NRMCA, Build With Strength Promote Concrete as Material of Choice in Texas

Earlier this month Build With Strength Director, Building Innovations, Justin McCain met with architects and structural engineers to promote concrete throughout Austin and San Antonio by educating the firms on building low- to mid-rise buildings with insulated concrete forms (ICF). McCain then showed how they can achieve their sustainability goals through consistent specifications and partnering with ready mixed producers early in the design process.

Meetings were held with the following firms:
Datum Engineers is a team of structural engineers with a passion for architecture who deliver clients' vision by providing innovative, design appropriate and fiscally responsible structural solutions. McCain met with the Austin office and addressed improving concrete specifications to increase project value. Datum has provided elegant engineering solutions for many well-known Texas projects, such as Thanks-Giving Square, the Ballpark in Arlington, the Chapel of St. Ignatius, EDS Headquarters and the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank. The Austin team has also introduced McCain to the Dallas and San Antonio offices for consulting.

DCI Engineers is a nationwide firm in 20+ regional offices providing civil, structural, right-of-way, industrial and bridge services. DCI is licensed and building in all 50 states, providing clients with regional expertise backed by national experience. The Austin office was interested in learning about building with Portland limestone cement and increasing the loading of fly ash in mix designs. DCI plans to use NRMCA consulting services in its mix design specifications and when benchmarking concrete in life cycle assessments.

RVK is a professional design firm in that delivers successful architecture, interior design and landscape architecture solutions for public and private clients. It is the largest architecture firm in San Antonio certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and has a diverse portfolio that includes 50 years of exceeding clients’ needs in 11 market sectors. The connection between the firm's three disciplines leads to high-performing design solutions for projects; integrating sustainable concrete is of great importance to its project goals. McCain detailed how concrete EPD’s and life cycle assessments can satisfy sustainability goals.

Intelligent Engineering Services(IES) was established in 1999 and has offices in San Antonio, McAllen, Dallas and Austin.. IES has provided engineering services on numerous facilities, including both new construction and additions/renovations. Market sectors include healthcare, higher education, K-12, multifamily living, cultural, hospitality, municipal, sacred spaces, public spaces, science and technology, commercial, recreational, detention facilities and federal projects. McCain discussed the many benefits of building low- to mid-rise buildings with ICFs, emphasizing the first cost competitiveness, disaster resilience, improved performance and reduce operational lifecycle costs. IES is interested in NRMCA design assistance in the future.

McCain said he aimed to send a clear message: materials cannot be considered sustainable if they are not also resilient. Concrete is the material of choice because of its long-term durability and unique capability to accomplish the sustainability goals of projects. He also introduced the available services offered by the BWS team to the design-build community, including specification reviews, life cycle assessments and concrete design assistance. The meetings provided valuable insight into the firms along with guidance on how adopting performance-based specifications will maximize the ready mixed industry’s ability to deliver achievable concrete results.

For more information, contact Justin McCain at jmccain@nrmca.org.