Concrete News

Parking structures provide a necessary convenience for many different types of facilities, from schools and hospitals to airports and shopping malls.  With SUVs and pick-up trucks grabbing a record 70 percent of the U.S. automobile market in 2019, it is key that these parking solutions are built stronger and more durable than ever.  Along with durability, they must also be attractive and require minimal maintenance.  Lastly, these parking solutions need to provide ample space for people to get in and out of their vehicles easily.  In this blog, we will explore two different concrete building options that can meet the goals of today’s parking structures. 

The Chicago housing landscape is expanding, and residential high rises are a key component of it.  The city ranks third in the nation for the number of residential high rises and second for skyscrapers with 40 plus floors.  However, this is a relatively new trend for Chicago.  During the 1990s only 24 percent of the city’s residential buildings were classified as high-rises. This growing trend has been made possible by many members of the Northern Illinois Concrete Contractors.

North Shore Roadways Receive a Facelift

Concrete is one of the most durable and sturdy construction materials available, making it a key component of today’s transportation infrastructure.  It is used to build subways, runways, city streets, and highways. With its many benefits, concrete is used in new pavement projects as well as those involving existing transportation infrastructure in need of a facelift.   

Concrete Strong:  The Answer to Industrial Construction 

Industrial buildings can serve many different purposes.  They can house heavy or light manufacturing. With the explosive growth of e-commerce, many are used as warehouses or distribution centers.  And, as more and more data is consumed daily, many industrial buildings are being built as data centers and as storage facilities for telecom equipment.  No matter what an industrial building’s purpose is, concrete is a key material that is used throughout it. Concrete provides a host of advantages that other materials cannot.  

Schools Achieve High Marks with Concrete

Next generation schools are incorporating different technologies and materials such as digital lighting and glass as sturdy as walls.  However, whether a school is being newly built or simply being renovated and/or expanded to keep up with other facilities, concrete is still the building material of choice.  This construction staple offers many benefits, which staff and students enjoy, and the surrounding community appreciates. 

Just What the Doctor Ordered:  Concrete Flooring

Concrete has become the flooring standard of choice in all types of medical facilities, from hospitals and rehabilitation centers to dental offices and medical clinics.  It is not only being used in new construction, but it is also popular in remodels, often replacing vinyl tile installed in the 1960s or even earlier. Concrete flooring offers a multitude of benefits for demanding healthcare environments. 

Today’s stadiums are mega complexes with not only fan seating, but also with restaurants, shops, lounges and VIP clubs.  And, fans can enjoy these many amenities along with private suites on the stadium’s concourse level or sometimes right in the front row, allowing close proximity to all the action.  In order to support the tens of thousands of fans who converge on these major venues for games, concerts or special events, concrete is a construction must. This powerful material not only provides superior strength and better fire resistance, but it also offers maximum durability, enabling it to stand up to nature’s elements and the millions of fans over time.  Besides being used for a stadium’s foundation, it is also instrumental throughout, comprising wall panels, columns, stairs and more. And, concrete is key in the construction of the very important parking garages often adjacent to stadiums.