Earlier this month, Build With Strength Director, Building Innovations, Justin McCain met with structural engineers, architects and Houston Airports to promote concrete. The emphasis of the trip was how firms can achieve their sustainability goals through consistent specifications and partnering with ready mix producers early in the design process. Meetings were held with the following organizations:
Sky Dancing Consulting Engineers (SCA Engineers) is a structural engineering firm that has designed innovative projects throughout Texas and the United States, including buildings engineered for every industry, from commercial to industrial, multifamily, financial and health care. Sky Dancing innovations include patented top chord framing that eliminates cavity framing and reduces manufactured parts as well as thin shell cast in place concrete. The meeting was attended by SCA Engineers's senior leadership and ownership which led to valuable dialogue on how specifying performance-based concrete can improve project schedules, delivery and the built environment.
PGAL Architecture was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Houston. PGAL is an international design firm specializing in architecture, engineering, interiors and planning for a diverse portfolio of public and private sector clients. PGAL is a leader in sustainability and continues to deliver low carbon concrete in its projects, including in the construction of its headquarters. The discussion on performance-based specifications permitting supplementary cementitious materials and innovative cements further boosted PGAL’s ability to specify concrete while achieving sustainability goals.
Houston Airport system is responsible for the construction, maintenance and operations of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, Houston Spaceport and Ellington Airport. The Houston Airport system is embarking on an ambitious project to modernize the George Bush International Airport’s international terminal and further cement Houston as a global city. The IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program, also known as ITRP, is the largest expansion program in the 53-year history of Bush Airport and builds on a series of previous renovation programs. The program budget is approximately $1.5 billion and is anticipated to be completed in early 2025.
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 organizations along with guidance on how adopting performance-based specifications will maximize the ready mixed concrete industry’s ability to deliver achievable concrete results.
For more information, contact Justin McCain at jmccain@nrmca.org.
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association