NRMCA’s Lionel Lemay discussed performance-based specifications and other sustainability initiatives of the concrete industry, including Green-Star and Sustainable Concrete Plant certification programs, at two key events in San Francisco last week. More than 50 architects and engineers attended a joint event of the San Francisco chapters of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (AIA COTE) and the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) on the evening of July 10. Lemay’s presentation focused on specifying concrete for high performance and sustainability. On July 11, Lemay presented on a similar topic to more than 40 structural engineers at the structural engineering firm of Rutherford and Chekene Consulting Engineers.

 

San Francisco is a hotbed of construction activity and engineers and architects in that market are keenly aware of the sustainability movement and the trend toward performance specifications. Engineers and architects are constantly working to move their specifications toward performance-oriented requirements but struggle with complex and relatively expensive testing requirements. In addition, additional requirements that focus on sustainability and green building often conflict with other performance requirements. Lemay’s presentations attempted to clarify options to address both high performance and sustainability.