“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.   

A New Skyscraper in Tukwila May be Just the Start!

The city of Tukwila hopes a new skyscraper currently under construction will be the catalyst to new growth in South King County, so reports the local King 5 News.  The skyscraper is another high-rise The Conco Companies are providing concrete services for, and another “tallest” building project between Seattle and Tacoma.   The 19-story tower is also the first Class A high-rise to be built in South King County.   

Once complete, the mixed-use Washington Place tower will offer a 185-room hotel, 370 residential units and a four-story parking garage to accommodate 300 vehicles.  The expected cost of the project is $120 million.  The developer, Omar Lee explains how he put together the financing for the new skyscraper.  He explains that, "Instead of a conventional bank loan, we decided to finance 50% by EB-5, the rest on our own funding, and small loans, so that's something unique about this project.”  

The city of Tukwila is currently building a new bike and pedestrian bridge over the nearby Green River that will connect the new high-rise to the commuter rail station to make it a short 10-walk.  City planners also have a long-term goal of connecting the nearby mall to the commuter rail and encouraging other redevelopment near the new tower.  They hope that the Washington Place project is the start of something big for the city. 

Along with the business-class hotel and apartment units, the tower will include a rooftop garden and a 90-seat restaurant.  The hotel will occupy the first 11th floors of the building and the residential apartments will occupy floors 12-18.  Amenities for the residents and hotel guests include a lounge, club, and exercise room on the top floor, and a pool at ground-level. The new pedestrian/bike bridge is expected to open in 2017 and the Washington Place high-rise by late 2017 or early 2018.   

Conco is one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products.  While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the entire cast-in-place concrete for the Wilshire Grand, the tallest building west of the Mississippi, along with other notable projects.  We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Source:king5.com/news/local/tukwila-hopes-new-skyscraper-will-be-catalyst-for growth/375558472

The Conco Companies Seek Skilled Assistant Project Manager

The Conco Companies, one of the top commercial concrete contractors in the Western US, is seeking a highly skilled individual to join our exceptional team as an Assistant Project Manager based in Kent, Washington. Conco continues to expand their reach in the Western United States and our project pipeline is rapidly growing. We are always seeking qualified, hardworking individuals to join our team.

The Assistant Project Manager plays a crucial role in the team’s ability to meet all contractual provisions, compliance regulations, and keep projects moving along smoothly. As a highly regarded member of the team, the day to day work of an assistant project manager includes independent tasks such as tackling bids from subcontractors and managing the bidding process, drafts RFI’s and monitor the RFI process, create and manage construction schedules, and other projects as needed or desired. Additionally, as a manager, the role will interface with some of our most key departments in order to ensure the cohesion and effectiveness of the team as a whole.

To truly succeed in this role, the ideal assistant project manager will have years of experience managing large-scale construction projects, pricing proposals and estimating costs, and have a college degree in Construction Management. In addition to experiential requirements, the ideal candidate will also have tremendous organizational skills, be self-motivated, have no problem working independently, and have a true attention to detail.

What better way to grow your career than to have the opportunity to contribute to some of the nation’s most significant concrete projects. For more information about this and other roles available at Conco, visit our website for job applications, company history, and much more.

At The Conco Companies, we are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products.  Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.  We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Update on The Mark at 5th & Columbia Project

Since June 2016, The Conco Companies have been supplying concrete services for The Mark at 5^th & Columbia project. As a reminder, the project consists of a 528,000 sqft office space, hotel, and spa scheduled to be completed by April 2017. The building boasts a number of green building features and hopes to seek LEED Gold certification. The initial concrete mat foundation pour, completed in June 2015, required 500 truckloads of concrete alone.

The project is progressing beautifully. As of August 2016, the concrete core stood at its final height (48 stories) and the focus shifted to completing the remaining concrete pours for the structural decks and garages. Remaining concrete pours for the month of August commenced at a pace of 2 per week until Level 28 was reached.  Structural steel was installed in August and roof steel was installed shortly after, bringing an end to the steel erection process.

The project really ramped up in September when concrete pours were increased from 2 per week to 3 per week with the goal of completing all concrete decks up to level 4. This pace continued through October until level 45 concrete cement decks had been successfully poured.

Parts of the garage, which have been poured, are being polished with final paint and signage. The next major project milestones include the rooftop mechanical and structural assemblies, podium construction for levels 1 through 5, mid and high-rise elevators, and the removal of cranes as the project moves onward.

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western U.S. and 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. Our offices serve California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Nevada.

Increasing the Tensile Strength of Concrete

The aggregate in a concrete mix effectively carries the compression load to make concrete strong in compression.  However concrete is weak in tension as the cement holding the aggregate in place is susceptible to cracking and can result in the structure failing.  To carry the tensile load, concrete is reinforced with steel reinforcing bars (rebar), steel fibers, glass fibers, or plastic fibers.

Both brittle and rigid, concrete may crack or break under high pressure conditions and shear stresses caused by wind, earthquakes, and other forces.  By embedding rebar or other reinforcement into the concrete, it provides a higher tensile strength and ductility to the concrete and gives buildings the required strength to stand up to seismic activity. 

Generally concrete only needs a relatively low percentage of rebar to achieve the maximum performance required for a specific construction project.  In a typical concrete beam, about 1% of rebar is added to the concrete, while in a column, it can be up to 6% rebar.  This formula achieves an economical solution for providing strength, ductility, and durability to the construction project since the cost of steel far exceeds the cost of concrete.

Types of reinforced concrete include precast or cast-in-place and are used in the construction of slabs, walls, foundations, beams, and columns.  Many structures built today would not have been possible without reinforced concrete.   Another type of reinforcement is referred to as post-tensioning.   Wikipedia states, “Bonded post-tensioned concrete is the descriptive term for a method of applying compression after pouring concrete and the curing process (in situ). The concrete is cast around a plastic, steel or aluminum curved duct, to follow the area where otherwise tension would occur in the concrete element.” 

Precision-engineered rebar and post-tension cable is fabricated in state-of-the-art facilities such as the plants owned by The Conco Companies.  We utilize the latest technologies to ensure accuracy and increase productivity.  Our plants are outfitted with modern shear lines, benders and post-tension cable manufacturing equipment to meet the most exacting specifications. 

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete

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 serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget.

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.

Air-entrained Concrete

The Portland Concrete Association (PCA) defines air-entrained concrete as containing billions of microscopic air cells per cubic foot.  These tiny chambers or microscopic bubbles act as reservoirs to allow water to expand when subjected to freezing temperatures and helps to relieve some of the internal pressure on the concrete. 

Air-entrained concrete is not only designed to make concrete more resistant to freeze/thaw cycles but also to make it more deicer-scaling resistant.  In addition the air-entraining concrete acts as a lubricant in the mix to improve the workability while the concrete is still plastic and increases its slump (a measure of the consistency of fresh concrete). 

Air-entrained concrete is produced by using air-entraining portland cement or by the introduction of air-entraining agents (chemical admixtures).  The amount of air bubbles are generally in the range of 10 to 500 micrometres in diameter (0.0004 to 0.02 in) and are spaced very closely together.  These air pockets or bubbles relieve much of the pressure from the freezing water by giving it a place to safely flow into.  The PCA explains that, “The amount of entrained air is usually between four and seven percent of the volume of the concrete, but may be varied as required by special conditions.”

The procedure was first started in the 1930’s, and today, most concrete is air-entrained particularly the concrete that is used for exterior projects in colder climates.  Another advantage it offers is that with the increased slump, it allows less water to be used in the mix to produce a higher strength concrete.  The benefit of less water in the mix also means there is less drying shrinkage.  Air-entrained concrete is also used to protect against sulfates and alkali-silica reactivity.

Sources:

cement.org/cement-concrete-basics/working-with-concrete/air-entrained-concrete
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_entrainment
nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs141p2_023438.pdf

The Conco Companies are 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 Do Concrete Pumps Work?

The Conco Companies have been working on the Wilshire Grand in Los Angeles, which is slated to become the tallest build west of the Mississippi.  This project has included our world record largest continuous mat pour last February and since then, moving and placing concrete on each level of the skyscraper. 

For help with the job, Conco purchased a new Schwing M31 concretepump that was specifically designed to handle the heavy lifting of concrete loads that in the past needed the assistance of cranes.  Our new tremmie pump has up to 1,100 pounds of capacity for lifting up to 60’ tremmies of 4” 11Ga. safely without a crane assist. 

So exactly how do concrete pumps work?  A concrete pump is a specialized piece of equipment that is designed to handle the heavy weight of concrete and to keep it moving to prevent it from solidifying.  The process starts with a concrete truck discharging concrete into a hopper that is located on the back of the pump truck.  From there the concrete falls through a mesh gate on the hopper that is used to prevent large pieces of rock from moving into the pump truck hoses.  An auger inside the hopper churns the concrete to keep it liquid and flowable. 

Now that the concrete is in the hopper, “it gets sucked into a valve system in small intervals or strokes. As some of the concrete is being sucked into the valve, the concrete before it is being simultaneously pushed through the concrete pipe on the pump truck boom until it reaches the end of the concrete hose and placed where you need it.”   

The concrete placement continues with the pump operator monitoring the process for any blockages and making sure the hopper stays full.  The safety and stability of the pump is provided by the front and back riggers and the ACPA says that, “Setting the outriggers of a concrete pump with placing boom is one of the most critical jobs of the concrete pump operator and should always be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended procedure.”

The Conco Companies have built a reputation in the Los Angeles area with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience.  We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.

Sources:

everything-about-concrete.com/how-does-a-concrete-pump-truck-work.html

concretepumpers.com/sites/www.concretepumpers.com/files/attachments/sb_outriggers_1.pdf 

Conco’s Concrete Pumps Available Throughout California

The Conco Companies have owned and operated one of the largest concrete pumping companies in the United States for over 40 years.  To remain a leader, we continue to invest in new concretepumps to provide customers one of the most modern, state-of-the-art operations on the West Coast. 

In fact our concrete pumps helped us to successfully undertake the largest continuous mat pour for the new Wilshire Grand tower this past February to break the Guinness World Record.  Also on this project, we will use our equipment to pump concrete to reach the top floors of the 1,100 ft. tall skyscraper that is scheduled to become the tallest building in the West once it is completed.

To serve our customers, we have a large fleet of 27 concrete pumps that are located in Northern California (12 pumps) and Southern California (15 pumps).  Our pumps are manufactured by two of the top names in the industry.  Putzmeister America, Inc. is the North American division of one of the most recognized and respected manufacturers of concrete and material placing equipment.  Schwing America is a member of the SCHWING Group, a worldwide designer, manufacturer and distributor of premium concrete production and handling equipment that is headquartered in Herne, Germany.

Both our Northern and Southern California locations have a Schwing 58SX long boom concrete pump that meets the latest emissions standards and is helping to reduce emissions at our jobsites.  With a 4-Section Overhead Roll and Fold, the innovative boom design works well on bridges, commercial and industrial work and has a reach of 175 feet. The versatile boom has a main section that articulates 180-degrees, which allows it to be angled away from the pour and then guided horizontally into enclosed areas, positioned vertically for elevated work, and stretched out over the cab for flatwork.

Another impressive pump we have available in both locations is the Putzmeister 36Z.  With its detachable Putzmeister Z-Fold boom, the 36Z has great reach.  It is the only four-section, 116-foot 10-inch boom on the market using X-style outriggers. The powerful pumping performance with a small footprint makes it perfect for restrictive job sites.

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

How Do Articulating Booms Enhance Maneuverability?

The ultimate advancement in moving concrete has been the concrete pump.  The Conco Companies own an impressive number of different size pumps that gives us the opportunity to use the very best equipment available in the industry to meet the specifics of each job.

As the saying goes that you need to use the right tool for the right job so is it goes for concrete pumps.  Many jobs could not be done without the boom pumps that can reach up to 184 feet horizontally to place concrete on to the upper floors of today’s super tall skyscrapers but just as important to the industry are articulating boom pumps.    

Articulating booms known as roll-and-fold or Z-fold come in four-section multi-Z booms or five-section Z-Fold booms and offer a lot of versatility and a great working range.  These booms can maneuver around obstacles and be used to reach difficult places but still provide a good vertical reach (the exact amounts depends on the model).  Another advantage to articulating booms is even though they offer a long reach they are able to fold up to a much smaller size when transporting.   

One example of an articulating boom is the Putzmeister 28Z.  Conco thinks it is such an important addition to our booms that we have one in all of our pumping locations including the Seattle area.  The pump offers a smooth concrete flow while having the smallest front outrigger footprint of all models in its class.  Since the 28Z does not require a large vertical clearance to unfold, it can unfold inside of a building when a job calls for it.  The smaller size means it travels easily and can be set up quickly. 

These lighter and very resilient pumps can adapt to different loads and now feature longer straight pipe for a less stressful concrete flow and better wear on parts.  The multi-Z configuration can pump even if the boom is not fully extended and “their elbow-like joints, controlled independently by hydraulic cylinders, often allow the operator to place concrete at any point between the truck and the boom’s maximum horizontal and vertical reach.”

Sources:

concreteconstruction.net/Images/What's%20New%20in%20Truck-Mounted%20Boom%20Pumps_tcm45-342799.pdf

The Conco Companies has built a reputation in the Los Angeles area with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience.  We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.

Conco Constructs a Floor Every Week!

As one of the foremost commercial concrete contractors in the business, Conco continues to innovate and develop techniques that allow us to deliver exceptional services to our clients.  Furthermore we fully recognize that extended construction times drive up cost so we have become experts in working efficiently and cost-effectively. 

With a well-earned reputation of meeting or exceeding deadlines, Conco is routinely brought in on projects that have an accelerated timetable.  Such was the case of 815 Pines, a luxury 40-story apartment building adjacent to the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Seattle.  Owned by the Holland Partner Group, they were adamant that the project was finished on time regardless of weather conditions and the challenges presented by the small footprint and minimal lay-down area.

Conco’s task was to construct a complete floor every week.  The time-lapsed video link below demonstrates one week of the activity that took place starting at Level 34 pour-day right through to Level 35 pour-day.  It clearly illustrates how we successfully accomplished this huge undertaking. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGmhEkbNKLk&feature=autoshare

A breakdown of how major tasks were managed throughout the 5-day week:

·         Day 1: Pour slab, core slab, walls, & columns.  Start framing Level 35 deck.

·         Day 2: Jump core form.  Strip columns.  Complete L35 deck. Charge boundary elements.  MEP layout.

·         Day 3: MEP layout.  Edge forms.  PSR rail install.  Core rebar install.  Bottom mat rebar.

·         Day 4:  Perimeter panels jumped.  PT install.  Core walls complete.

·        Day 5: MEP/Pex pipe installed.  Top of slab formwork.  Embed installation.  Charge column rebar cages.  Clear deck, prepped for pour.

 

Throughout the 815 Pine project, the 5-day cycle was accomplished with a single shift that stayed within the construction schedule and exceeded the expectations of the developer.  By consistently collaborating with general contractors and owners, Conco strives to find solutions that meet the demands of each unique project we provide services on.

For over 50 years, Conco has been providing premium concrete services and is one of the most trusted concrete contractors in the  Northwest.  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.