Eric Coleman of EYC Companies participated in the Build With Strength Roundtable at this year’s International Concrete Sustainability Conference in Washington, DC. Coleman and his father, Ellis Coleman, are front and center in moving their multi-family projects from stick frame to concrete, reports NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Gregg Lewis. The Coleman's 17 South project in Charleston, SC, is a 220-unit multifamily project with a projected construction cost of $33 million. Ellis, a third-generation framing contractor, became interested in ICF construction several years ago and decided to build his own house using it. The success of that effort resulted in EYC Companies exploring using ICF on its 17 South project. 

EYC has two additional multifamily projects in its development pipeline, both of which are now also expected to be built using ICFs for the exterior walls. The developer sees the advantages of using ICFs to his bottom line in terms of a reduced construction schedule and recognizes the sound and durability advantages of building with concrete, Lewis said.

 

NRMCA members who work with developers in their markets will soon have these projects and others to use as examples to help them promote building with concrete to their contacts. NRMCA staff can support these efforts in a variety of ways, including offering our free design assistance services to help developers move toward building better with concrete. NRMCA also has a Concrete Design Center that can work with developers to provide concrete solutions to building projects.