Concrete today is probably the most widely used construction material in the world. This is due not only to the wide range of applications that concrete offers, but also its great strength, affordability, durability, and versatility. Concrete can be cast in place into basically any desired form, which often makes it an architect's first choice, or it can be used in form of precast shapes, mostly panels, and thus not only speed up the construction process, but also ensure high quality, since precast concrete is cast and cured under most favorable conditions.
2.0 CONCRETE AT HOWE HALL.
Even though most of it will be hidden by face brick, concrete was still the material of choice for the structure of Howe Hall. The core of the building consists of reinforced concrete cast in place with EFCO formwork, and on the outside precast panels are installed to reduce the overall cost. Most of the concrete here is Type I (normal) concrete, which is the most widely used concrete in the industry, because it suits many applications. Bid package #3 (concrete) was obtained by Woodruff Construction of Fort Dodge, and their bid totaled over $3,000,000. This bid includes the overall sum Woodruff will obtain for its services, and it was to include continued construction during winter, which imposes several problems on the contractor. To obtain the desired yield strength, concrete needs to be cast under certain conditions:.
3.0 CONCRETE PLACING AND CURING.
Concrete for larger projects is usually mixed at a batch plant nearby, in this case at Manatt's, and then delivered to the project site with a certificate listing its ingredients and their proportions. When placing concrete, it should not be dropped or pushed along in the formwork too far, because its ingredients will segregate, which reduces the future strength. It also nedds to be compacted to eliminate trapped air without removing intended entrained air.
