Are you interested in the future of concrete construction in North America? Do you have ideas on what could be done to improve concrete construction? If so, consider attending Concrete 2029 in San Antonio on May 10. At this gathering of industry leaders we will conduct a visioning workshop to attempt to define where we are today and what could be done over the next 13 years to make concrete construction the material and method of choice. Topics include improving quality, increasing productivity, and improving industry perception and promotion. You can learn more and sign up at bit.do/ccconcrete2029.
Are you one of America’s Concrete Contractors?
What does it take to be a great concrete contractor in 2016? An outstanding safety record? A strong commitment to quality? Building and retaining a skilled team of workers? A growing record of customer satisfaction? All of the above? Each year in the July issue of Concrete Construction, we profile some of the outstanding concrete contractors we’ve come to know across North America. Does your company deserve to be included? If so, we want to hear from you. Your company doesn’t have to be big to be among the best. E-mail or call to let me know that your company should be included among America’s Concrete Contractors and we will be in touch to get all of the information.
Fighting Fire with Fire
“If it was made out of concrete and cinder block we wouldn’t have this problem,” said Thomas Jacobson chief of the Edgewater, N.J. volunteer fire department as he watched a blaze destroy a multistory apartment complex. “It’s lightweight wood construction with sprinklers, and this is the problem you face with this kind of construction.” A video of this newscast is part of the evidence the National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association is using to try to convince state and local governments around the country that wood-frame construction, even with sprinklers, is unsafe for multifamily housing. This is one part of the effort the concrete industry is using to fight the move across the U.S. to accept wood construction for low- and mid-rise construction, a market that has traditionally been strong for concrete and masonry.
Visionary
Back in 2005 Concrete Construction recognized Peter Emmons as one of the most influential people in the concrete industry. That was even before, in 2006, he guided the development of Vision 2020: A Vision for the Concrete Repair, Protection, and Strengthening Industry, a plan that resulted in, among other things, creation of the first building code for concrete repair (ACI 562). Now, Peter is taking on the entire concrete construction industry, as the driving force behind Concrete 2029: A Strategy for the Improvement of the Concrete Construction Industry. This is a vision that can truly change our world.
