The Build With Strength (BWS) Concrete Design Center is seeing unprecedented comparisons in the construction industry due to current market increases in the wood and timber sector, reports NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Frank Gordon. Wood costs have doubled (or more) since April 2020 (see graph). This, combined with wood material shortages, has presented an excellent opportunity to deliver a message of not only the resiliency and energy efficiency afforded by using concrete but the opportunity for the RMC industry to be very “first-cost competitive,” Gordon notes.
“We are seeing concrete project estimates and comparisons (originally designed in wood) resulting in up-front owner savings that are exceeding 7% to 14%," he said. "Now is the right time to benefit from the advantages concrete brings to vertical construction.”
The Concrete Design Center Team consists of Gordon and his NRMCA colleagues Majile’ McCray and Derek Torres (project managers) along with Donn Thompson, AIA, LEED AP, senior director of building innovations. If you would like to take advantage of this value-added complimentary service, please contact your regional BWS promoter or refer to the BWS Concrete Design Center webpage; just complete the form to have your project’s design compared with the value of concrete.
For more information, contact Frank Gordon at fgordon@nrmca.org.
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association