How shotcrete saves construction time

When experienced concrete contractors go to work on a large construction project, they work closely with architects, engineers, and their customers to ensure their portion of the project utilizes the best cost- and time-saving methods, all while delivering a strong and lasting final product. With these goals in mind, concrete contractors in Portland such as The Conco Companies have incorporated shotcrete into their wheelhouses.

What Makes a Great Concrete Contractor?

Concrete is one of the most important technologies of the modern world, and it is the result of an ever innovating industry. Two hundred years ago, concrete use was limited. Innovations in strength, placement, additives, and operations have transformed concrete the world over. As concrete has become more specialized in its capabilities, it is more important than ever to work with a great concrete contractor to ensure that your project is done right. Knowledge, experience, and organizational capacity are three key characteristics to look for in a great concrete contractor.

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.  

Career Opportunities for Construction Project Engineers in Portland, Oregon

Due to a growing demand for services, The Conco Companies recently expanded our operations and opened a new office in Portland, OR.  As such we are looking for full-time Project Engineers to support the Superintendent and Project Manager on assigned projects.

Qualities desired for the position include being able to work well in a team and have excellent written and verbal communication skills.  Applicants must also have the ability to manage their time efficiently and be adept at organizing and prioritizing tasks.

Conco’s Portland Office is working on Several New Projects

The Conco Companies have recently opened a new office in Portland, OR.  While not new to the area as we have performed services for Portland from our facilities in Kent, WA, this is our first actual office in the city.  The need for the office made sense as we are working on several large projects throughout the city and having a more established presence allows us to better serve our current clients as well as future clients.   

High-quality Concrete Services in the Portland Area

Over the last couple of years, The Conco Companies have expanded our concrete services in the greater Portland area.  We now offer a full range of services including premium concrete pumping, rebar fabrication and installation, shotcrete, and formwork.  In addition we provide Conco customers a great value when they take advantage of our design/build, general contracting and turnkey solutions.  

Reinforced Concrete Supports Modern Architectural Designs

Structural concrete or reinforced concrete is classified as precast or cast-in-place concrete and provides the required strength to allow many of today’s challenging architectural designs to be achieved.  The amount of steel that is embedded into the concrete is based on each project’s specifications and steel reinforcing bars (rebar) are commonly used.  The rebar is placed in a formwork or mold and tied into place with wire that is referred to as the reinforcement cage.  The concrete is then prepared following the design mix specifications and poured into the form to set and harden.   

The development of reinforced concrete has made concrete the most commonly used type of building material throughout the world.  It offers a higher tensile strength and ductility than concrete alone and absorbs the tensile, shear, and even at times the compressive stresses in a concrete structure.  It is the type of concrete typically used in the construction of dams, bridges, skyscrapers, columns, beams, frames, and foundations.   

Many large skyscrapers, such as the One World Trade Center Tower and the new Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles are being built with a cast-in-place, reinforced concrete core.   The reinforced core walls in the One World Trade Center are 6 ft. thick below grade and more than 3ft. thick above ground level.  On the upper levels the concrete is 2 ft. thick throughout the core of the building.  The Wilshire Grand, one of the current projects that The Conco Companies are busy helping to construct, will have a four-foot-thick reinforced core that surrounds the staircase in the center of the building.  Neither of these super tall skyscrapers could have been built without the use of today’s reinforced concrete. 

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.

Improved Efforts in Recycling Concrete

Several decades ago, used concrete was simply hauled away to landfills for disposal.  While this presented a quick solution for getting rid of the concrete, it not only started filling up landfills but was viewed poorly from an environmental standpoint.  The fact is concrete is a fairly easy material to recycle and can be reused in a variety of ways.  Even after many decades of use as a building or highway, the concrete can be recycled and used again in other construction projects.    

Today once a building has outlived its usefulness and is ready to be demolished, crews prepare the concrete by removing as many contaminates as possible such as roofing, trash, wood, and other materials.  The more care that is taken at the jobsite helps to improve the quality of the ensuing product once it is recycled.  Furthermore, unless the concrete has been reasonable cleaned, many recycling facilities will not even accept it.

Once at the recycling facility, huge magnets are used to attract and identify the steel for removal.  All of the reinforced steel (rebar) in the concrete is removed and sold to rebar fabrication plants where it can be reused to make new rebar.   

During the recycling process, the concrete is put through several steps that involve crushing, pre-sizing, sorting, screening and further elimination of contaminants.  It is cleaned by a water method to get rid of dirt and other remaining materials.  Care is taken to get rid of any remaining materials such as asphalt, sealant, chlorides and gypsum.  

Even concrete that has not been as carefully processed and screened has a use in the industry. This type of aggregate is sold for fill, drainage, or as sub-base gravel before asphalt or new concrete is poured.

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.

How to Control Shrinkage and Cracking in Concrete

All concrete experiences some degree of shrinkage that can affect its long-term strength and durability as well as result in cracks.  Since shrinkage is an inherent property of concrete, it is impossible to totally eliminate cracking but it can be controlled.  Concrete engineers such as those at The Conco Companies work diligently to understand and address the issues associated with shrinkage.  

We know that shrinkage is caused by a loss of volume that occurs in different stages of the process but it is still a challenge to prevent or alleviate shrinkage, and thereby the cracking.  It is an especially important consideration on projects that involve large mat pours such as the ones that Conco is doing on the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco and recently completed on the Wilshire Grand in Los Angeles. 

According to the Portland Cement Association, “The shortening of concrete slabs can be caused by temperature decreases or moisture loss. These two causes are also related to curling and warping of slabs, respectively. Curling is the deformation of the slab due to a difference in temperature between the surface and the bottom of the slab (temperature gradient).  Slab “warping” is the deformation of the slab surface profile due to a difference in moisture between the surface and bottom of the slab (moisture gradient).”* 

To ensure the placement of concrete moves quickly, it is mixed with more water than what is necessary to hydrate the cement materials.  Once the concrete is placed, the excess water separates from the hardening concrete, which results in a loss of volume that causes the concrete to shrink.  The concrete’s reinforcement or base friction works to restrain it, which in turn can create tensile stresses in the slab causing cracks. 

In an effort to prevent the shrinkage, one of the things we do at Conco is to watch out for fluctuating temperatures during the first 24 hours after placement.  We also take considerable care to use the correct concrete mixture design so that the least amount of extra water is added and the largest size of aggregate is used.  All of this can work to help reduce shrinkage.

Source:cement.org/for-concrete-books-learning/concrete-technology/focus-on-floors/concrete-shrinkage

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.

Opportunities for Hard Working Construction Laborers

By Conco  

The Conco Companies continues to seek experienced carpenters, cement masons, ironworkers, operating engineers as well as job opportunities for construction laborers.  We have openings at all of our locations, which include Northern California, Southern California, Washington State, and Colorado.  These are union positions (with the exception of Colorado) and offer competitive wages along with medical and retirement benefits.

Conco’s openings for construction workers include Bridge Laborers and General Laborers.  The responsibilities include all work in connection with but not limited to: dumpman, load Spotter, flag person and operating a forklift.  We are an equal opportunity employer.

At Conco we employ a dedicated crew of laborers and cement masons who are some of the most experienced in the industry.  We provide crews with the most up-to-date equipment and tools to assist them with optimally performing each job and to continue to meet deadlines.  Additionally, Conco is committed to providing all employees a hazard-free, safe working environment.  

To achieve this goal, our safety program focuses on hazard elimination.  We sincerely believe that when safety is the first consideration before any work begins, everyone wins.  Safety pays for our company, our employees, our customers and the general public!

We are sure you will find our company is an exciting place to work.  We have had the privilege to be a part of many distinguished project throughout the Western U.S.  Recently we provided the concrete services for the San Francisco 49ers Levi Stadium.  Last fall we assisted on the repairs for the new Bay Bridge also in San Francisco.  Our most recent accomplishment was to break the world record for the largest continuous mat pour that was done for the Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles.
 

If you are interested in applying for a position, please refer to our website for more information.  

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We have built our reputation with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience. With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget.

High-Strength Concrete

The design of a project determines the performance requirements of the concrete in terms of the compressive strength needed and level of durability to withstand weather conditions.   High-strength concrete is defined as having a compressive strength of 6,000 psi (40 MPa) or greater.  The last couple of decades have seen a demand for stronger concrete. The Portland Cement Association reports that two buildings in Seattle, Washington were constructed using concrete that has a compressive strength of 19,000 psi.

In order to design high-strength concrete, research and time is put into optimizing and controlling each component of the mix.  The concrete needs to have a lower water-cementitious material (W/C) ratio that is somewhere in the range of 0.23 to 0.35, and usually requires a superplasticizer admixture. 

Moreover the high-strength concrete requires an aggregate that is durable and strong and is the optimal size and coarseness to ensure the ideal bond with the cement paste.  Generally the mix will contain a mineral admixture such as silica fume or fly ash (Class C or F) to prevent free calcium hydroxide crystals from forming that can affect the strength of the concrete.     

There are many kinds of projects that require high-strength concrete such as the construction of long-span bridges and decks or projects that have unique architectural features.  Without high-strength concrete, it would not be possible to construct the super tall skyscrapers of today.  Another advantage to the stronger concrete is that columns can be made smaller but still be as supportive while offering more usable interior space.

Conco is taking a more active role in the Portland area with our expansion of high-quality commercial concrete services.  We bring our years of experience delivering dependable services since 1959, and a vast portfolio of noteworthy and large-scale projects from throughout the Western U.S.  Our work includes commercial, industrial, educational and multi-residential construction as well as public works projects.

Blended Cements

The American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) Cement and Concrete Terminology, defines blended cement as “hydraulic cement that is produced by intergrinding portland cement clinker with the other materials or by blending portland cement with the other materials or a combination of intergrinding and blending.”  As recently as 2012, there were changes made in blended cements that have been approved by the ASTM for both special applications and general use.   

 

From the ASTM’s C595 abstract on hydraulic blended cements, they describe Type IS as Portland Blast-furnace Slag cement and Type IP as Portland-pozzolan cement.  They state that, “They can also be described according to air-entraining, moderate sulfate resistance, moderate heat of hydration, high sulfate resistance, or low heat of hydration properties.”  Type I (SM) Slag-modified Portland cement has a standard that contains less than 25% slag by mass of the cement.  The ASTM’s C595 permits Type IS Portland Blast-furnace Slag cement to contain between 25 and 70% by mass of the finished cement. 

Blended cements are used to prolong the life span of concrete as it reduces the concrete’s permeability to water.  Whereas concrete mixes made of portland cement are more porous and are susceptible to cracking during freeze/thaw cycles.  It can even be a cause of deterioration in the rebar as moisture can seep in over time.  Another benefit to blended cements is they reduce the water-cement ratio (w/c), which is one way to produce high-strength concrete. 

Blends can be customized by varying the proportions of the mix and be produced to meet the demands of a specific project.   Most importantly the ASTM dictates that, “cement shall undergo different tests to determine the following properties: chemical analysis, fineness by sieving, fineness by air-permeability, autoclave expansion, time of setting, air content of mortar, compressive strength, heat of hydration, normal consistency, specific gravity, water requirement, mortar expansions of blended cement and pozzolan, drying shrinkage, activity index with Portland cement, and sulfate resistance.”

* ACI 116R-00, Cement and Concrete Terminology, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Michigan, 2000

* http://precast.org/2012/12/new-astm-blended-cement-types/

* http://www.astm.org/Standards/C595.htm

 

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 a regional office in the Seattle area.  With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget.

Using Tower Cranes to Build Skyscrapers

In order to build the super tall skyscrapers of today such as the Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles, huge tower cranes are used.  Tower cranes are capable of lifting very heavy loads of steel, concrete, generators and other building materials and can be erected to grow taller as the construction project moves upward.   

Before a tower crane is ready to use, it needs to be stabilized at the jobsite.  The process entails building a concrete pad with large anchor bolts embedded into the concrete that secures the base of the crane.  Once a tower crane reaches its maximum height, it can be tied to the side of the structure with steel collars and moved upward as a project demands.

The gears and motor for the crane are contained in the slewing unit that is attached to the mast and which allows the crane to rotate.  On top of that is the long jib that is used to lift the heavy materials as well as the counter-jib that works as a counter-weight to keep the crane balanced.  The crane operator may control the unit from the ground or in a cab that is on top of the tower.

The tower crane mast is a steel triangular lattice structure that is constructed of vertebras generally 10 square feet in size.  Once a crane has been fastened to the exterior of the building or in some cases to the interior and needs to be raised higher, the process is started to add new pieces.  A climbing frame or metal sheath that sits between the slewing unit and the top of the tower is used to temporarily support that section of the mast while the jib moves a new segment into the space.  Once the new piece is bolted down, the climbing tower then moves higher up along the mast ready for the process to begin again. 

According to Wikipedia, typically the maximum unsupported height of a tower crane is 265 feet and the maximum reach of the jib is 230 feet.  It has a maximum lifting strength of 19.8 tons.  

 

Conco’s team of professional concrete contractors in the Portland area brings the highest level of integrity and principles to each project from pre-construction to finish.  With the rapidly growing construction market, Conco is taking an active role in the Portland area with our expansion of high-quality commercial concrete services.

Seventh Tallest in the World - International Commerce Centre

While we are currently providing concrete services for the new Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles, which is on its way to becoming the tallest building in the U.S. west of the Mississippi, we have started blogging about other tall skyscrapers.  We recently saw an article from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat that is already discussing the emergence of mega tall skyscrapers that will be built in the next decade.  Apparently a kilometer-tall (3280 ft.) building is already under construction.  The CTBUH now defines super tall skyscrapers as those over 300 meters (984 ft.) and buildings over 600 meters (1968 ft.) as mega tall.    

On our list of buildings, we are at number seven, which is the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon, Hong Kong.  The 1,588 ft. building has 118 floors with a 360 degree observation deck and is the tallest building in Hong Kong as well containing the third largest number of floors.  The ICC was completed in 2010 and a winning entry in an international design competition.  The project was designed by the American architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) in association with Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.

The skyscraper is part of the Union Square reclamation project and is built right above the Kowloon Station, which connects Hong Kong to the airport.  According to ArchDaily, the structure is made up of eight concrete mega-columns that “splay out 3 degrees as they touch the ground plane.”  The building includes office, retail, a hotel and the world’s highest cocktail lounge on the 108^th floor.   

Energy efficient abounds in the skyscraper and set new standards for sustainability.  It contains an “Energy Optimizer” air-conditioning system and a passenger smart elevator system that maximizes efficiency by assigning elevators to groups with similar destinations.  Water is saved by harvesting water from the a/c system and used in cooling towers and other situations that use non-potable water.      

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States and is once again involved in doing concrete work for a major landmark project. The new Wilshire Grand Center will reshape the Los Angeles skyline as the tallest building west of the Mississippi.  As a part of the project, Conco successfully poured the largest continuous mat foundation ever done in the U.S. on February 15, 2014.

Fifth Tallest Building in the World - Taipei 101

Since starting work on the Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles, which is set to become the tallest building in the U.S. west of the Mississippi, we started a series exploring the super tall skyscrapers of the world.  As we proceed along in the series, we now arrived at the fifth tallest building in the world.  The Taipei 101, also known as the Taipei Financial Center, is located in the Hsinyi district, Taipei, Taiwan.

Recently replaced as the tallest building in Asia by the Shanghai Towers that is currently being constructed, the Taipei 101 was opened in 2004 and stands at 1,671 ft. tall.  The building has 101 floors with an indoor observatory deck at that level.  The steel and glass skyscraper was designed by C. Y. Lee & Partners and the structural engineers were Thornton Tomasetti and Evergreen Engineering.  The Project Manager was Turner Construction.  The building was awarded the highest LEED Platinum certification.

According to an article from Wikipedia, the Taipei was constructed to withstand adverse conditions that have been known to occur in the area such as typhoon strength winds or earthquakes.  The ultimate goal was to construct “a structure that could withstand gale winds of 134 mph and the strongest earthquakes likely to occur in a 2,500 year cycle.”  Using very strong reinforced concrete supports and an extremely solid foundation, the Taipei 101 is believed to be one of the most stable buildings ever constructed.  

The multi-use skyscraper has retail shops on the first four levels, a large fitness center on floors 5 and 6, and offices space above that on levels 7- 84.  A variety of fine restaurants can be found on floors 86 to 88 and outdoor observation decks on level 89 and 91. 

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States and is once again involved in doing concrete work for a major landmark project. The new Wilshire Grand Center will reshape the Los Angeles skyline as the tallest building west of the Mississippi.  As a part of the project, Conco successfully poured the largest continuous mat foundation ever done in the U.S. on February 15, 2014.

Is There a Shortage of Skilled Labor in the U.S?

During the last recession, construction and manufacturing were two of the hardest hit industries.  According to the publication, Finance and Commerce, “The U.S. lost about 2.1 million construction jobs from December 2007 when the recession began through January 2011, when industry employment hit its lowest level since 1996.”* 

As a result, many workers left the industries and went back to school or retrained for jobs in the business or service sectors and also the number of young people enrolling in vocational or technical programs declined.  Recent studies have shown that skilled construction workers are getting older such as a report from EMSI in 2012 that states 53% of skilled-trade workers in the U.S. were 45 years or older. 

Now that we have gotten past the worst of the depression, the demand for skilled workers is way up.  A report from the Minneapolis Star Tribune in July, 2013 estimates the Minneapolis/St. Paul area will need more than 20,000 new workers in construction and manufacturing by 2015.  This means that there has to be a concerted effort throughout the country to encourage and provide training opportunities for young people to enter the industries and fill the shortage. 

The Concrete Pumping, Winter 2014 publication cites the FMI’s 2013 U.S. Construction Industry Talent Development Report that was sent to general contractors and construction managers.  It shows that over half of the respondents indicated a shortage of skilled labor.  The report also said there is a need to recruit more women and minorities to fill these skilled trade jobs.    

The good news is that many companies are making an effort to recruit young workers and get the word out about the benefits of having a well-paying job in the construction industry.  There are even some states that are expanding community college and vocational training programs to help meet the demand for skilled construction workers.  Even celebrity, Mike Rowe, is leading a campaign to promote skilled labor careers and alternative education programs.

*Read more: http://finance-commerce.com/2013/08/labor-shortages-slow-us-home-rebound/#ixzz2tgl8ed7w

For over 50 years, Conco has been providing premium concrete services and is one of the most trusted concrete contractors in Seattle.  We partner with clients on every project from the pre-construction stage right through to final completion to maximize efficiency and ensure goals and budgets are met.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

 

The Beautiful Ashton in Downtown Bellevue, WA

This mixed-use, luxurious apartment building, located in downtown Bellevue, WA was constructed to include all the amenities and finishes generally only found in high-end condominium properties.  Conco was a part of the skilled team that constructed the beautiful, 20-story Ashton Bellevue Towers. 

The sleek, contemporary Ashton was designed with an urban concept and has 202 sizable apartments with 14 townhouse/lofts.  The offerings include 115 one-bedroom homes that come with or without a study, 61 two-bedroom units, and 12 penthouses.  The units provide residents with spectacular views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, Lake Washington, and downtown Seattle.  

This was another project from the award-winning contractor, The Hanover Company, who built the Ten20 Tower located just across the street.  CollinsWoerman, a leading expert in sustainable architecture and infrastructure, was the architect on the project and was also a part of the Ten20 Tower.  The engineer was the S.C.A. Consulting Engineers.   Once again Conco delivered premium concrete services for the 20-story structure. 

One of the biggest differences the Ashton offers from other apartments is a very large 9,000 sq. ft. amenity space that has a fitness center complete with a spinning room, aqua lounge, conference room, and a movie screening room.  The building has a 5-level, private parking structure that can accommodate 354 cars.  The ground floor is 2,650 sq. ft. of commercial retail space.     

In addition, the Ashton Bellevue offers residents 24-hour concierge services and an elevated outdoor great room equipped with grills and a dual-sided fireplace.  The building’s location allows residents to conveniently walk to restaurants and boutiques as well as access to Bellevue’s cultural district.    

For over 50 years, Conco has been providing premium concrete services and is one of the most trusted concrete contractors in Seattle.  We partner with clients on every project from the pre-construction stage right through to final completion to maximize efficiency and ensure goals and budgets are met.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

The Importance of Safety Regulations in Construction Work

All of us understand that a construction site can be a hazardous place if there is not a strict adherence to all safety regulations.  Construction work is safe when workers are educated to the hazards and effective training and safety procedures are followed.  Utilizing best practices and conducting safety inspections has been proven to greatly reduce the risk of serious injuries or death. 

 

OSHA has extensively studied safety at jobsites and several years ago developed an Alliance Program to partner with construction companies to make workers’ safety a top priority.   One of the early collaborations was with the Turner Construction Company on the $295 million renovation of the Lambeau Field stadium project.  Even though stadiums are considered more hazardous to build, the partnership paid off with fewer injuries and a more than 20% reduction in workers’ compensation costs.  The plan required all contractors involved to have an effective safety and health program, and that all hazards were addressed daily.  There was also an increase in training for both supervisors and workers. 

At Conco we have always taken safety seriously and continue to do so every day.  We have built partnerships with our contractors in an effort to maintain the highest standard of safety on all project sites.  To achieve that end, Conco provides all projects 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. In addition, safety professionals are employed in all business locations to carry out frequent worksite safety inspections and to provide direction and training.

Our team of safety and risk management professionals works diligently with the entire company to eliminate and mitigate all construction and “over the road” related risks.  The focus of the team is on employee safety, claims management and regulatory compliance.  Our goal is to provide customers and the general public with the safest and most efficient construction and trucking services in the industry today!

 

As one of the leading commercial concrete contractors in the Denver area, we have been involved with large-scale projects in the area including the Mineta Airport.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects and highways.

World’s Largest Parking Lots

According to the Guinness World Records, the largest parking lot serves the world’s largest shopping and entertainment center.  It is located at the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada.  The parking lot was built to hold 20,000 cars, and believe it or not, there is even a nearby overflow lot that can handle 10,000 vehicles.

Right now the trend in parking is to build a structure or garage as it allows more efficient parking and uses a lot less space than a big, sprawled out parking lot.  There is another advantage in that parking garages are built out of concrete and will last decades while big open parking lots are generally made from asphalt.  Asphalt has a life-span of about 20 years and will need to be constantly maintained.  By comparison, a concrete garage has a span of around 50 years with nowhere near the maintenance involved.   

A newly opened, smart-parking garage in Dubai has been awarded the distinction of being the “largest automated parking facility in the world” by the Guinness World Records.  The nine-story facility is located at the Emirates Financial Tower and cost a whopping $22 million.   It has the capacity for 1191 vehicles and is fully computerized.  A driver just pulls their vehicle into the transit bay and gets out, the rest is automated.  The computer identifies the best spot for the car and has it ready for the owner a few minutes before their departure.  You can even have your car washed while it is being “parked”. 

Conco’s team of professional concrete contractors in the Portland area brings the highest level of integrity and principles to each project from pre-construction to finish.  With the rapidly growing construction market, Conco is taking an active role in the Portland area with our expansion of high-quality commercial concrete services.