Conco Now: News & Updates | The Conco Companies

Construction markets have heated up to levels not experienced for many years. In fact, in every market we do business in, The Conco Companies expect construction activity to be greater in 2017 than it was in 2016.

In Northern California, the increased business activity has been compressed over a shorter construction season due to the unprecedented amount of rain the area experienced during the first half of the year. This forced some projects to be pushed back while other jobs continued to be added to the backlog causing difficulties throughout the entire construction supply chain. As the rubber band is being stretched, structural challenges are being exposed that are not easily remedied.

Labor

Shortages of qualified workers are rampant throughout the industry. Many people do not perceive construction to be a glamorous or lucrative profession, which has greatly limited the pool of people drawn to the industry. This starts with the truck drivers that haul materials such as steel, aggregates, cement and ready-mixed concrete. Concrete producers tell us about trucks parked with no qualified drivers available or running out of raw materials due to a shortage of material haulers. The amount of people drawn to the trucking industry has dropped while the logistics created by an online shopping economy has increased the need for these valued professionals. As companies such as Amazon and Walmart are able to offer steadier work than the construction industry, the pool of qualified drivers is shrinking, making it increasingly difficult to attract drivers.

In addition to drivers, there is an industry-wide shortage of qualified cement masons, carpenters and ironworkers. As seasoned, experienced tradespeople retire, we have not been able to replace these folks at the levels required, and once again, must learn how to attract talent to our great industry.

Materials

Another problem involves the fact that the raw materials used to produce concrete are no longer in abundant supply. Twenty years ago, virtually all materials were produced locally. Now, all fly ash is railed in from coal-burning power plants outside of California, slag comes from Japan, and cement is imported from countries such as China and Korea. Even 30% of the aggregates used in concrete in the Bay Area are imported from British Columbia. Achieving a steady supply of concrete now not only depends on local trucks but on the railroads and international deep-water ships. Furthermore, the issue of raw material availability will most likely worsen in the future. Some examples of the dilemma are:

Only one cement plant remains in operation in the Bay Area. This plant is under environmental pressure initiated by some members of its neighboring community who perceive the plant’s operation to be incompatible with the cities that have developed around it. This opposition is occurring even though the cement plant has been in existence for more than 100 years.
Local reserves continue to be depleted and no replacement reserves are being added. The problem is further increased by the high cost of land combined with environmental opposition resulting in lengthy land approval delays. The time to permit a new deposit has been extended to an average of 7 – 10 years with no guarantee of success. In all three of Conco’s major markets (Northern California, Southern California and Seattle), the same scenario is playing out which begs the question: Where will aggregates come from in the future?
Fly ash is a by-product of coal-burning power plants, and because the use of coal is being phased out for power plants, the availability of fly ash will shrink. Studies are currently being done to determine the feasibility of replacing fly ash generated from power plants with natural pozzolans. The replacement will inevitably transpire when the economics of doing so makes it a viable option.

Our industry and our economy depend on quality people and quality raw materials. At this point, both are in short supply. We must ask ourselves if this is just a result of an overheated construction market or a glimpse into what we can expect in the foreseeable future.

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The Conco Companies recently embarked on another challenging project in Southern CA. This time we are providing a full range of concrete services for the Midfield Satellite Concourse North and the Baggage Optimization Project (BOP) that are part of a new addition to LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).

Rendering of the Midfield Satellite Concourse (image credit: LAXisHappening.com)

When complete, the Concourse will offer 12 new aircraft gates as well as restrooms, retail and concession spaces and will be connected to the TBIT by a 1,000-foot-long pedestrian tunnel with moving walkways and a utility tunnel. The project also includes 1.5 million square feet of new aircraft apron and taxiways/taxilanes along with underground utility improvements to support the new gates and baggage processing capacity.

The $1.6 billion project is funded by LAX operating revenues, fees and other proceeds. The General Contractor, Turner/PCL Joint Venture, was awarded the design/build contract. It is also designed by Corgan Architects in association with Gensler and gkkworks. Structural engineers are Saiful-Bouquet and Buehler & Buehler.

The scope of Conco’s responsibilities for the new five-level Concourse and BOP includes concrete pumping, reinforcement, and formwork. In addition we will provide the project’s outlying areas with concrete reinforcement, formwork and shotcrete services. On the extensive tunnels, our crews will expertly handle the concrete finishing. During the course of the project, Conco will also offer design assistance to help ensure the best finished product.

As the large work area encompasses 640-acres, some of it is on or adjacent to active runways and other occupied areas. Couple that with varying soil conditions, obvious security concerns, traffic, work time restrictions, concerns for local residents, and adhering to our number one priority – safety; it is a challenging project! Just like any design/build, a lot of coordination is needed among all trade partners, and we are excited to be part of such a great team. Also most design/build projects require lots of modifications and this project looks to be no different.

Conco is honored to be a part of a project that along with other planned improvements to the airport will have a dramatic impact on LAX and the 74 million travelers that pass through the facility each year. The Midfield Satellite Concourse terminal is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification and to meet the CAL Green Tier 1 requirements with sustainable features such as a “cool roof,” water-saving fixtures, and energy-saving operations. The project broke ground February 27, 2017 and is scheduled for completion sometime in 2019.

The Conco Companies is a leading supplier of concrete services throughout the Western U.S. We started in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products and are now one of the foremost concrete contractors in the region. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, industrial and public works projects as well as parking structures.

Midfield Satellite Concourse Update - The Conco Companies

Midfield Satellite Concourse Update - The Conco Companies 2

The Conco Companies is pleased to announce that we have recently opened a new office in Portland, OR. For many years, we have provided service to the Portland area from our facilities in Kent, WA. Our newest location will allow us to better service the Portland market and the growing number of projects for which we provide concrete services.

Conco is currently working on several large projects around the city including two mixed-use high-rises, the Modera Glisan and 14th & Glisan. By establishing a full-time presence in Portland, Conco looks forward to forging new relationships for future projects.

14th_Glisan_Image from NextPortland - Conco Companies — Rendering of 14th & Glisan (image from NextPortland)

Conco brings a full range of premium concrete services to the Portland area including formwork, place and finish, rebar, shotcrete and pumping, as well as a highly experienced team.

To learn more about how we may assist you on your next project, please contact us at:

The Conco Companies
838 SW 1^st Avenue Suite 400
Portland, OR 97204
(971) 808-5954
www.conconow.com

The Conco Companies is providing a full range of concrete services on a 12-story, 145-foot tall mixed-use building in Portland, OR. The Modera Glisan will offer 291 residential units on the upper floors and retail and commercial space at ground level that will face all four adjacent streets. In addition, the Modera Glisan will have an underground parking garage with an estimated 223 parking spots as well as long-term parking for 445 bicycles. Materials for the exterior will include granite colored brick, a metal panel in two colors, an aluminum storefront, and glass balcony railings.

The project is being developed by the Mill Creek Resident Trust Company and the G.C. is MCRT PNW Construction, LLC. The architect is SERA Design and Architecture, Inc. and KPFF is the structural engineer.

Conco’s duties will include concrete pumping, reinforcement, formwork, finishing, shotcrete, and formwork. As the job requires an aggressive schedule, we will need to use multiple placing booms.

In addition to the Modera Glisan, Conco has just started another high-rise project directly across the street called 14^th & Glisan that is being developed by the Holland Partner Group. We are extremely pleased to have secured two such high profile projects in the area as we just officially opened our Portland office in April of this year. Also, this will be our first turn-key project with a new client.

The project site encompasses three-quarters of the block of NW Glisan St., 14th Ave, Hoyt St. and 15th. The L-shaped Modera Glisan will wrap around the historic Fire Station #3, which will remain on the site and be extensively renovated including seismic upgrades. Along Hoyt St, the building will be the full 12-stories high but drop to 10 stories along 14^th to blend in with the nearby Historic District. The high-rise will also offer an exterior terrace on top of the 10^th story that includes a pool, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, and hammocks. At the 12 floor, there will be a common room as well and another terrace.

At The Conco Companies, we are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

modera-glisan_wide-angle - The Conco Companies

modera-glisan_closeup-on-glisan - The Conco Companies

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The Conco Companies is providing concrete services for a 972,782 sq. ft. residential project that is a part of the Esterra Park development in the City of Redmond, WA. Building “A” will be six stories and comprised of 215 residential units. Building “B/C” is actually two buildings that are connected by enclosed walkways and an amenities area that overlooks the development’s park. Building B will be six stories and offer 236 residential units, and C, 8 stories with 210 units. The project also includes an underground parking garage with 854 parking stalls.

The developer on the project is the Lincoln Property Company and the General Contractor is Venture GC. The architect is the Clark Design Group PLLC and the structural engineer is Yu & Trochalakis PLLC. According to the architect, each building is designed to take full advantage of the hillside topography and maximize views. In addition, the buildings offer good solar exposure as well as optimal plaza and courtyard widths and allow for excellent landscape opportunities.

Conco’s full range of responsibilities on the project includes concrete pumping, reinforcement, formwork, shotcrete, and finishing. We were selected for the job not only for our competitive bid but also for our extensive experience on large, challenging projects and the ability and resources to successfully manage an aggressive schedule. We started work in July 2017 and we expect to take approximately 15 months to complete our end. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by February 2019.

Along with residential housing, the Esterra Park development will offer 1.2 million square feet of office space and a 250-room hotel with both overnight and extended stay accommodations. Residents and workers alike will be able to walk a few short blocks to the Overlake Fashion Plaza and Overlake Plaza that offer a variety of retail shopping and restaurants. Also, the development offers easy access to public transportation along with high-quality rail transit to and from Esterra Park that will be available by 2023.

The Conco Companies is one of the foremost suppliers of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in 1959 in the Bay Area by offering clients the best value on a broad range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, and Washington.