Roundtable Promotes Use of Concrete Products in Construction Market

CRYSTAL CITY, Va. – Build with Strength, a coalition of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, chose Washington, D.C. to host the first of a series of roundtable discussions with the design/build community designed to highlight the strength and durability of concrete construction in the low- to mid-rise building sector, and in general.

The panel was part of the International Concrete Sustainability Conference and featured experts from the design, construction and safety communities including Eric Coleman, development coordinator of EYC Companies; Randy Kirchain, principal research scientist at MIT; Jon Narva, director of external relations for the National Association of State Fire Marshalls and Chris Drew, director of sustainability at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gil.

“In many instances, especially during construction, wood frame buildings are more susceptible and vulnerable to fire damage than similar concrete structures” said Narva. “Because of this, first responders approach fires in these structures differently than they would a less vulnerable concrete structure.”

“The nature of concrete in construction offers advantages beyond strength and durability,” said Coleman. “Concrete’s composition and mass means heat moves more slowly through the material, keeping buildings warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This energy efficiency translates directly into cost savings over the long term.”

For more information, visit www.buildwithstrength.com.