be minimally disruptive to highway traffic while providing access for pumping of concrete over existing sound barriers adjacent to the site. Additional members of the project team - Kraemer/Nicholson Joint Venture, Minnesota DOT, Barr Engineering and Penetron - were honored for this leading-edge design.

Contact Donn Thompson at dthompson@nrmca.org for more information.