Metro Testing Laboratories Ltd. -MTL- was asked by Task Construction Management to carry out a series of high flyash replacement concrete mixture designs for use on the Whistler Convention Centre. The owners of the building wanted the project to qualify as a “green” project. To this end MTL carried out tests to determine the compressive strength gain setting time and bleeding characteristics of a series of high-volume flyash concrete mixtures. The flyash contents investigated ranged from about 30% to 60% flyash by mass of total cementing materials. The mixtures were designed for a Class N exposure condition ie. interior concrete not exposed to moisture chlorides or freezing and thawing in service. A small amount of entrained air was added to most of the mixtures to provide additional plasticity to the mixtures and reduce bleeding.

Case Study Report Author: Metro Materials Testing and Engineering Services

This report details the first time use of EcoSmart concrete by the project team members in renovating the Whistler Conference Centre a concrete building located in Whistler British Columbia. The re-construction included the use of EcoSmart concrete in slab on grade at the 35% cement replacement level increasing to 40%replacement level in suspended slab once the project team gained more confidence in working with EcoSmart concrete. The Conference Centre project is registered with LEED™ -in Energy and Environmental Design- and the team’s goal was to achieve a “Gold” certified status for the project. High on the priority list was to reconstruct the building with as many types of materials that were either salvaged from other areas or building products that contained a high recycled content of materials recovered from consumer or industrial waste streams. Initial concerns with using EcoSmart concrete included cool construction temperatures permeability of the concrete in vertical elements and pumpability and workability of the concrete in slabs. Overall the team’s experience with EcoSmart concrete was very positive and project members were pleased with the concrete’s strength development workability finishability appearance and cost.

Case Study Report Author: Susan Hildebrand