Lucus Oil Stadium uses carbon fiber reinforced precast, named "project of year"

The new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis -- home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts -- -- features an insulated, brick-inlay architectural facade with CarbonCast® Insulated Wall Panels provided by AltusGroup members Gate Precast and High Concrete Group LLC. Midwest Construction magazine named Lucas Oil Stadium its 2008 Project of the Year.

The project required nearly 400,000 sq. ft. of limestone-finished architectural precast featuring blasted accents and embedded brick. With C-GRID® shear grid reinforcement connecting the interior and exterior concrete wythes, the 8” thick 3-2-3 CarbonCast Insulated Wall Panels will maximize energy efficiency and reduce the possibility of condensation and mold. Because the carbon fiber shear trusses used to connect the panel wythes have relatively low thermal conductivity, the panels provide an even insulation profile; they do not have problems with hot spots or cold spots that can plague other wythe connection options.

Precast concrete - CarbonCast in exteriors feature

Commercial Building Products has featured CarbonCast technology in its December 2008 coverage of exteriors. Additionally, AltusGroup innovation partner Essroc had its Tx Active photocatalytic cement covered in the same issue.

Magazine recognizes AltusGroup as leader in concrete industry

The Concrete Producer has profiled AltusGroup as one of its yearly "People who matter" in an article section entitled "Industry Influencers have one thing in common: change for the better." Managing Editor Tom Bagsarian recognizes AltusGroup's progress in expediting the product design and commercialization process:

What's even more impressive about this effort is that the group has cut implementation time in half. Many concrete industry experts suggest that a good idea takes at least 12 years to gain any market share. But in less than three years after incorporating, AltusGroup sold more than 6 million square feet of product on more than 60 projects in 16 states.

CarbonCast makes Arch Record 2008 product list - concrete category

A jury of architectural professionals has selected CarbonCast Double Tees as one of the year's most remarkable building products in Architectural Record's Product Reports 2008. CarbonCast is only one of five products to be recognized in the "Concrete and Masonry" category.

CarbonCast Double Tees replace conventional welded wire mesh in the flange (deck) with carbon fiber grid, eliminating the potential for corrosion. The use of non-corrosive carbon fiber allows AltusGroup precasters to use less concrete cover above the reinforcement, which leads to reductions in weight, embedded energy and shipping costs, among other benefits.

Carbon fiber reinforced precast recognized by Architect magazine

Citing its “potential for revolutionizing the use of concrete,” Architect magazine has named CarbonCast a citation-winner in its annual juried R+D Awards. The September 2008 issue of the magazine places CarbonCast alongside other remarkable building products that “demonstrate that architectural technology is alive and well – and evolving in remarkable ways.” Read Katie Gerfen's article.

Reducing CO2 of cement

An excellent article in today's Christian Science Monitor explores how the cement industry is looking for ways to reduce its CO2 emissions. The article explains that "the manufacture of cement is relatively efficient when compared with other building materials, such as steel and wood." It's impact with CO2 stems from its widespread use as a building material.

AltusGroup Innovation Partner Essroc Italcemente is mentioned favorably in the article for its remarkable TX Active technology, which effectively destroys airborne pollutants that are responsible for urban organic pollution.

Of course, because CarbonCast precast products can reduce the amount of concrete needed, they also lower the amount of cement required, hence lowering the product's carbon footprint.

Insulfoam joins AltusGroup as Innovation Partner

InsulFoam, a leading manufacturer of molded expanded polystyrene, has joined AltusGroup as an Innovation Partner. AltusGroup Innovation Partners contribute their technical expertise and marketing strength toward the advancement of CarbonCast® technology made using C-GRID® carbon fiber grid reinforcement.

InsulFoam is the largest United States producer of block molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) manufactured under the InsulFoam® and R-Tech® brands for roofing insulation, precast wall systems, wall and sheathing systems, OEM ga¬rage door manufacturers, foundation and slab insulation, Geofoam applications and numerous other building and construction applications. InsulFoam also offers design and engineering capabilities to its customers

Read the entire news release.

BD+C: CarbonCast "rocks your next concrete project"

An article in the January 2008 issue of Building Design & Construction highlights CarbonCast as one of "eight innovations that will rock your next concrete project." The article, which interviews author-architect Blaine Brownell, discusses the lighter weight and durability benefits of CarbonCast products.