According to the National Ready Mix Concrete Association (NRMCA), concrete’s “environmentally friendly features make it the building material of choice for sustainability....meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  Concrete fits the criteria of being “green” by using environmentally responsible resources efficiently throughout a building’s life-cycle.  The life-cycle assessment (LCA) takes into account the following: site selection, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition of a structure.   

Contributing to its sustainability, the major raw material used for the cement in concrete is limestone, and happens to be the most abundant mineral on earth.  Also other materials that are frequently added to concrete such as fly ash or silica fume come from industrial waste products. 

Another reason concrete is “green” is it is extremely durable.  Concrete structures last for decades and during their lifetime require very little maintenance.  Then, once a building has served its purpose, the concrete is crushed and recycled to be used in other building projects such as road beds or backfill. 

Recent improvements in the manufacturing process and technological advancements have made concrete stronger and more versatile than ever.  High-performance concrete has allowed many of today’s skyscrapers, bridges, stadiums, and industrial and commercial buildings possible.  Another environmentally friendly benefit offered by high-performance concrete is its inherent thermal mass.  This allows buildings to be more energy efficient by controlling daily temperature fluctuations that occur within the buildings and helps to keep heating and cooling cost down. 

Concrete, unlike other building materials, is specifically designed for a project so there is very little waste.  Even the light color of concrete has benefits by offering reflectivity that helps to reduce what is referred to as a “heat island effect.”  Light-colored pavement and concrete roofs absorb less heat, and thereby, reflect solar rays.  

Sources:

concretenetwork.com/concrete/greenbuildinginformation/what_makes.html nrmca.org/greenconcrete/

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products.  Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.

Conco Provides Assistance to Train Concrete Professionals

 

At The Conco Companies, we are fortunate to have over fifty years of success as commercial concrete contractors and throughout the years we have tried to fulfill our responsibility to give back to our communities.  One of the ways we are doing that is to reach out to young people interested in joining the field of concrete professionals and to help support the programs that allow them to reach that goal.  We recognize the importance of having qualified; highly trained individuals join our industry. 

This is why we are proud to be a founding patron of the Chico State Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Program that offers a degree in both business management and concrete science.  CIM is the only degree program of its kind in the Western United States and graduates of this program can look forward to becoming the leaders in the concrete industry. 

The Chico State (California State University) degree program was started in 2006 and provides a unique collaboration between academia and the concrete industry.  Conco’s support is in the form of financial assistance as well as with donations of our company employee’s time through service on the Board and lectures in the classroom.   In addition the program is supported by the National Ready Mix Concrete Association and others within the construction industry.

Graduates from the program are fully prepared for careers in the concrete industry and the business community is rewarded with the next generation of professional leaders.  At Conco we are committed to supporting this worthwhile effort and have already seen our investment pay off as we now have three full time graduates of the CIM working for us.  We look forward to hiring more graduates in the future.

When your project demands exceptional services and the best value, Conco can deliver. We partner with clients on every project from the pre-construction stage right through to final completion offering cost-effective solutions to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. 

Ultra-High Performance Concrete

 

The Portland Cement Association states that, “Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), also known as reactive powder concrete (RPC), is a high-strength, ductile material formulated by combining portland cement, silica fume, quartz flour, fine silica sand, high-range water reducer, water, and steel or organic fibers. The material provides compressive strengths up to 29,000 pounds per square inch (psi) and flexural strengths up to 7,000 psi.”  There is no large aggregate used in this type of concrete, and without the reinforcing steel, the UHPC can be self-placing or dry cast. 

UHPC was first commercially available in the U.S. in 2000.  Since then the Federal Highway Administration has been doing research on using UHPC for highway infrastructure.  They also are studying the viability of UHPC for bridge applications such as precast, prestressed girders; precast waffle panels for bridge decks; and as a jointing material between precast concrete deck panels and girders and between the flanges of adjacent girders.

Around the world countries are conducting extensive research on UHPC advancements and technologies.  As a means to share information, the 1^st International Interactive Symposium on Ultra-High Performance Concrete will be held at the University of Connecticut in November, 2015.  The theme of the symposium is “UHPC unites” and the goal of the conference is to share knowledge and experience of UHPC material and structural design to enhance the advancement of this exciting, emerging technology.  In addition it will provide an opportunity for the industry to present recent UHPC endeavors and innovations. 

Some of the topics attendees will participate in pertain to the latest developments in UHPC material and structural design and emphasize “enhanced performance, sustainability, durability, resiliency and cost-efficiency.” Workshops will also deal with material characterization methods adapted to UHPC along with small and large scale applications.  Currently the symposium is looking for papers. 

Sources:

cement.org/for-concrete-books-learning/concrete-technology/concrete-design-production/ultra-high-performance-concrete
fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/hpc/13060/13060.pdf
facebook.com/AmericanConcreteInstitute/photos/a.88211419901.82498.79308249901/10152694742484902/?type=1&theater

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products.  Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.

Conco’s Advantage as a “One Stop Shop”

The reality is that tight construction schedules demand coordination between building trades if a project is to be successful.  With the recent uptick in building activity, this task has become increasingly more difficult for both the developer and the general contractor.

In order to alleviate such scheduling difficulties, a simple solution that The Conco Companies provides is to be a single source alternative to our customers.  When working with Conco, a GC can make one call and get high-quality, reliable formwork, rebar, place and finish, shotcrete and pumping services all in one place.

The advantages of this approach are clear.  As business improves, companies are stretched thin as subcontractors must move their crews between several different projects.  A single day delay by one subcontractor can delay the work of others by a week or more as each subcontractor has committed crews and resources to other projects.  Conco’s approach of working as a coordinated team allows us to anticipate and respond to any problems with formwork, shotcrete or rebar by shuffling crews to accommodate our customers.

Nowhere is the need as critical as with concrete and rebar.  Concrete cannot be poured until rebar is complete and demanding schedules mandate minimal delay between rebar inspection and pouring concrete.  When one company controls both aspects, the chances of success are greatly increased.  Some key benefits of a combined solution include:

• Joint management of rebar and concrete generates a holistic approach where decisions are made focused on the best end result

 

• Ability to manage crane time between concrete and rebar tasks

• Coordination of trades to keep projects on schedule

• Joint collaboration between concrete and rebar that identifies opportunities for improvement in design

• Reduced paperwork and charges between trades that add no value to a project

When you work with The Conco Companies, you are working with a company that is structured to meet all the concrete needs of a project.  We bring decades of experience to provide unsurpassed services to our customers. 

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products.  Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.

The Importance of Giving Your Project the Best Start

 

At The Conco Companies, we recognize the importance of getting a construction project off to a good start to help ensure a successfully outcome.  This is why we have made it our business for over fifty years to provide customers with commercial concrete services that not only include formwork, reinforcement, pumping, and finishing but also professional design services.  Our team of engineers and estimators works meticulously on offering reinforced concrete design solutions that help to alleviate or prevent problems and delays.

Our specialists are trained in the most advanced industry technologies including Building Informational Modeling (BIM), on-screen take-off, and construction management software.   We take all of this information, along with our extensive experience, to recommend to clients the best materials and processes to use to meet sustainability and LEED goals.  With our exceptional in-house services, we are able to offer a full range of forms from plywood and steel, to custom made plastic, in order to make sure a project is using the most appropriate forming structural system.

Today buildings are designed to be greener and more sustainable throughout their life-cycle.  The process of sustainability starts in the design and goes right through to the construction and the operation and maintenance of the building.  However it is important to factor in the sustainable criteria early in the planning and design stages to ensure the greatest cost-efficiency as well as the best opportunity to influence design.  This is why it is vital that architects, owners and contractors have the most up-to-date information available right from the beginning of a project.   

When you choose Conco’s professional services, we use our extensive background to pro-actively confront and meet tough challenges to prevent costly delays and problems.  Our services will support decisions about your structure from the very earliest stages in the design process, right through to the construction phase with cost-effective solutions to ensure budgets and timelines are met.

When your project demands exceptional services and the best value, Conco can deliver.  We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have four regional offices that serve California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado.  With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget.

Adherence to Safety Regulations is Critical in Construction

 

Construction is a great industry to work in but a jobsite can be a hazardous place if there is not a strict adherence to all safety regulations and procedures.  It has been proven that companies that use best practices and routinely conduct safety inspections greatly reduce the risk of serious injuries or death. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) extensively studies safety at the workplace.  In addition they provide a wide selection of training courses and educational programs to help broaden workers and employers knowledge to recognize, avoid and prevent safety and health hazards in the workplace.   One of the critical things they stress is that companies must have an effective safety and health program in place, and that all potential hazards need to be addressed daily.  They also recommend training for supervisors as well as workers. 

At The Conco Companies, we have always taken safety seriously and continue to do so every day.   Steps we take include building partnerships with our contractors to maintain the highest standard of safety on all project sites.  Conco also provides each project with a Site Specific Safety Plan and Pre-Task Planning, along with our standard Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP)/ Accident Prevention Program (APP).  Managers and crews alike are trained in various safety related  topics including Fall Protection, First-Aid/ CPR, Forklift Operation, OSHA 30, Material Rigging, Traffic Control, etc.  Furthermore, safety professionals are employed in all business locations to carry out frequent worksite safety inspections and to provide direction and training.

One prime example of Conco’s commitment to safety at the workplace is at our pumping division that has pumped millions of yards of concrete over the past 50 years.  For the safety of our employees and the entire worksite, we have developed and implemented some of the most rigorous pumping safety procedures in the entire concrete industry.  And we are proud to say that commitment has paid off as our pumping division completed 2013 without a single lost time accident, and we have plans to repeat that year after year. 

 

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States.  Our services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects and highways.  We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. 

 

One World Trade Center Opens

The Conco Companies are proud to be involved in the construction of the Wilshire Grand Tower in Los Angeles and the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, which when completed will be the tallest and second tallest buildings west of the Mississippi. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country another record breaking “tall building” has just been completed. 

The One World Trade Center has officially opened its doors and the first occupants are now ready for business.  The iconic tower is the primary building in the World Trade Center complex and is located in Lower Manhattan, New York City.  Construction on the project started in April, 2006.  The tower is 1,776 (541m) feet tall at its spire’s peak making it the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere and for now, the fourth-tallest in the world.

 

The skyscraper will open in stages with floors 20 through 44 now occupied as the headquarters of Conde Nast, the high-profile media and publishing company. The tower has 104 floors and the observation deck on the 102^nd floor will open in the spring of 2015.  It is reported that 60% of the building is currently leased and along with tenants, Conde Nast, Vantone China Center and the U.S. General Services have signed leases.    

In line with practices of today, the WTC incorporates sustainable design with the integration of renewable energy, interior daylighting, reuse of rainwater, and recycled construction debris and materials.  The skyscraper also has safety systems that far exceed New York’s building codes.  The tower has a concrete-core shear wall for structural redundancy and dense fireproofing as well as biochemical filters.  There are extra-wide pressurized stairs, multiple backups on emergency lighting, and concrete protection for all the sprinklers.

 

The architectural firm on the project was Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) and the architects credited with the design are Daniel Libeskind and David Childs.  The firm’s press release states that, “The completion of One World Trade Center marks a major milestone in the history of New York City.”   They go on to say that the tower, “recaptures the New York skyline and reasserts downtown Manhattan's preeminence as a global business center, and establishes a new civic icon for the country.”

Source:  som.com/news/skidmore_owings__merrills_one_world_trade_center_opens_today#sthash.nEpzTOMD.dpuf

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products.  Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.