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.   

What's the Difference Between Cement and Concrete?

Concrete is one of the most utilized man-made materials on the planet. Used for buildings, sidewalks, and infrastructure worldwide, concrete is a hearty material comprised of a mixture of aggregates (any coarse particles used in construction) and paste. Common concrete aggregates include sand and gravel and common pastes are composed of water and cement. That’s right, contrary to popular belief; cement is actually an ingredient in concrete itself.

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, concrete and cement couldn’t be more different. Concrete is the material that we know and love, whereas cement is simply a binding agent used in approximately 15% of concrete to create its signature hardness. Cement is typically composed of finely ground limestone, silica, alumina, and iron oxide.

Types of Cement

There are two common forms of cement: hydraulic and non-hydraulic cement. Hydraulic cement hardens when it comes into contact with water and ultimately forms a water resistant barrier. This is the kind of cement most people are familiar with. Non-hydraulic cement does not harden when in the presence of water. The most common form of cement used in concrete, Portland cement, is a form of hydraulic cement. While most forms of Portland cement are very similar, there are varieties of cement which can be used for specific construction needs:

• Sulphate-resistant cement
• Rapid hardening cement
• Air Entraining cement
• Colored cement
• Low-heat cement
• Hydrographic cement
• Blast furnace slag cement
• White cement (created by using materials with no grey raw materials, such as iron or manganese)
• Quick setting cement

Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise, experience and quality to each project.  We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Conco Reinforcing and Design Services

The Conco Companies are one of the foremost commercial concrete contractors in the Western United States and offer customers a wide range of premium services.  In the industry since 1959, Conco has had the opportunity to experience first-hand many of the innovations and techniques that have evolved over more than half a century. 

One of the advantages of being such a large, established company is that we are able to attract some of the most talented individuals in the field to join our team.  As such Conco’s excellent reputation has offered us the opportunity to be a part of some of the most distinguished projects in the area. 

Furthermore, Conco’s line-up of exceptional resources and facilities has helped to set us apart from the competition.  For example, Conco Reinforcing operates two large rebar fabrication facilities located in California and Washington.  This gives us the capability to quickly and efficiently service customers’ needs as well as to be a single source for rebar fabrication and installation projects regardless of the size.  When you use Conco Reinforcing’s fabrication and installation services along with our concrete formwork and placement crews, you get the benefit of a coordinated one-stop-shop approach.

Another one of Conco’s strength is our reinforced concrete design services.  This group of professional engineers and estimators work meticulously on offering effective, efficient design solutions that can alleviate or prevent problems and delays on your project.  They bring to each job their vast experience and expertise as well as state-of-the-art technology and tools such as BIM, on-screen take-off, and construction management software.  Also they are able to make recommendation on the materials and processes needed to ensure a concrete structure meets all sustainability and LEED goals.

The Conco Companies are a leading commercial concrete contractor for the Western United States.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.  Conco has four regional offices that serve Northern and Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. 

Concrete Pumps are Given a Workout on the Panama Canal Project

While we are not a part of the project, we nevertheless find the engineering feat fascinating on both a professional and personal basis.  The expansion of the Panama Canal will not only double the capacity of the Canal but allow larger ships to pass through it.  The $5.2 billion project is now estimated to be closer to nearly $7 billion, and is the largest project on the canal since it officially opened in 1914.  It is expected to be completed in 2015. 

Once completed, the project will add a third lane of traffic by constructing new lock complexes at each end of the Canal.  On the Pacific side, the lock complex will be located southwest of the existing Miraflores Locks and the other will be east of the existing Gatun Locks.   As part of each lock complex, they contain three chambers that move vessels from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake and back down again.  Wikipedia explains, “Each chamber will have three lateral water-saving basins, for a total of nine basins per lock and 18 basins in total. Just like the existing locks, the new locks and their basins will be filled and emptied by gravity, without the use of pumps.”

What really struck us about this project was a short article by Putzmeister regarding their extensive equipment used on the Panama Canal.  This list includes Twelve Putzmeister Telebelt TB 130’s, one Telebelt TB 200, three 58-Meter Boom Pumps, one 52Z-Meter Boom Pump and four Thom-Katt TK 40 trailer pumps.  All of the equipment was used to construct the two 1,400-foot long by 180-foot wide by 60-foot deep channels that will make up the Canal’s third set of locks. 

We may not be working on the canal but our large pumping and belting divisions based out of Seattle, Northern California and the Washington areas have done their share of big projects.  Just in the last several years, Conco has been a part of many of the more notable construction done on the West Coast. 

Sources:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal_expansion_project

Discover the experience of working with one of the top professional commercial concrete contractors in Northern and Southern California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado and Washington.  The Conco Companies have been in business since 1959 delivering first-rate concrete services and has all the experience and expertise to handle even the most challenging projects. 

Conco’s Pumps are Located to Conveniently Serve the West

The Conco Companies’ pumping and belting division is one of the largest in the United States and is a very important and busy part of our operations.  After our historic Wilshire Grand mat pour, Conco got right to work on the attached parking structure and 73-story building that make up the project.  Our crews will be pumping approximately 80,000 yards of concrete vertically, which includes both lightweight concrete and 8,000 psi mixes. 

On the jobsite, we kept both of the placing boom towers that were used on the mat pour and brought in two additional placing booms to help with the construction of the underground parking structure.  We will use one of our trailer pumps to place shotcrete for the vertical concrete in the subterranean levels. 

In order to conveniently serve the pumping needs of our customers in Southern California, Northern California, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada, we have equipment strategically located throughout these areas.   To serve the Los Angeles area, we have a pumping facility in nearby Gardena and another based out of San Bernardino County.  Two pumping facilities in Martinez and Stockton service the Bay Area and Northern California.  For Washington and Oregon customers, our pumping facilities are based in nearby Kent and Rochester, WA.    

Our impressive fleet of pumps permit us to take on a project of the magnitude of the Wilshire Grand in Los Angeles, the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, and the San Francisco 49ers Levi Stadium just to name a few.   We continue to expand our inventory of pumps and over the last several years have made large capital investments on equipment such as three brand new Schwing 58X long boom concrete pumps and several new 20, 39 and 47 meter pumps as well as new Telebelts. 

One of our most recent acquisitions included help from us to design and then to purchase the first, two Schwing S 36X pumps with tremmie options that allow us to safely support up to 1,100 at the boom.  All of our new pumps meet the latest emissions standards.

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

A Short History of Shotcrete

 

Shotcrete is pneumatically placed concrete that is used as an economical alternative to traditional cast-in-place walls.  As it almost eliminates the forming process all together, it greatly reduces labor cost and time.  Shotcrete has the same structural characteristics as traditional cast-in-place walls and a wide range of applications including shear walls, retaining walls, architectural walls, slope pavement, and soil nailing. 

Wikipedia reports that shotcrete, originally known as gunite, was first used to repair the crumbling façade of the Field Columbian Museum in Chicago in 1907 by a well-known naturalist, Dr. Carl E. Akely.  He used a process where dry material was blown out of a hose and water was injected from the nozzle.  Mr. Akeley later went on to patent the equipment, which was called a cement gun, and the material called Gunite.  The Cement Gun Company was soon started (now called Allentown Equipment).

It was not until mid-1950 that a wet mix method was introduced to the construction industry.  Right from the start the benefits were recognized and it was successfully used on many projects.  Shotcrete really took off from there with the development of a rotary gun that had an open hopper, which allowed the material to be continuously fed.    

The American Shotcrete Association credits the technical advancements in materials and equipment made during the 1970’s of providing a huge improvement in the applications of shotcrete.  They report that, “The Engineering Foundation organized the first conference for The Use of Shotcrete for Underground Support.”  Furthermore, they write that, “Perhaps the most significant step in this period was the development of efficient concrete pumps that could be used for wet shotcrete application.”

The 1980’s saw advancements in the mixing and batching of ready mix concrete with developments of admixtures that allowed for consistency, hydration and performance.  One of the biggest changes in the shotcrete that is used today is the ability of equipment to pump any slump and to be able to pump it over long distances and up into high rise construction projects.  

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotcrete

* http://www.shotcrete.us/

* source: American Shotcrete Association

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. 

Helping to Build the CityCenter in Las Vegas

A few years ago Conco provided concrete services for the CityCenter’s residential towers that are located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.  The CityCenter is a 16,797,000 square foot, mixed-used complex that consists of hotels, residential housing, high-end retail, a casino, entertainment venues and a variety of fine dining.  The complex opened in December, 2009. 

Developers on the project were MGM Resort International and Dubai World, and the total cost of the project is estimated to be $9.2 billion.  The contractor was the Perini Building Company.  The massive project includes the Aria Resort and Casino, The Shops at Crystals (an ultra, upscale retail mall), the Mandarin Oriental, a luxurious hotel with an Asian theme, the Vdara Hotel and Spa, and the Veer Towers, a premier residential development.  The CityCenter also includes a 6,900 car parking garage and a Clark County Fire Station. 

The Veer Towers are two 37-story glass towers with 335 residences located above The Shops at Crystals.  The internationally renowned Chicago architect, Murphy/Jahn Architects, designed the towers that are inclined at five-degree angles, and thus aptly named.  The beautiful, spacious lobby contains monumental glass boxes that are flooded with light, and exposed concrete walls that are filled with an impressive collection of modern artwork.  

The modern building offers studios, deluxe studios as well as luxurious ones, two and three bedroom flats and penthouses.  The sizes for the residential units range from 500 to 3,300 square feet.  At the top of each stylish tower there is an amenities and recreation floor that offers panoramic views of Las Vegas and is equipped with an infinity edge pool, sun deck, patio, and fitness center.  The Veer Towers opened in July, 2010.

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. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

Cast-in-place Concrete

By Conco  

Cast-in-place concrete is a commonly used building material for commercial and residential structures and accounts for 75% of all concrete used.  The process starts with a temporary form in which reinforcement such as steel bars (rebar) may be added.  The next step is to pour the liquid, ready mix concrete that has been transported to the jobsite (it may in some cases be mixed on site) into the removable forms.

Using cast-in-place offers the same benefits as other types of concrete such as durability, and strength and can use some recycled material.  It is resilient when faced with severe weather conditions such as tornados as well as resistant to mold, rot, bugs, and fire.  The thermal mass of the concrete helps to reduce a building’s energy costs and has the added benefit of acting as a sound insulator.  Moreover the concrete is ready to use once the forms are stripped and does not require any further treatment.

Originally this method was only used for sub-grade walls but the renowned inventor, Thomas Edison, experimented with using cast-in-place concrete on above-grade projects.  He demonstrated the success of his work by constructing several homes that were made entirely out of cast-in-place concrete.  With many improvements and new developments since then, cast-in-place is now used for constructing slabs, walls, beams columns floors, and roofs as well as for forming special architectural features.

The forms need to remain in place until the concrete is self-supporting.  Since one of the primary costs of cast-in-place is the forming process, using prefabricated formwork can help speed up a job and save money.  They are assembled on site and can be reused over and over again.

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 steadily taken a leading role as one of the Bay Area’s top concrete contractors. 

Chemical Admixtures in Concrete

Chemical admixtures are natural or manufactured chemicals that are added to concrete along with portland cement, aggregate, and water.  They can be a liquid or powder and are added to the concrete immediately before or during the mixing process.  The chemical admixtures in a mix will account for less than 5% of the total concrete.   

The purpose of chemical admixtures is to give the concrete additional properties to handle circumstances such as pumping requirements or when placing concrete during extreme weather conditions.   According to the Portland Cement Association, “Admixtures are classed according to function. There are five distinct classes of chemical admixtures: air-entraining, water-reducing, retarding, accelerating, and plasticizers (superplasticizers).”

The National Ready Mix Concrete Association (NRMCA) says that the most common chemical admixtures used are air-entraining agents, water-reducers, and water-reducing retarders and accelerators.  They state that admixtures are added to concrete to increase “durability workability or strength characteristics of a given concrete mixture.”

Accelerators are used to increase the early strength of concrete by causing it to harden quicker and are used to protect concrete from extreme cold or when there is a tight project deadline.  Chemical accelerators are chloride based or non-chloride based and calcium chloride is one type commonly used as it is inexpensive.

Retardants are used to slow down or delay the hardening process such as in situations where the job demands a slower pour due to the scope of the project or when in very hot temperatures.  It provides a crew additional time to place and finish the concrete.   Common retardants are lignin, sugars, and citric and tartaric acids.

Air-entraining is the process of deliberately adding microscopic air bubbles into the concrete.  The purpose of doing this is to increase the concrete’s durability when faced with cycles of freezing and thawing conditions and to improve the concrete’s workability.    Furthermore segregation and bleeding is diminished or completely eliminated.  The only negative is that the concrete experiences a 5% reduction in strength for each 1% of air added.

1. http://www.cement.org/cement-concrete-basics/concrete-materials/admixtures
2. http://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/cips/15p.pdf

Conco is one of the leading concrete contractors in San Francisco offering a range of innovative, quality services.  We have been honored to work on many high-profile projects and were recently awarded the concrete package for the San Francisco 49ers Stadium.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

Architectural Concrete Design

An important element in building design is the use of architectural concrete.  It permits a broad versatility of design that could not be achieved without it.  It has the ability to provide an aesthetic finish while still retaining all of the structural properties of the concrete.  Whereas the term decorative concrete applies to design features that are used to simply enhance the look of the concrete in areas such as floors, walls, driveways and patios.

Architectural concrete can take on a variety of forms, textures, and colors and uses several different methods to create the desired effect.  Formwork systems and form-lining molds concrete into just about any kind of shape or size as well as textures or patterns.  The concrete can be simulated to look like brick, stone, or wood and is often used in projects such as retaining walls, exteriors of building, and bridges. 

Poured-in-place architectural concrete integrates the structure requirements of the project design in a cost-effective manner.  The results can be a modern, finished concrete that offers more precision and control over the process.  Since the finished surface is the prominent feature, the type of aggregate, sand, and cement selected are very important as they impact the outcome. 

Color can be adding to the concrete using mineral oxide pigments that are put directly into the concrete mix or with chemical stains and varnishes applied to the surface.  When a project demands a large quantity of raw materials to achieve a specialized look, it is a good idea to secure the available material in advance so the finish of the concrete remains consistent throughout the job.  Beyond adding color, other methods of architectural concrete finishes include surface techniques such as sand-blasting, water-blasting, sanding, polishing, and acid-etching.   

 



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.

How Telebelts and Portable Belts Assist in Projects

As highly experienced commercial concrete contractors, we recognize the need for projects to finish on time and on budget.  This is why we continue to purchase and utilize the most up-to-date equipment, which helps us to successfully fulfill our commitments. 

One kind of timesaving equipment we use is telebelts and portable belts that are designed to move heavy materials on or off a jobsite quickly and easily.  A telebelt is a mobile telescopic belt conveyor that is highly versatile and available in a variety of sizes.  They are used to place a high volume of concrete, gravel, rock, and backfill fast and efficiently and are a great way to save time and labor costs.  The set-up on a telebelt is easy to do, and since it is mobile, provides the option to move it around the jobsite as needed. 

Moreover they are a very reliable, well-built piece of equipment.  Putzmeister, a leading manufacturer, states, “The main conveyors and feed conveyors of Telebelts are two separate hydraulic circuits.  Each has their own pumps, control valves and motors and they are hydraulically independent of each other.”  Putzmeister offers the industry’s only line of truck-mounted telescopic belt conveyors and an outrigger design that permits set-up in congested areas and on rough terrain.

Telebelts are fast and efficient with outputs up to 5 cubic yards per minute.  They are ideal for use in low clearance areas or under bridges and into limited access structures.  To give you an example of the type of reach a telebelt may have, the Putzmeister TB 130 has a horizontal reach of 126’ 6” and a maximum rated capacity of 360 cubic yards an hour.  The unit has a 360 degree hydraulic rotation and a variety of hopper options. 

Portable belts are ideal for jobs that seem to offer few options but to wheelbarrow the material by hand.  These belts are specifically designed for just such situations and are built to be linked together to transport materials in tight spots and around corners.   They are also easy to set-up and maneuver around the jobsite. 

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 Denver area.  With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget.

Eighth Tallest Buildings in the World

Our eighth skyscraper in a series of blogs regarding the tallest buildings in the world is the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  The Towers became the tallest buildings in the world in 1998 by replacing Chicago's Willis (Sears) Tower until the Taipei 101 surpassed them in 2004.  They still retain the honor of being the tallest twin towers in the world. 

Architect on the project was Cesar Pelli & Associates who designed the postmodern building to create a distinct icon that promoted Kuala Lumpur as a commercial and cultural capital for the new millennium.  Planning on the Towers started in 1992 and the buildings were officially opened in August, 1999.  Engineer on the project was Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers and contractors were Mayjus and SKJ Joint Ventures.

Both of the Petronas Towers stand at 1,483 ft. and have a massive 10.7 million sq. ft. of space.  One of the most remarkably and well-known features of the skyscrapers is a dramatic two-​story bridge on the 41st and 42^nd floors that links the two buildings together.  It is the world’s highest double-decked bridge and is intended to symbolize a gateway to the future and provide stunning views of Kuala Lumpur.

According to the Petronas website, the building of the Towers required the single largest and longest concrete pour in Malaysian history.  It took 13,200 cubic meters of concrete that was continuously poured over 54 hours for each of the towers.  By the end of the pours, each Tower had a record-breaking slab with 104 piles that formed the foundation.  

 

 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shanghai Tower - Second Tallest Building in the World

Since Conco is assisting on the construction of the Wilshire Grand Center in downtown Los Angeles, which will become the tallest building in the U.S. west of the Mississippi, we started wondering about other super tall skyscrapers.  This is our second blog post in a series of ten regarding the tallest buildings in the world. 

The second tallest building in the world will be the Shanghai Tower that is currently under construction in Shanghai, China.  It is scheduled for completion in late 2014 and opened to the public in 2015.  As one of three towers that include the adjacent Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center, it will become the centerpiece of the Lujiazui commercial district.

The Shanghai Tower stands at 2073 ft. tall and has 121 floors above ground level.  The building’s highest occupied floor will be 1841 ft. where there will also be an observatory outlook.  The building contains 106 elevators and 4,090,000 sq. ft. of space.  The Tower is designed as nine cylindrical buildings stacked on top of one another with a double-skin facade.  According to the ArchDaily, “The inner layer of the double-skin façade encloses the stacked buildings, while the exterior façade creates the building envelope, which rotates 120 degrees as it rises and gives the Shanghai Tower its distinctive, curving appearance.”

The architect on the project is the American firm, Gensler, and the design team is led by a U.S. educated Chinese architect, Jun Xia.  In a Gensler Design Update, they reported that because of clay soil conditions, the tower required the support of 1,079 concrete-and-steel bore piles driven deep into the ground.  Additionally the enormous mat foundation pour took 63 hours of continuous concrete pumping and utilized a fleet of trucks.  The building has been awarded LEEDS Gold certification.

To give you an idea of how extremely high these skyscrapers are, two Russian skywalkers recently scaled the unfinished structure with head-cameras strapped on.  The subsequent video shows panoramic views of the city far below as they climb through the clouds to reach the top!

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.

Tallest Buildings in the World

Now that Conco is doing the concrete work for the new Wilshire Grand Center that will reshape the Los Angeles skyline as the tallest building west of the Mississippi, we got curious about other “tall building.”  Throughout the world, proposed or newly constructed projects are pushing the envelope as skyscrapers get taller and taller.  We will do a series of ten blog posts describing some of that construction. 

The Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, shatters several records for not only the tallest building (by a significant amount), but also the tallest man-made structure and free-standing structure.  Previously the KVLY-TV mast in Blanchard, North Dakota had been the tallest structure, and the CN Tower in Toronto, the tallest free-standing structure. 

According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, which ranks the tallest buildings in the world, measurements are “from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building. This includes spires, but does not include antennae, signage, flagpoles or other functional-technical equipment.”  The Burj Khalifa stands at 2,716.5 ft. tall with a record 160 stories and the highest outdoor observation deck in the world.  It also wins in the category of highest continuously occupied floor and an elevator with the longest travel distance in the world. 

Construction began on the Burj Khalifa in September, 2004 and the building was formally opened in January, 2010.  The architecture and engineer for the project was Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago.  Adrian Smith was the chief architect.  The chief structural engineer was Bill Baker and the primary contractor was Samsung C&T of South Korea.

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.

 

A Few Facts on the Construction of CenturyLink Stadium

Awarded the concrete package on the new Levi Stadium, which is a joint venture between Turner Construction and Devcon Construction, we brought our previous experience on public arenas.  One of those projects was to provide ancillary concrete structures on the Seattle Seahawks stadium. The CenturyLink (previously known as Seahawks Stadium and Qwest Field) was completed in 2002. 

The architectural firm on the 1,500,000 sq. ft. stadium was Ellerbe Becket, in association with Loschky Marquardt & Nesholm Architects of Seattle.  The Construction Manager was First & Goal.  CenturyLink Stadium has a 67,000 seat capacity with an additional 5,000 seats for special events and 1,400 seats for fans with disabilities.  The facility is 70% covered by a roof and is laid-out with large concourses that easily accommodate the many concession stands and restrooms. 

An interesting fact regarding the building of the new stadium is that the Seahawk’s old Kingdome Stadium was demolished by the largest single concrete structure implosion in the U.S. and set a Guinness World Record.  The event was even covered by ESPN.  Furthermore approximately half of the concrete from the site was recycled and used for the building of the new stadium.

The project presented challenges early-on with soft soil at the site that required the engineering of over 2,200 pilings driven 50 to 70 ft. into the ground to form the base for the foundation.  The CenturyLink has one of the smallest footprints of a newly built NFL stadium but that may be due to being built only a mile from the central downtown business area.  To address the size of the site, the stadium’s upper level is cantilevered over the lower sections.

The multi-use arena is also host to the United Soccer League (USL) Seattle Sounders and the MLS expansion team Seattle Sounders FC.  The field hosted the MLS Cup in 2009 and the 2010 and 2011 finals for the U.S. Open Cup.

For over 50 years, Conco has been providing premium concrete services and is one of the most trusted concrete contractors in Seattle.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.