Award

A PR IL 2018 | 15 Precast Concrete an agreement made last year between AltusGroup and Graphic Concrete Ltd.-Finland whereby AltusGroup would be Graphic's exclusive partner for its image concrete membrane technology for the North American market. "What that does is two- fold, first, this allows us to provide more building envelope solutions, and secondly it allows Graphic Concrete to enter the North American market with major players. Plus, image concrete goes hand-in- hand with our ARCIS rainscreen system in that it provides customized design options. We've already completed the first of several projects and are embarking on an intensive marketing strategy to tout the benefits of imaged concrete." For the uninitiated, Graphic Concrete is a pat- ented technology that has been used extensively around the world. The technology transfers stock or custom patterns as a surface retarder via a mem- brane placed at the bottom of the form. Concrete is cast on top of the membrane, and after it is cured and extracted from the form the retarder is washed away, revealing an image that results from the contrast between the fair faced and the exposed aggre- gate surface. Selection of various aggregates and pigments can expand the graphic appeal of the fin- ished surface. Additional full width panel images are possible. The professionals at Armtec note that in light of the evolution of green building stan- dards and practices over the past few decades, it's somewhat puzzling why barriers surround- ing these buildings are still being constructed in old-fashioned ways. Much of the focus of sustainable construction has been on green buildings, but there's opportunity to reduce energy and raw materials that go into the infrastructure that surround the buildings. Public opinion and building owner developers' opinion play an important role in sound barrier walls. In new infrastructure projects by government, they need to demand better sound quality, and also stress that the infrastructure is made to last and live up to the same green standards as the green buildings. Armtec can help by providing Durisol Precast Soundwalls, a sound absorbing post and panel pre- cast soundwall system. The Soundwalls come in a range of textures and designs, are lightweight, and noise absorptive on both sides. As for green stan- dards, the Soundwalls are made of a proprietary material consisting of specially grade wood particles (80 percent recycled wood) bonded with cement. Durisol was one of the first green and healthy materials installed on Ontario highways, and it is also a healthy material, being non-flammable and non- toxic (in fact, it is used as a fire barrier in residential and industrial applications). Plus, Durisol's amazing durability stems from the material being freeze-thaw resistant (it does not crack), rot-proof, mildew-proof, and fungus-proof. Another notable – perhaps even groundbreak- ing – innovation in the precast realm has been acknowledged in Navigant Energy Efficient Building Global's recent outlook report. Among key market players, it cites Jack Laken, president of Termobuild Canada, who has introduced "smart" concrete to the so-called "smart city" marketplace. This system of smart floors linked with small off-the-shelf HVAC equipment produces a sustainable and high-perfor- mance building solution. Laken says, "We use precast hollowcore concrete slabs intended for flooring to extract additional value and benefits in the 'building as a rechargeable battery.' New functionality gives the ability to store and distrib- ute heating and cooling in any climate on demand." Fan-assisted ventilation pushes fresh air through a series of main ducts that are fed into smaller branch ducts, strategically placed within the larger hol- lowcore slab structure. As the air passes through the ducts, the concrete warms or cools the fresh air before supplying it to the occupied space. "I liken the system to a silent sentinel that uses a significantly reduced quantity of building materials and costs the same or less to construct than conventional systems," says Laken. In many cases, architectural designs already have the right infrastructure in place for Termobuild to activate dormant concrete floors as thermal energy storage, radiant heating and cooling panels. "We recently completed a school project in Ontario, an office and training centre in Chennai, India, and have helped create five net-positive schools in South Carolina," says Laken, adding that more projects are pending, including a medical building and a place of worship. "The thing to keep in mind is that 20 percent of a build- ing's performance depends on the way the building is constructed; 80 percent depends on the way it is oper- ated, and Termobuild helps owners get as close to that 80 percent potential as possible." This solution drives both energy and financial efficiency, while protecting the environment. Laken adds that "smart" floors with embedded learning of artificial intelligence are ready for the next frontier of intelligent buildings. If there is an all-encompassing trend in building design at a time when real estate costs are sky-high, it is creating the maximum amount of space to capi- talize on investment and ensure occupancy comfort. And that's where another innovation, courtesy of Peikko Group, comes in. Peikko, which supplies con- crete connections and composite beams for precast and cast-in-place construction in a wide variety of applications, makes thin floors for multi-storey build- ings possible thanks to the composite Deltabeam. Deltabeam essentially combines steel frames with precast floor panels that are filled with concrete upon installation, allowing for the creation of open space even with architecturally demanding shapes. With this system, a 12,000-square-foot floor can be constructed every four days on site with only five workers, making it the ideal alternative to post ten- sion techniques. Graphic Concrete from AltusGroup. "Smart" hollowcore concrete floors from Termobuild Canada. Durisol Precast Soundwalls from Armtec.

• Cover