Masonry Magazine July 1968 Page. 33
Can You Top This?
(Continued from page 16)
concrete masonry walls, plus 'pick' slabs, eliminated the need for the traditional skeletal frame for a building of this size," he explained.
Scaffolding requirements also were kept at a minimum by the unique construction system, as each floor slab became a work platform for the story above.
In commenting on the design of the building, structural engineer Harry F. Deardorf said, "The walls and floors are designed to work together, each giving strength to the other so that relatively thin walls can carry great loads."
Robert F. Higgins, Sales Engineer for Hazard Products, Inc., said, "Proof of the benefits of this type of construction come from the fact that this 13-story addition to the Catamaran Hotel needed only 5½ months from the start of site work to actual occupancy. Compare this with a 15-story reinforced concrete building now under construction in San Diego. It was started in April, 1967, and is not scheduled for occupancy until December, 1968."
TO REVIEW:
Included in this story are several unique money-making ideas that may have escaped your attention, and we review them with you, here, since we feel they have great merit.
1. Full 13 floors of grouting were done with one pump. Steel pipe used to reduce friction.
2. Concrete blocks were delivered to the job-site pallatized and labeled for the rooms and areas where they were to be used.
3. Scaffolding was kept at a minimum with the unique construction system.
4. Specially fabricated concrete blocks were produced having a strength of well over 3,000 lbs.
5. The design concept eliminated the traditional structural frame.
6. Cooperation between manufacturer, mason contractor and the general contractor produced a smooth working building team.
Townhouses and garden apartments, as shown above, now are being occupied by the first residents of Nuns' Island, the "new town in town" being developed six minutes from downtown Montreal by Metropolitan Structures, Inc. The first community of 805 units will house 3,000 pecple, and is scheduled for completion by September, 1968. The 15-year, $350 million development will provide homes for an eventual population of 50,000 people.
PCA Forms Earthquake Team
The Portland Cement Association has created a three-man stand-by team to speed the investigation of earthquake effects in urban centers.
The team will be headed by Mark Fintel, manager of PCA's Design Research Section. Other members will be W. Gene Corley, manager, Structural Development Laboratory, and Harold J. Jobse, structural engineer, Western Region. Each member will have an alternate.
"The team's mission will be to observe structural behavior of buildings in the disaster area," according to Harry N. Huntzicker, PCA president. "Information gathered by the team will help improve design of structures for seismic loads."
He said the team may be expanded to include one or two additional investigators in special situations which may arise if an earthquake produces unusual effects in an area.
Acme Brick Acquisitions
Acme Brick Company today completed negotiations for absorbing both United Cement Products Company and Born Block Company of Wichita into its corporate structure. The announcement was made jointly by Wesley H. Sowers, Board Chairman and Bob Vickery, Division Vice President of Acme Brick Company: Max H. Miller, President of United Cement Products Company and Harold J. Born, president of Born Block Company. Vickery states that the acquisition will enable Acme Brick Company to provide a much more complete line of quality masonry products to its customers in Wichita and the surrounding area. Both United Cement Products Company and Born Block Company manufacture and sell concrete masonry units. In addition, United manufactures Spectra-Glaze glazed concrete masonry units, prestressed & precast concrete units and distributes other masonry supplies and materials.
The Acme Brick Company is the nation's largest producer of brick. Since 1891 the company has grown to an operation of twenty plants in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Its Midwestern Division now has plants at Kanopolis, Weir and Harrisonville, Missouri. The Division maintains offices in Wichita, Topeka, Great Bend, Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri. This acquisition supports a diversification program which introduces Acme's entry into the field of prestressed concrete products according to Sowers.
Joe Morris is the District Sales Manager of Acme Brick's Wichita territory with an office at 135 North Elizabeth.