A Runner-up for the “2017 Subcontractor of the Year” Award

The Conco Companies are proud to report that Conco Pumping was recently honored as a runner-up for the 2017 Subcontractor of the Year Award from the American Subcontractors Association of Southern California.  The awards are designed to recognize the various achievements and contributions the recipients have made in the construction industry.  The ASA is a highly respected organization that embodies ethical & equitable business practices, quality construction, a safe and healthy work environment, and integrity & membership diversity.  This year’s winners were honored at the November ASA’s Awards Banquet.   

“Premiere on Pine” – ACI’s Second Place Winner in High Rise Category

The Conco Companies are proud to report that one of our recent projects is the Second Place Winner of the American Concrete Institute’s 2017 Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards in the High Rise category.  One of only 12 winners internationally, the Premiere on Pine (formerly known as 815 Pine) is a 42-story tower that highlights the structural and technological advancements made in the concrete industry over the last several years.   

The U.S. Concrete Industry

The concrete industry produces approximately 10 billion tons of concrete worldwide.  In the U.S. the industry has an annual production of 500 million tons with an estimated value of $35 billion and employs more than 2 million employees.  It is suggested that with the amount of the U.S.’s yearly production that it equals to about two tons for every man, woman and child.   To produce these types of volumes, it requires vast amounts of natural resources to supply the aggregate needed as well as to make the cement.  Concrete is used to build highways, streets and bridges, commercial, industrial, medical and educational structures, residential housing and other construction markets.   

Telebelt® TB 105 Telescopic Belt Conveyor

The Conco Companies have an impressive fleet of modern, state-of-the-art concrete pumps in addition to Telebelts.  We use this equipment to help us complete projects faster and more efficiently for our customers.    

Concrete is All Around Us

An interesting report from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) illustrates the various uses for portland cement as it is one of the key ingredients in concrete.  They suggest that while concrete is very important to the way we live, and in fact surrounds us, it is often overlooked.  They explain that concrete “makes our homes and offices durable and more resilient in natural disasters, it makes our roads and bridges strong and last longer, and thanks to its permanence and energy efficiency, it helps sustain our environment.” 

Our Martinez Facility is a 2017 Recipient of a “Pollution Prevention Award”

The Conco Companies’ Martinez facility was recently honored as a recipient of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District’s Pollution Prevention Award.  All private businesses and organizations located within the Central San’s service area are eligible to enter the annual event.  Award recipients are recognized for going above and beyond in their business practices in regard to pollution prevention and environmental protection.    

Shortages of Qualified Workers are Rampant throughout the Industry

Over the last several years, we have experienced a dwindling number of new workers seeking careers in the construction industry.  Some think this may be due to young people entering the job market feeling that construction work is not a glamorous or lucrative profession.  The problem has come to a head as older, experienced tradespeople retire and not enough people are stepping into the jobs causing a shortage in experienced cement masons, carpenters and ironworkers. 

Shotcrete Projects

Over the last several decades, there have been advancements in shotcrete technology and improvements in the equipment that have resulted in a material that is perfectly suited for more and more applications.  While shotcrete virtually eliminates the forming process, it still offers the same structural characteristics as traditional cast-in-place walls.  This means that projects using shotcrete are typically completed faster, which saves both time and money.  

Some of the Methods Used to Increase the Strength of Concrete

The strength of concrete can be increased by a number of methods including using a higher grade of cement or a mineral admixture such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS).  It can also be strengthened by using a low water to cement ratio (W/C) as well as by using well-graded angular aggregates.  

Heavyweight Concrete has Many Uses Including as a Sound Barrier

While there are many applications in which lightweight concrete is the most appropriate choice so are there as many that require heavyweight concrete.  Lightweight structural concrete is made using lightweight coarse aggregate and/or lightweight fine aggregate.  It typically has a density of approximately 105 pounds per cubic foot as compared to that of normal concrete mixes that have a density of 150 pounds per cubic foot.  A common use for lightweight concrete is to reduce the overall load or weight of an entire concrete structure such as on bridge decks, beams, slabs and walls of concrete structures.    

The US Cement Industry

Cement is the key ingredient in concrete, and as the Portland Cement Association (PCA) explains, portland cement is “the generic term for the type of cement used in virtually all concrete, just as stainless is a type of steel and sterling a type of silver.”  To manufacture cement, lime, silica, alumina, iron and other materials are heated to extremely high temperatures that create marble-size balls or nodules called clinker.  Next the clinker is ground up and mixed in with limestone and gypsum.  

New Salesforce Videos

One of the big projects The Conco Companies recently provided a full range of concrete services for was the Salesforce Tower in downtown San Francisco.  Now that the silvery curtain-wall panels have completely covered the outside of the 1,070-foot tall building, it can be seen for miles in and around San Francisco.  This is probably not surprising as the peak of the building stands 200 feet taller than the city’s previously tallest building, the Transamerica Pyramid.  The 61-story building consists of 900 feet of occupied space with spacious office floors that boast ceiling heights of almost 14 feet.  The remaining 170 feet above the top floor of the building is mainly empty space but does house some mechanical equipment.    

The World’s Fastest Elevators and Longest Elevator Runs

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) recently published a report in collaboration with the Guinness Book of World Records on the fastest elevators and the longest elevator run in skyscrapers.  It evaluates elevators in commercial buildings from across the globe to determine the speed and the length of their run.  The CTBUH has certified the Shanghai Tower, currently the world's second-tallest building at 632 meters tall (2,073′), takes the prize for both the “fastest elevator and the longest elevator run of all commercial buildings in the world.”  

Concrete Solutions from a Full Service Provider

The Conco Companies initially started out as a concrete contractor but as our business expanded over the years, we have evolved into a full service provider to the construction industry.  We now provide a range of “concrete solutions” to our customers as opposed to “concrete services,” and we have the resources and expertise to oversee the entire process.   

Tips for Finding the Best Commercial Subcontractor

During our close to 60 years in the industry, The Conco Companies have learned a thing or two about the construction business.  Right from the start, our goal has been to provide customers with first-class services that are executed in a highly professional manner and to deliver what was promised.  

Dealing with Concrete’s Shrinkage and Cracking Problem

Most material, including concrete, shrinks as it dries.  The Portland Cement Association (PCA) points out that the most common amount of shrinkage is about 1/16 of an inch in a 10-foot length of concrete.  To alleviate the problem, joints are placed in concrete pavement and floors “to allow the concrete to crack in a neat, straight line at the joint, where concrete cracks due to shrinkage are expected to occur.”   Likewise expansion joints are placed in bridges, concrete walls and other structures to allow for shrinkage and to control cracking.   

Today’s Concrete is More Resilient

Over the last several decades, technological advancements in the concrete industry have led to improvements in both the strength of concrete as well as the longevity.  In fact, experts predict that concrete mixes of today can produce concrete that will last for hundreds of years rather than just decades of concrete structures from the 20^th century.  Along with the superior performance, concrete has also become “greener” to produce.   

Conco’s Cellular Concrete Services

As one of the leading commercial concrete contractors in the nation, The Conco Companies provide the Western United States with a wide range of concrete services including producing and placing cellular concrete.  Also known as foam concrete, cellular concrete provides customers with one of the most productive, cost-effective solutions in a variety of applications.   

The LA Federal Courthouse Wins Another Award

We are proud to announce that a project The Conco Companies provided concrete services for has won another award.  The LA Federal Courthouse in downtown LA was recently recognized as a “Gold Winner” in the category for Best Sustainable Project by the LA Business Journal‘s Commercial Real Estate Awards.   Last year the Courthouse also won the “2016 Outstanding Achievement and Excellence in Concrete Construction” award presented by the Southern California ACI chapter.  In addition the project was selected to compete at the national level at the 2017 ACI National Convention.

Award-winning Residential Tower

The Ten Thousand, a luxurious apartment building in Century City that borders Beverly Hills, was recently recognized as a “Gold Winner” in the category of the Best Multi-family Project from the LA Business Journal‘s Commercial Real Estate Awards.  The Conco Companies were honored to provide concrete services on the 40-story, 483-foot residential tower, which is quickly becoming one of the area’s iconic architectural landmarks.  The developer as well as owner of the $300 million project is Crescent Heights.  The architect is Handel Architects and Shamir Shah Design the interior designer.  Swinerton Builders is the general contractor.