Concrete innovation: voided biaxial slab slashes weight, saves concrete

ProHealth Care’s 76,140-sf D.N. Greenwald Center, completed earlier this year in Mukwonago, Wis., houses a medical walk-in clinic with emergency services, an ambulance garage, and an expanded imaging services unit.

The slab construction employed BubbleDeck, which precisely sets recycled plastic “void formers” that look like bowling balls in the hollow deck to displace concrete along the neutral axis. This reduced the slab’s non-axial dead load by 30% while maintaining biaxial strength, and saved 786 cubic feet of concrete on the job.

GRAEF (engineering services) completed the fabrication drawings, saving eight weeks. Other Building Team members: Eppstein Uhen Architects, Pearson Engineering (MEP), and Mortenson (CM).

Photo: GRAEF

Researchers from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, have created a concept for rechargeable batteries made of cement. The concept involves a cement-based mixture with small amounts of short carbon fibers added to increase conductivity and flexural toughness.

Canvas Drywall finishing robot on the job site

Great Solutions | Nov 22, 2021

Drywall robots take the risk out of the finishing process

Canvas is using robots to complement the work already being done by drywall professionals.

Great Solutions | Sep 23, 2021

Seattle looks to become America’s most walkable city with a new citywide wayfinding system

Seamless Seattle will support the Seattle Department of Transportation’s commitment to increase the percentage of trips made by walking to 35% by 2035.