NRMCA, Build With Strength Promote Concrete Sustainability Throughout Dallas Metroplex

Earlier this month Build With Strength Director, Building Innovations, Justin McCain met with architects and structural engineers to promote concrete throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, emphasizing how firms 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 organizations:

Cross Architects is a multifaceted architectural firm located in Allen that covers a range of project types, from multifamily to commercial retail. Its objective is to deliver targeted outcomes based on economy, purpose and visual appeal. This is accomplished through effective communication, innovative design services, and intensive process planning and client collaboration. Since 2003 the firm has dedicated itself to continuous performance, improvement and quality management to retain clients who value a trusted partnership. Learning more about concrete in the built environment enables Cross to further deliver clients' building goals.

Page Southerland in is on the cutting edge of architecture and engineering in Dallas and beyond. With a range of projects through all building types, the vertically integrated company performs structural engineering, architecture and many other design services under one roof, including the 770,000 sq Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and The Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute in Dallas. It is loaded with high-level expertise and the team is always on the go bringing innovative approaches and extraordinary technical know-how. Texas spirit infuses everything it does, so the tight-knit team has bright ideas and a client-first approach. The discussion centered around using concrete to achieve sustainability goals while offering clients a lifetime of resilience and peace of mind.

Alpha Consulting Engineers in Plano has over three decades of delivering quality, earning it a reputation within the design and construction communities as a structural engineering consultant firm of honesty and excellence. The commitment is to work in full collaboration with each member of the team to produce creative, cost-effective, timely and appropriate engineering solutions. Projects include commercial, corporate, education, multifamily and everything in between. Alpha is a proactive team member and additive to the process. The meeting was attended by principals who participated in engaging discussion on how the design-build community can continue to improve the built environment with clear concrete specifications and a project first mentality.

NRMCA's 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 industry’s ability to deliver achievable concrete results.

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

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association