: Ductal

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Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:41:13 GMT

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Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:41:02 GMT

Brise soleil in Ductal® in Dozulé toll area

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:57:22 GMT

Brise soleil in Ductal® in Dozulé toll area

Architects: Agence Carbonnet Architectes

Ductal® brise soleil at French ministry of Agriculture

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:00:29 GMT

Ductal® brise soleil at French ministry of Agriculture.

Keldi Architectes

Maison des Centraliens, walls in Ductal®

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:40:10 GMT

Flower pots and benches in Ductal® at "Le Millénaire" shopping mall

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:50:23 GMT

Test

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:14:46 GMT

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:44:46 GMT

Perforated façades in Ductal® for Plescop City Hall

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:18:08 GMT

Perforated façades in Ductal® for Plescop City Hall

ZAC Paris Rive Gauche (France) : Mineral leaf decor for a vertical landscape l

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:25:33 GMT

As part of the renovation of the Paris Rive Gauche ZAC (integrated development zone), the architects Badia-Berger designed several housing blocks that attract the attention of passers-by: a green trailing vine climbs up the facades to create an astonishing vertical landscape.

"For this project which is adjacent to prestigious buildings such as the National Library or the Paris Val de Seine School of Architecture, we wanted something timeless, that went further than a living plant wall," explains Marie-Hélène Badia. "It seemed unsuitable to plant lots of plants at a huge cost. Finding our own way of working the vegetation theme into an architectural project seemed to make more sense to us and represented a part of the challenge that really interested us. For the project owners, Opac and Semapa, the finish had to be homogenous." The fineness and light weight of Ductal® made it the most suitable material to produce the panels that were arranged on 3 sides of the building up to the 8^th floor.

Each of the 44 perforated panels is 6.60 m high and 2.30 m wide.

"The panels are not just decorative, they are also intended to be supports for vegetation. It was therefore important that they be made of a mineral material to enable plants to fasten on correctly."

However, as each 15 m² panel was actually only 50% material and 50% empty space, producing such forms in reinforced concrete would have been simply impossible. A single mold with complex forms was built, with thicknesses ranging from 7 to 9 cm in order to pour the 44 pieces. Ductal®'s lightness was a determining factor in this project. Each piece weighs 1.8 metric tons and once fixed to the balcony rails, they do not exceed the weight limitations specified for the job. The panels were designed by Elisabeth Guilhem, a painter whose work on vegetation themes blend imagination with representation.

Concrete Deco Table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:20:55 GMT

The table top is blue and thin while its feet are orange and solid; a unique, contrasting design that enhances both the smooth and rough aspects of the material. The smooth side reflects the inside of the mold and the rough aspect was produced by the section outside the mold which was covered with a polythene film. Behind, a picture was created with three different colors of Ductal® and sponges.
Ocean desk, dimensions 140 x 70 cm.
Concrete Touch.

Blending materials that work well together

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:45:26 GMT

For the table top, Ductal® was used for its resistant qualities and workability. For the feet, metal was preferred, but the designer, Gilles Cazenave could have also used wood or stainless steel, as he prefers to blend fibrous concrete with other rough or sturdy materials.

L 140 x l 80 cm.

Atelier Katze.

Edo table: a table like a jewel

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:40:25 GMT

This spectacular table with a top made of extremely thin Ductal® received a 2009 Design Observer award. Featuring optical fibers, its elegance is accentuated by the contrast between the subtle light patterns and the deep black of the material.

Design by Frédéric Gaunet.

Topos Environnement.

T Steel 2 table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:37:08 GMT

TSteel 2 was created by blending metal and mineral, or polished steel and Ductal®. Its design allows large-dimension creations in a post-industrial style. The base is entirely hand-polished.

Model shown: 280 x 140 cm

Atelier Taporo

WISHBONE Table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:24:54 GMT

Table top and base made of Ductal®.

A TAPORO creation.

Model shown: 200 x 100 cm

Hydra table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:10:03 GMT

"Round and light" describe this streamlined table, conceived by Alix de Dives for TAPORO.

The teardrop style feet and scalloped edge of the Hydra table (made of Ductal®) are reminiscent of another time.

Model shown: 180 x 90 cm

the « Prouvé » table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:05:02 GMT

The Prouvé was created by TAPORO as a homage to the architect Jean Prouvé.

The design and structure of the base are directly inspired by the frame of the "tropical house" and by the feet of the "Standard" chair. Table top and base made of Ductal®.

Model shown: Diameter 140 cm

Atelier Taporo

Table T Steel 2 Outdoor

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:56:50 GMT

La TSteel2 Outdoor est réalisée Ductal® (pour le plateau) et en acier inoxydable brossé ce qui permet son utilisation à l'extérieur tout au long de l'année. Des roulettes peuvent être intégrées dans le piètement pour en faciliter le déplacement.

Modèle présenté : 250 x 110 cm

Atelier Taporo

Atalante table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:46:10 GMT

An Art Deco touch for this Ductal® table with a double base that is one single piece... by TAPORO.

Model shown: 280 x 110 cm

Kub Lak table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:26:56 GMT

The Ductal® table top is attached to a lacquered steel base, establishing a contrast between materials to give this table a specific, refined elegance.

Model shown: 220 cm x 100 cm

Atelier TAPORO

Absolut table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:19:23 GMT

This Ductal® table with bare, utilitarian lines has a dual, solid base that shows off the material's unique combination of properties as well as its mineral aspect.

A TAPORO creation.

Model shown: 280 x 105 cm

Oxygen Kub table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:15:17 GMT

The Oxygen Kub table made of Ductal® features a central inserted section that allows you to display a plant/flowers or other decorative creation of your own. A central plate that covers the insert (if you don't use it) can be made in a contrasting color or with a specific finish.

Model shown: 250 x 105 cm

Atelier TAPORO

Moon 6 table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:11:44 GMT

The "Moon 6" table has a base that is inserted into the table top. Made entirely of Ductal®, it can fit nicely into a contemporary or vintage interior design environment.

The feet (or base) can be produced in tone on tone or with a contrasting finish, to create a singular dynamic for this Taporo creation.

Model shown: 220 x 100 cm

KUB Painted table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:03:28 GMT

This beautiful dining room table had pigments sprinkled in arcs over the top of its surface while drying, resulting in a highly mineral aspect to this special creation. Table top and base, produced separately, are both made of Ductal®,.

Model shown: 180 x 190 cm

Atelier Taporo

KUB table

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:54:08 GMT

A simple table top for a basic cubic table design. Its Ductal® base is hollow to allow light to pass through and was cast in just one piece.

Model shown: 280 cm x 120 cm

Atelier Taporo

SPACE KUB

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:47:34 GMT

This table has a thin, white surface that appears to be floating; its slimness accentuated by the imposing anthracite-colored base surrounding it. The softness of the table top provides a nice contrast against the heavier look of the base.

Model shown: 130 x 80 cm

Atelier Taporo

UBIQ3 table: Simple, streamlined design

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:38:15 GMT

Simple, streamlined design. The Ductal® legs are attached to the ends of the table top. Legs can also be produced in a contrasting color in order to accentuate how the table top is framed and highlight its streamlined design.

Model shown: 120 x 60 cm

Atelier Taporo

SQKub : Optical Illusions

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:36:07 GMT

This robust Ductal® coffee table, designed by Philippe Tissot, has a special design feature: its thick surface is actually attached to the underside of the supports - presenting an interesting illusional effect, due to its orthogonal symmetry.

This highly original piece has a textured, ultra-shiny imitation crocodile finish.

Its smooth, symmetrical legs compliment the refined texture of the imposing table top.

Model shown: 120 x 80 cm

Atelier Taporo

Manhattan table: 6 Cubes made of Ductal®

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:31:51 GMT

Each creation is different in terms of finish, color and dimensions, thereby creating dynamics that are specific to each of them. The table also exists in a fireplace version, as one of its elements features a bio-ethanol burner.

Model shown: 6 cubes 45 x 45 cm

Taporo.

CTZen table

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:08:40 GMT

The CTZen table presents an interesting contrast in design with its robust surface that appears to be floating. The colors evoke stone and metal.

Atelier Taporo

Model shown: 1 m x 1.50 m

Concrete console

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:53:38 GMT

Ductal® and steel console

Dimensions : 180 x 33 cm

Atelier Taporo

Perfect lines, smooth as a polished stone

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:48:12 GMT

This entertainment table, at 180 cm wide, is a nice, sleek, simple design with long lines that is sure to compliment almost any decor. Pierre Cazenave likes working with this material, which allows him to produce extremely slim creations.

L 40 x H 50 cm.

Katze.

Heavily metal: Narrow base

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:43:23 GMT

It's hard to believe that this ultra-thin console table is made of concrete. In fact it is made with Ductal, which designer Gilles Cazenave has "fallen in love with" as a result of his quest for high quality, moldable materials.

L 150 x l 40 x H 90 cm.

Console by Katze.

Set of cubes: balancing act

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:31:24 GMT

These randomly-positioned cubes, made with lacquered Ductal®, are carefully balanced and provide a fun, colorful and unique shelving unit.

L 190 x H 95 cm.

Limited edition.

Obsessions.

Atelier Taporo.

Credits photo: Taporo

Moon bookshelves

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:21:37 GMT

« Moon » bookshelves created entirely in Ductal® by Atelier Taporo.

Filiform: Suspended

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:48:03 GMT

This lightweight, suspended staircase was made of Ductal® and, hung from wires, it appears to be floating. Situated in the middle of a large area, it could not be attached to a wall.

For Conjugaison Création et Agencement.

Light cantilevers

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:46:21 GMT

This staircase features fifteen independent steps. Made of Ductal®, the black tinted steps have a silky, satin aspect and are directly anchored into the wall. Designed by Marc Calame.

Form.c.

Patterned panels

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:52:45 GMT

Smooth or textured, matt or high gloss, Ductal® offers an infinite palette of finishes and colors, as seen in these pieces by Taporo, which replicate complicated damask patterns, crocodile skin and many others. This high-tech material is ideal for a vast range of attractive decorative elements for exterior and interior use.

Comment: suggest we avoid specifying where Ductal decorative pieces should be placed. Also - color reaction to extended sun exposure not yet proven.

Embossed Panels

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:46:44 GMT

One of Ductal's remarkable qualities, the ability to reproduce imprints and copy forms, is exploited by designers Taporo in their creations. Ductal® performs wonders in their 3D forms, allowing total freedom of expression through innovative molding and de-molding techniques.

Vertical Green: A living wall

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:05:20 GMT

This Ductal® "living wall" (200 high x 150 long x 20 cm deep) is a unique, fully independent, standalone unit for interior or exterior use. An irrigation and water pump system with a programmable timer feeds the plants growing in the wall. These modules are also available in customized versions, with pot depths of 12.5 cm.

Il Cantiere.

Decoration: Varying thicknesses

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:09:46 GMT

This shelving arrangement was attached to an existing Ductal wall, made of 15 mm-thick panels. Notice the different color shades and varying relief pattern on the panels. This composition is by Gigi Rossi, who has been working extensively with Ductal® since 2004.

Varying dimensions: 60 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm, 80 x 80 cm and 120 x 120 cm.

Future archaeology.

Il Cantiere.

A second skin: line effect

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:05:09 GMT

Finely-structured, vertically grooved, large Ductal® panels (120 x 60 cm and just 15 mm thick) are laid vertically; the wall comes alive under light and supports the delicate flight of the stairs attached.

Design by Gigi Rossi.

Kappa 24.

Il Cantiere.

Photo medium: Artistic

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:55:15 GMT

Ductal® is used as a medium for silver film photographs. The work is done in a dark room, which enables an amazing replication of the original image. The only restriction is that panel sizes may not exceed 80 x 80 cm but, by positioning the panels correctly, it is possible to create a huge wall display of just one photo.
Created by Marie-Françoise Rouy.

Mineral aspect and metal imprint slabs

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:33:47 GMT

Ductal® can be molded to produce a mineral, raw concrete aspect, rocky or metallic finishes. The colors and other materials such as bronze, copper or glass can be blended into the matrix and result in a unique surface finish that demonstrates Ductal®'s impressive imitative qualities, as presented here - by Taporo.

Mineral aspect and metal imprint panels

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:33:15 GMT

Ductal® can be mixed to produce a mineral, raw concrete aspect, rocky or metallic finishes. The colors other materials such as bronze, copper or glass can be blended in to the matrix and result in a unique surface finish that demonstrates Ductal®'s impressive imitative capabilities, as presented here - by Taporo.

Patterned slabs

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:26:55 GMT

Smooth or textured, ultra matt or shiny, Ductal® offers an infinite palette of finishes and colors, as seen in these pieces by Taporo, which reproduce complicated damask patterns, crocodile skin and many others. This high-tech material can be used both inside; in a contemporary, baroque or loft setting or outside; in full sunlight, with integral coloring that will remain intact for years to come.

Embossed slabs

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:21:10 GMT

Hungarian point, parquet style

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:05:10 GMT

When cast into a mold, Ductal® can produce all types of patterns, whether contemporary or classic, like this Yves Saint Laurent boutique in Paris. The floor was designed to resemble Hungarian point parquet style flooring, but made with fiber-reinforced concrete and anthracite coloring.

Conceived by interior designers, Alain Moatti and André Rivière, this design will be extended to 62 YSL boutiques around the world.

Smooth floors

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:00:15 GMT

These large slabs produce a beautiful, textured effect with a smooth surface that reflects light and joint lines that decorate the floor.
Possible in 100 x 100 cm or 150 x 150 cm. 15 mm thick.
Design: Taporo

The Shawnessy LRT Station, Calgary, Canada - Structural Columns for a Unique Canopy Roof System

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:58:08 GMT

The Shawnessy LRT Station has the world's first thin-shelled precast canopy roof system constructed with Ductal®; a unique project that showcases the material's combination of superior properties. This project involved a strong collaboration between the owner (the City of Calgary), the precaster and material supplier (Lafarge), the University of Calgary -- that combined inventive design, emerging technology, rigid testing and manufacturing savvy.

The 24 ultra-thin canopies (5.1m x 6m and just 2cm thick) are supported on single, structural columns - also made with Ductal®; providing protection from the elements and lighting to the platform below.

The 24 structural columns for this project were reinforced with conventional black steel rebars. The columns were bolted to the cast-in-place concrete grade beams and acting as cantilevers supported the roof canopies. Each column was rectangular in cross section and varied in size through out the height of the column.

This innovative project has won several awards including:

2005 APEGGA Summit Award
2005 ACI Award of Excellence
2005 PCI Design Award
2005 PCI Design Award
2006 CERF Award

2006 fib (fédération international du béton)/ International Federation for Structural Concrete: Award for Outstanding Structures

Shepherds Creek Bridge, NSW, Australia

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:22:58 GMT

The very first highway bridge made with Ductal® is the Shepherd's Gully Creek Bridge, 150 km north of Sydney, Australia. Built in 2002, to replace an old timber bridge, it spans 15 m x 21 m wide and features 16 Ductal® girders supporting a reinforced concrete slab that was poured directly into permanent formwork also made of Ductal®. The originality of this structure (studied and validated by the University of New South Wales) blends exceptional resistance to weather and traffic with a particularly light structure: 280 Kg/lineal meter for the girders and a thickness of only 25 mm for the permanent Ductal® formwork. Designed and built by VSL-Australia, the Shepherd's Gully Creek Bridge offers superior durability, resistance to the elements and minimal maintenance requirements.

Living Bridges

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:16:31 GMT

Civil engineer and architect Marc Mimram presents "Living Bridges," a study produced in partnership with Lafarge in which he proposes to reinvent urban infrastructure with meaning and "re-lay" the city.

Lengthy research led to the selection of four locations, each incorporating a new way of designing a bridge as an infrastructure with multiple functions. In Shanghai, China, the underside of the "Roof Bridge" provides a public space above the road intersection. In New York, USA, a bridge conceived as a "residential megastructure" juxtaposes several functions of public use and accommodation, as it interacts with the city. In Moscow, the "Inhabited Bridge" over the river boldly draws comparison with the legendary image of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, offering numerous routes and walkways. Lastly, in France, the "Landscape Bridge" in La Courneuve provides a natural device for broadening the horizons of its inhabitants.

Ductal® is an important, essential element to the building strategy and success of this unique project. The material's range of superior properties including resistance and sleekness make it a high-tech material that enables us to explore less restrictive and more ambitious structural styles than those made with conventional concretes. The original and bold character of the "Living Bridges" project has aroused a great deal of interest in the architectural community.

Jakway Park Bridge, Buchanan County, Iowa USA

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:11:19 GMT

The Jakway Park Bridge in Buchanan County is the first highway bridge in North America to be built with a new generation of Ductal^® Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) pi-girders, the first North American highway bridge project to incorporate batching of Ductal^® UHPC in a ready-mix truck, and the second highway bridge project in Iowa and North America built with UHPC girders; another significant step towards the FHWA's "Bridge of the Future".

The Office of Bridges and Structures at the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Bridge Engineering Center at Iowa State University designed the bridge; a combination of cast-in-place, simple span slabs with a center span consisting of 3, 51-ft UHPC pi-shaped girders, produced by Lafarge Precast in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Buchanan County, Iowa, was granted funding for this project through the TEA-21 Innovative Bridge Construction Program (IBRC), managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to construct a highway bridge using an optimized pi-girder section with UHPC.

Awards

In 2009, this project won an Iowa Quality Initiative Structures Research Merit Award and a Precast/ Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Design Award.

Cat Point Creek Bridge, Virginia, USA

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:04:49 GMT

The Cat Point Creek Bridge in Richmond County, Virginia, is a superstructure that features five 24 m girders made of Ductal^®, produced by Bayshore Concrete Products for the Virginia Department of Transport and the Federal Highway Administration. The bridge, which carries approximately 2,200 vehicles per day, features I-shaped (or bulb-tee) girders and a conventional cast-in-place deck.

It is an excellent illustration of how Ductal^® can be used to make thinner, lighter bridge girders (without stirrups for shear) that are extremely durable and built to last.

Saint Pierre la Cour Bridge, France

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:59:14 GMT

The first Ductal® bridge in France was built over a railway line in Saint-Pierre-la-Cour. With a span of 19 m and a width of 12.6 m, it supports a continuous 7.6 m reinforced concrete road, pavement and a cycle lane. Right from the design stage, the objective was to fully utilize Ductal's superior performances.

This project achieved a significant savings in materials, due to its lightweight structure with slim girders. The 10 girders are pre-stressed with pre-tensioned strands and have no secondary rebar or shear stirrups; a technique that makes it possible to construct a bridge approximately half the weight of a conventional concrete solution.

A Ductal® leave-in-place form protects the underside of the concrete deck and reinforcements against damage. The Saint-Pierre La Cour project required just one day for casting and one day to bond the concrete slab in place. Overall, this solution proved to be extremely durable (with reduced maintenance requirements and budgets) and more economical than a conventional solution.

Wapello County /Mars Hill Bridge, Iowa, USA

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:47:15 GMT

The first North American Ductal^® highway bridge was completed in 2006, in Wapello County, Iowa. The project was a direct result of five years of collaborative research & development between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Iowa Department of Transport, Iowa State University and Lafarge North America. Constructed under the "Innovative Bridge Construction Program" (part of the FHWA "Bridge of the Future" Program), the Wapello County/Mars Hill Bridge is a simple, single-span with a 3-beam cross section and three 110-ft (33.53 m) Ductal^® girders -- with no rebar for (shear) stirrups!

Ongoing R & D at the FHWA continues to demonstrate the use of UHPC for bridges, generate comparative case studies, validate designs without rebar and give confidence to state/ provincial transportation engineers. The ultimate goal is to build highway bridges (utilizing the optimized pi-girder at the FHWA's lab), which includes a Ductal^® deck without rebar -- thereby removing the source of problems (corroding rebar) with today's highway bridges.

Awards

In 2006, this project won a PCA (Portland Cement Association) Concrete Bridge Award, a bi-annual competition that rewards excellence in design and construction of concrete bridges in Canada and the United States.

Beams and girders at Cattenom electric power station, Lorraine, France

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:36:34 GMT

In the mid '90's, Electricité de France (EDF) selected Ductal to upgrade the Cattenom power station cooling towers. EDF specifications were clear; they required a building material that could withstand physicochemical aggressions (run-off water & freeze/thaw cycles) for the beams and girders providing the support structure of the heat exchange building.

Ductal® was selected for its impermeability and resistance properties, its low maintenance and cleaning costs, as well as its unrivalled mechanical performances. A total of 2,400 pre-stressed beams and girders made of Ductal® were produced at a rate of twenty per day. Its lightness also enabled the weight of the structure on the foundations to be reduced to a third of its conventional weight, with the added bonus of a vastly extended lifetime for the structure.

Test samples taken in 2008, (after ten years of being subjected to a stream of pure water at 35°C) showed that the Ductal® material had no degradation of mechanical properties when compared to the initial measurements taken.

Columns for a cement terminal in Detroit, USA

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:31:39 GMT

Four columns (2 ft-6 in by 2-ft-6 in by 55-ft tall) were manufactured with Ductal® to support an elevated floor in a cement silo (185-ft tall) in Detroit, Michigan. The columns have no reinforcing steel, with the exception of four - ½ inch diameter pre-stressing strands. They were cast in one continuous pour and the material filled the entire length of the 55-ft form without vibration or manual manipulation. Although the batching process took 6 hours, actual casting lasted less than 15 minutes.

Due to Ductal's compressive strength of 26,000 psi for this application, the columns' cross sectional area was reduced to a quarter of the size of conventional concrete columns -- resulting in an increase in truck bay clearance for the loading of tanker trucks.

The columns were erected in one day, using a crane and connected using a bolted connection detail through an embedded steel plate cast into the bottom.

Queen Sofia Museum, Madrid, Spain: Onsite pour for a thin, tall column (16 m)

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:21:23 GMT

The extension of the Queen Sofia Museum in Madrid, Spain, involved the construction of three new buildings on a support structure consisting of 24 slender steel columns with a height of 16 m and an external diameter of just 32 cm. This presented a major challenge considering that it was not possible to install rebar and the 15 cm internal width of the columns required a self-compacting concrete. The columns supporting the floors were therefore reinforced by pouring Ductal® concrete directly inside them.

The use of Ductal®, poured in this way for the first time on a site, enabled greater resistance to compression and flexure, providing lateral stability of the structural supports along their entire height.

The pouring process was completed in a single placement, with Ductal® filling the structure perfectly. Furthermore, a special blend was used in order to provide excellent fire resistance.

Clinker Silo, Joppa, Illinois, USA - Long Span Roof

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:15:04 GMT

A Clinker Dome in Joppa, Illinois, has the world's first long-span roof constructed in Ductal^®. Part of an upgrade to an existing cement manufacturing facility, Ductal was used to construct one of three clinker silo roofs, while a conventional steel solution was used (at the same time) on the other two - allowing a unique, side-by-side comparative study of a roof made with two very different materials.

Ductal's unique combination of superior properties enabled the designer to create thinner sections and longer spans for a tall structure that is lighter, more graceful and innovative in geometry and form. The 24 precast, non-reinforced, pie-shaped panels (13 mm [½"] thick and 18 m [58'] in diameter) act as a thin shell which support a two-story mechanical penthouse, centered at the top of the cone-shaped roof.

Of high importance is the fact that the Ductal^® solution easily provided an essential air and water-tight roof while the steel system achieved this with great difficulty. Overall, the Ductal^® solution offered several advantages (compared to the steel solution) such as speed of construction (11 days vs. 30), improved aesthetics, superior durability and impermeability against corrosion, abrasion and impact - which translates to reduced maintenance and a longer structural life span.

Ductal® Troughs for a Wastewater Treatment Plant, Edmonton, Canada

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:23:30 GMT

The City of Edmonton's Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant is the first facility in the world to have clarifier troughs made with Ductal^®.Manufactured by Lafarge Precast, the troughs sit directly on top of platesettlers, therefore structural strength, durability and lightness were all critical requirements.

Ductal'sdurability characteristics are attributable to its raw material components, selected for relative particle sizing and chemical reactivity. The net effect is a concrete matrix with a disconnected pore structure that is 10% denser than conventional concrete. The absence of capillary pores provides superior impact and corrosion resistance with improved impermeability against aggressive contaminants.

Ductal troughs are lightweight and easy to install or remove (for maintenance). Furthermore, this project validates Ductal^®as a suitable, durable and cost effective replacement material for stainless steel troughs (in wastewater treatment facilities worldwide) and as a viable material for similar applications such as tanks, tubs, viaducts or other vessels that contain aggressive liquid compounds.

AWARDS

In 2007, the Gold Bar project won the ACI (Alberta Chapter) Award of Excellence and the PCI (Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute) Harry H. Edwards Industry Advancement Award - in recognition of its important contribution to the advancement of the precast industry.

Yokemuri Yamagata Footbridge

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:17:36 GMT

The Yokemuri Footbridge, completed in January 2004, is located in the Yamagata region of Japan. The footbridge, designed and built by Tasei Corporation, was built using a single 35.3 m span and a square transverse section (0.95 m high x 3.5 m wide). Ductal®'s durability properties enable the bridge to withstand the region's severe climatic environments which include a wide range of temperatures that typically present problems for conventional materials. The Ductal® premix was produced and supplied by Taiheiyo Cement Corporation.

Sakata Mirai Footbridge

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:12:06 GMT

The Sakata Mirai footbridge was built to replace the former concrete bridge which has spanned the Niita River, in the Town of Sakata, for 40 years. Ductal's superior strength made it possible to design lightweight bridge beams, to build one single span, 50 m long and 2.4 m wide. The deck is built of perforated precast elements to give the bridge better deformation resistance and less exposure to the wind. The thickness of the top slab is only 5cm. The extraordinary moldability of Ductal® allowed the design of a slender, light pedestrian bridge that could adapt well to the high-varying temperatures in the Yamagata region and blend seamlessy with the surrounding quiet townscape.

“Flying Carpet” at the Tomi Ungerer National Illustration Center, Strasbourg, France

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:03:05 GMT

An attractive dedication to the artist and illustrator Tomi Ungerer, the National Illustration Center opened its doors in the heart of Strasbourg. Architects Emmanuel Combarel and Dominique Marrec created a remarkably sinuous pathway made of Ductal® to compliment this exceptional architectural environment. After using Ductal® for the RATP bus depot in Thiais, the ECDM agency used it again for this visitor access ramp which resembles a flying carpet and provides a design statement in its own right. This footpath was designed to enable access for persons with restricted mobility without accentuating a discriminatory aspect, weaving through the small 250 m² garden on the way to the late 19th century residence and its exhibition rooms.

The architects came up with the idea of making this gently sloping pathway through the garden look like a flying carpet. The exceptional properties of Ductal® allowed them to imagine this technical feature: it is only 25 mm thick on the edges and 45 mm thick in the center, with a total length of 49 m. It comprises 32 segments with ample curves and a gradient slope limited to between 2% and 4%. Ductal® provides the mechanical resistance, finesse and aesthetic qualities to reinforce the facility's identity and accentuate the beauty of the garden.

Pont du Diable Footbridge, 2008

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:56:37 GMT

Pont du Diable Footbridge, France

Architect Rudy Ricciotti

On a Unesco World Heritage Site in the gorges of Hérault, France, the Pont du Diable ("Devil's") Footbridge is a first in Europe. Designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti and engineer Romain Ricciotti, this single span structure, at 70 m long and 1.80 m wide, provides discretion and lightness, thanks to the exceptional prestressing resistance of Ductal®.

The footbridge is made of 15 sections that were precast using a single mold, joined together to form two parallel, isostatic beams that also act as safety barriers. Its slenderness ratio is very high (1/38) for a static height of 1.80 m. The two beams are optimized to limit the impact of the structure, with an ultra-high slenderness ratio and a static height of 1.80 m. The width between the two beams (1.88 m) provides a usable space for both pedestrians and clyclists. The lightness of the bridge requires the use of mass dampers to limit the effects of vibratory coupling between the wind and the footbridge.

For this project, Ductal® ensured a faster, easier construction with minimal site impact and vastly improved working and safety conditions. A team of 6 workers built this 144-ton bridge in less than a month. According to the architect, "The paradox between high level technological assertion and physical disappearance assumes its full value and meaning in an exceptional landscape."

Sanderling Drive Pedestrian Overpass, Calgary, Alberta

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:50:42 GMT

The Sanderling Drive Pedestrian Overpass in Calgary, Alberta, Canada is 109.90m long with a 64.40m clear span and no intermediate supports, providing motorists with an unobstructed view along the busy throughway. The overpass ties the pathways between two communities through a series of ramps, approximately 103m, with some curved sections. A continuous beam structural system was selected for this project, with the placement of bearing and expansion joint design to optimize the life cycle of the bridge components.

The bridge features a 33.5 m drop-in Ductal^® girder produced and installed by Lafarge's Precast team in Calgary. This 49 m clear span bridge crosses over 6 lanes of traffic, providing the two adjacent communities with an aesthetically pleasing, durable curved-linear link. Ductal^® was chosen for the girder because of its high compressive and tensile strength, allowing for a slender T‐section. During installation of the drop-in girder road closure occurred for just 8 hours.

The architect & engineer of record for this project is Cohos Evamy integratedesign^TM. The client/owner, the City of Calgary, was actively involved by sponsoring the project and providing project management services during the design and construction phase. Graham Construction was the General Contractor.

Glenmore / Legsby Footbridge, Calgary, Canada

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:36:59 GMT

The Glenmore/Legsby Pedestrian Overpass is a single span, 53-metre bridge that stretches across 8 lanes of traffic in the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is the second pedestrian bridge in North America to be built with Ductal^®, consisting of two cantilevered, high performance concrete abutments and a drop-in, "T-section" Ductal^® girder with an arch. The architectural and structural designs are part of an innovative design program for the City of Calgary, which encourages and allows the use of new materials in the construction of various infrastructure projects.

The Ductal^® girder is 33.6m long, 1.1m deep at mid-span, has a 3.6m wide deck, and weighs approximately 100 tons. It is constructed with 13 mm long steel fibres and post-tensioned with 42 - 15 mm strands. Glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) bars were utilized by the designers as a redundant, passive reinforcing system.

The girder production at Lafarge's precast plant in Calgary involved the largest, single monolithic pour of Ductal^® in the world (to date) and required 40 m³ of material. After pouring, the girder was thermally heat treated for over 48 hours at 90⁰C. Full and partial service load tests were performed with uniformly distributed live loads. Deflections were significantly less than predicted and demonstrated the reserve capacity of the structural system.

Advantages of using Ductal^® for the drop-in girder:

greater structural strength, with reduced weight
quick installation with minimal disruption to traffic
no large center pier, provides increased traffic safety
high resistance against chloride ingress (due to frequent salting of the road) during winter months
aesthetically pleasing, smooth surface finish
superior durability; will require very little maintenance in the years ahead.

AWARDS

ACI (Alberta Chapter) Awards of Excellence in Concrete - for "Bridges" and "Advanced Concrete Construction" - 2009
PCI (Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute) Special Jury Award for Innovative Technology - 2008
Nominee: FIB (fédération internationale du béton / International Federation for Structural Concrete) Award for Outstanding Structures - 2010

Papatoetoe Footbridge, Auckland, New Zealand

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:33:59 GMT

The first pedestrian walkway in the public transport station redevelopment program of the Auckland Regional Train Network, the Papatoetoe bridge provides an impressive display of lightness and fluidity. At 175 meters long with a 20-meter span, this unique footbridge was built to service the Papatoetoe station platforms, and serves as prime example that showcases the many innovative qualities of Ductal®.

Production of the bridge beams took place in VSL Australia's Melbourne Ductal® plant. Over a period of ten weeks, a total of eight, two-part match cast spans and two single spans were cast. To achieve the required architectural shape and surface finish, a specially designed steel formword was utilized.

Ductal's lightness, combined with its exceptional durability properties, provides greater architectural freedom as demonstrated by the wide spans resting on just two precast segments that also support the walkway roof. This fluidity is reinforced by large perforations that lighten the overall structure while providing it with originality and aesthetics.

Seonyu Footbridge, Seoul, Korea

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:08:58 GMT

The Seonyu Footbridge - or the Footbridge of Peace - inaugurated in April 2002 in Seoul, Korea, is, to date, the longest footbridge made with Ductal® Ultra-High Performance Concrete. Due to Seoul's extreme climate variations, Ductal was chosen for its strength, versatility, aesthetics and durability. This remarkable bridge with a single, 120 m span and no central support, crosses the Han River to Sunyodo Island, a natural park in the heart of the South Korean capital.

Designed by French architect Rudy Ricciotti, the Footbridge of Peace has an extremely sleek, central arch -- 120 m long and 4.30 m wide (like a veil between the two banks), very fluid lines and a deck that is just 3 cm in its thinnest sections. The Footbridge of Peace's spectacular arch (who's stability comes from its form and weight) was made possible thanks to Ductal's intrinisic mechanical qualities. "Ductal," Mr. Ricciotti states, "...is bound to shatter a part of architects' beliefs: the whole gamut of modernist certitudes are suddenly going to be shaken. The style of artistic structures is bound to change."

Span	120 m	(400 ft)
Height	15 m	(45 ft)
Bridge deck thickness	3 cm	(1¼")
Bridge deck width	4.3 m	(17 ft)
Depth of cross-section	1.1 m	(4 ft)
Total Ductal mass	220 tonnes	(240 tons)
Passive reinforcement	0
Pre-stressed reinforcement	12 tonnes	(13.2 tons)

Sherbrooke Pedestrian Bridge, Quebec, Canada

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:55:17 GMT

Built in 1997, the Sherbrooke Pedestrian Bridge crosses the Magog River became the world's first Ductal® ultra-high performance concrete bridge, Considered a genuine technical feat, Ductal® enabled the construction of a single-span footbridge 60 m long with a space truss, 6 precast segments (10 m long x 3 m high) and a top deck just 30 mm thick.

With no passive reinforcement, this revolutionary bridge provided important validation of Ductal^® as a superior, "ultra-high performance concrete" material and opened the door to innovative new possibilities in the world of bridge design and construction.

This project won a Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Design Award.

Reinforcing the clinker silo in the Lafarge plant in La Couronne, France

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:40:29 GMT

In 1998, a reinforced concrete silo (7.4 m wide x 24 m high) was built within a larger clinker silo at Lafarge's cement plant in La Couronne, France. The abrasiveness of hot clinker going up to 400^oC and the 200^oC temperature difference between two sides of the silo wall damaged the reinforced concrete structure. Fissures had appeared, reducing its resistance by half, thereby limiting its storage capacity. To assure structural safety, retrofitting of the internal silo was inevitable.

The retrofit involved production and installation of 216 props and 384 panels with reinforcing bars made of Ductal® in varying widths, linked together with steel cable loops, were installed on the silo walls. Ductal® fulfilled abrasion resistance requirements and limitations of lightness and durability in an extremely hostile environment.

Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan: International flights landing on Ductal®

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:34:22 GMT

Since the end of 2010, Tokyo's Haneda Airport (the world's fourth busiest airport in terms of passenger transit - with departures every 2 minutes), is boasting a new runway that emerges out of the sea. The pier, built exclusively for international flights, will stretch out over a massive 520,000 m² area over the sea, and feature two structures: an underwater portion, consisting of steel pillars and their coatings, going down to a depth of 70 meters, and a concrete slab area of 192,000 m² secured on steel girders.

Supplying the 6,139 Ductal® slabs required for this project was a major challenge due to the scale of work involved. The key requirements specified by the engineers include durability, strength and low maintenance costs. Ductal® was selected for its excellent salt resistance (approximately 1,000 times better than ordinary concrete) and its extremely high permeability coefficient, far exceeding the values for conventional concrete. Costs are significantly reduced for this unprecedented structure due to the durability and light weight of the Ductal® slabs (half the weight of conventional slabs). Therefore, given the material characteristics, the weight of the slabs can be reduced, as can the cost of steel casings and the piles.

This innovative project involved a strong collaboration between the Ductal® premix supplier, Taiheiyo Cement Corporation and construction firm, Taisei Corporation.

Anchor plates on Reunion Island

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:25:28 GMT

The Reunion Island project involved stabilizing a retaining wall on the water's edge, the entire length of the coastal road. The original support structure which reinforced the roadway was built of precast building slabs and badly damaged. To strengthen the wall, underground anchoring systems were connected to distribution plates made of Ductal® and fastened to the seawall. Ductal®'s excellent resistance to marine corrosion and minimal maintenance needs were key factors that resulted in the production and installation of 6,300 Ductal® plates with organic fibers and 200 Ductal® plates with metallic fibers.

The manufacturing process took just 3 months. The Ductal® anchor plates were cost effective, lightweight and easily installed by hand. Injection ports were cast, facilitating the grout injection process and did not require repairs or painting due to accidental abuse during installation. A supplementary savings of 18% over initial costs were realized due to the low maintenance requirements and elimination of the need for painting.

Floor Reinforcement - Félix Landreau School, Angers, France

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:26:49 GMT

The Félix Landreau School in Angers, France, built in the 1970s, had just been fully renovated when it was discovered that the reinforced concrete floor had corroded.

The main beams could remain in place, but the transverse girders needed to be replaced and the operation had to be done from underneath.

Precast Ductal® girders were the ideal solution for this project: 1,000 girders weighing 30 Kg each (movable by hand) were easily installed to reinforce the floor and avoid any further risk of corrosion.

Ductal® also fulfilled extremely strict requirements in terms of fire protection, as the material is classified in France as "M0", non-combustible.

Brise soleil on Cogex building, Vannes, France: A protective cap

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:52:35 GMT

The enormous brise soleil made of Ductal® installed on the Cogex building in Vannes, France, is what we call a textbook example: this slim, precast blade of organic fiber concrete (3 cm thick), with no metal reinforcement is large (1.60 m on cantilever) and was installed after the building was completed, not during the main construction work, using an ingenious bolt system that avoided the use of wedges.

The operation was extremely rapid but required a high degree of precision during the pre-casting phase. It was made possible by the light weight of the material.

Police Headquarters, Nantes, France: privacy and thermal comfort

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:49:42 GMT

The Ministry of the Interior entrusted the project for the new Nantes Police Headquarters on the site of the old building which had become too cramped, to Atelier 234 Architectes. The main building is 140 m long, 7 stories high and divided into 4 sections. Exterior consistency and homogeneity are ensured by brise soleil made of Ductal®. Concrete was preferred over steel for both technical and aesthetic reasons: Ductal® enabled the construction of a lightweight, elegant, extremely fine structure. But beyond the aesthetic aspects, the brise soleil also fulfilled two major requirements: prevent direct lines of sight into the building from the Square Waldeck Rousseau and limit the thermal effects of sunlight penetrating the building, as its façade is oriented due South.

The Ductal® sun shade elements are installed 80 cm from the facade. They are 7.20 meters long, 40 cm deep and only 5 cm thick. They are installed on vertical supports. Two stainless steel double cables are anchored to the top of the building and pass through each blade element. The Ductal® sun shades guarantee excellent resistance to inclement weather and to possible malicious attacks against the building.

Brise soleil elements in Clichy-la-Garenne, France: Regulating the thermal environment

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:31:05 GMT

The Clichy municipal swimming pool was built in 1968 and required extensive renovations. ENIA Architects proposed the installation of external brise soleil in order to reduce impact from the sun as well as regulate the pool temperature.

The new double skin is made up of a grid of horizontal and vertical blades of Ductal®, forming rectangular M-shaped modules (L. 2.50 x H. 1 m) fixed to the existing metal structure. The result is both a technical and aesthetic renovation for the aging façade.

In addition to Ductal®'s specific technical properties that enabled construction of a long-lasting facade with thin and slender brise soleil, the architects were attracted by the extremely white color. This accentuates the lightweight impression of the grid, producing an interesting contrast against the dark background of the facade.

Bus shelters in Tucson, Arizona, USA: Design in the desert

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:51:57 GMT

Eight single-seat bus shelters in Tucson, Arizona are specially designed to protect waiting passengers from extreme sun and heat.

For this desert environment, the City of Tucson had a rigid set of requirements - with high emphasis on the need for shade. During the pre-qualification process, a unique Ductal® prototype was compared to six shelters built from other construction materials and ultimately selected as the best solution - due to its enhanced structural performance, impermeability, corrosion resistance, ductility and color integration. Photovolataics power LED lighting and the design accommodates neighborhood and artist participation in landscaping, arrangement and graphics.

The "Integrated Shade Seat" shelters, with numerous configuration possibilities, were designed by Line and Space, LLC and manufactured by Lafarge Precast in Winnipeg, Canada.

BMI Azuly Street furniture: Swinging cities

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:34:35 GMT

How to bring rhythm to common objects that intersperse the urban environment?

This is the challenge taken up by Studio Design Francesco Passaniti and its Swing range of urban furniture for Azuly®, a BMI company specializing in the manufacture of high end mineral lamp posts.

The range of products is made of Ductal® ultra-high-performance concrete and consists of a bollard, a wheel deflector, a bench, a planter and a trash bin --available in 10 different colors to blend harmoniously into any urban environment. With its reassuring rounded forms and hollow designs for astonishing transparency and lightness, the entire range is inspired by motion and echoes the rhythm of the city and its residents.

Elegance aside however, the major advantages of this street furniture are its durability and ease of maintenance. Ductal® does away with the need for passive reinforcement and opens the way for designs of extraordinary purity, yet with abrasion resistance close to that of granite.

H2O Street furniture: fun and progressive

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:14:39 GMT

Breaking routine and shedding the standardization of urban furniture is a challenge that H2O Architects takes seriously. Their comprehensive range of benches and chairs takes full advantage of Ductal®'s superior properties, including strength, ductility and color options.

The collection obeys a simple principle: minimal, non-directional with additional forms that are used to create freedom of movement and a sense of relaxation. The elements fit together or separately, to become a single seat, chair, bench or two-person conversation piece. Fun and appealing, with rounded lines and available in a medley of colors, these unique elements designed by Charlotte and Jean-Jacques Hubert bring a new look to the street furniture solutions traditionally provided by city authorities for their residents.

The Martel tree in Boulogne-Billancourt, France: Artistic technology

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:08:06 GMT

The original Martel Tree was designed in the 1930's by brothers Jean and Noel Martel and was made of steel. The Tree was redesigned by architect Marc Mimram on behalf of the Boulogne-Billancourt city authority. Made entirely of Ductal, this 8.50 m high work of art is truly a technical and artistic achievement. The trunk is pre-stressed using adhesive wires. The outstanding qualities of Ductal® allowed for the complex fixation of leaves to the trunk - with some pieces as thin as 6 cm.

Wall cladding: a stadium look for Under Armour stores

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:59:31 GMT

Under Armour Performance Apparel, a leader in innovative, high performance athletic wear, wanted an innovative, high performance/ high-tech design feature for its first retail stores. The exterior walls had to look like they were transplanted from a massive modern sports stadium; tough but also lightweight in order to meet weight limits for shopping malls.

Artisan/Precaster, Bill Gockeler (NJ) designed a robust 1,000 sq. ft. cladding solution comprised of 31 Ductal® ultra-high performance wall panels measuring (up to) 5 ft x 8 ft, with a thickness of just ½ inch! The first store to receive this innovative new facade was at their new 6,000 sq. ft. store in the Westfield Fox Valley Shopping Center, Aurora, IL.

From concept to prototyping and installation, the project was completed in just 6 weeks. According to Gockeler, "There was no other alternative solution that could deliver on the designer's entire wish list".

To date, Ductal® panels have been installed at two other Under Armour stores; one at the Natick Collection Mall in Natick, MA, and the other at the Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, MD

Floating staircase: 6 tons on a cantilever

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:57:08 GMT

When Walter P. Moore and Associates Inc., decided to relocate in Houston, Texas, the firm took the opportunity to show-off their engineering prowess with a unique Cable-Ductal^® Vierendeel Truss design -- extensively modeled (in finite element) using SAP 2000 software. A time-history dynamic analysis was conducted under a simulated footfall stair loading that included modeling of the Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) and springs. The entire structure weighs 6 tons and is cantilevered by the "floating" Vierendeel truss, which is not connected to the lower landing.

The individual, Z-shaped Ductal^® stair treads are .75m x 2.21m x 0.025m thick, with a compressive strength of 20,000 psi. The treads, manufactured by Lafarge Precast in Winnipeg, Canada, were cast in an enclosed form with a textile liner to provide a non-skid walking surface.

The engineers installed a vibration absorber (TMD) between the first and second units at the bottom for motion control and vibration absorption. The structure is instrumented with wireless sensors to a nearby computer and screen so that displacement amplitudes and accelerations may be monitored and graphically visualized in real time.

Architectural design was provided by Gensler and engineering (erection design, planning and field consultation) was performed by Walter P. Moore.

Pavillon de l’Arsenal, Paris, France: Ductal® on show

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:48:20 GMT

The City of Paris Urbanism and Architecture information, documentation and exhibition center is located in the 19^th century Pavillion de l'Arsenal building. On the ground floor, it houses a 1000 m² permanent exhibition area dedicated to the history of the French capital.

A renovated setting: the architect-set designer Finn Geipel from the LIN agency thought up a thin, self-supporting mineral shell that covered the floor, walls and ceiling, like a second skin, on which the exhibits are displayed.

This shell was made using ribbed, 18 mm thick Ductal® panels covered with an electroluminescent film. The panels were made to measure to minimize cut-outs and joints, guaranteeing a high level of fire resistance and abrasion by visitors.

Yves Saint Laurent boutiques: Haute Couture Concrete

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:40:15 GMT

Interior Designers Alain Moatti and Henri Rivière chose Ductal® to decorate the Yves Saint Laurent boutique in Paris with elegance and sobriety.

They designed astonishing curvy seats, with wide armrests that serve as display areas. On the floor, the anthracite-colored material recreates the Hungarian point parquet effect seen in 19^th century homes of the bourgeoisie.

This interior theme is now being deployed throughout the brand's 62 boutiques around the world.

The Shawnessy LRT Station, Calgary, Canada - An Ultra-Thin Canopy Roof System

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:59:09 GMT

The 24 ultra-thin canopies (5.1m x 6m and just 2cm thick) are supported on single columns - also made with Ductal®; providing protection from the elements and lighting to the platform below.

Prior to approval, the Owner requested that a full-scale prototype be sent to the University of Calgary's Centre for Innovative Technology for extensive load tests, which concluded that the canopy not only carried full-factored live and dead loads without cracking, it surpassed the test criteria.

AWARDS:

2005 APEGGA Summit Award
2005 ACI Award of Excellence
2005 PCI Design Award
2005 PCI Design Award
2006 CERF Award
2006 fib (fédération international du béton)/ International Federation for Structural Concrete: Award for Outstanding Structures

Hotel Rialto, Victoria, Canada: restoring an old hotel to its original beauty

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:47:04 GMT

The transformation of the Hotel Rialto has marked a significant step towards the revitalization of the city of Victoria's downtown core. Built in 1911, across the street from City Hall; the building's period design elements -- including brick cladding, terracotta columns and dentil cornice moldings, all led to its designation as a "Municipal Heritage Site" in 2005.

The original façade was comprised of 11 columns in two sizes, clad with white glazed terracotta tiles. Years of use and several renovations during the 1970s and 1980s however, left the façade unrecognizable and much of the terracotta damaged beyond repair. As the owners sought options to restore the façade to its original appearance, they consulted restoration specialists from local precaster, Szolyd Development Corporation - who recommended cladding the existing columns with Ductal® because it provided a strong, durable alternative to the difficult to find and costly terracotta tile.

Because of its design flexibility and superior moldability, Ductal® was ideally suited to replicate the color, texture and form of the original tilework of the columns. The color is integral, eliminating ongoing maintenance costs associated with coating. In the end, the Ductal® solution addressed not only the façade's aesthetic requirements but also the owner's concern about long term maintenance costs and overall durability.

In 2008, the project was completed; garnering fast appreciation from local residents who are more than pleased to see this historical building restored to its former glory.

Forty cradle day care center, Paris, France: sculpted by the wind

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:09:11 GMT

Architects: Dominique Marrec and Emmanuel Combarel (ECDM)

A place where children and their care-givers may enjoy themselves, the forty cradle day care center in the 18th district of Paris, designed by architects Dominique Marrec and Emmanuel Combarel, plays on all poetic aspects of childhood.

Softness, light, carefree, waves, exploration, cocooning, so many words come to mind when you see this ribbon of white concrete wrapped around the building. This ribbon is a soft, smooth mineral "skin" made of Ductal® precast panels, just 3 cm thick and molded to imitate the movement of wind on the facades. A vegetation-covered rock create both a cave and a garden where playtime rules.

This architectural "object", with technical performances made possible with Ductal®, allowed a unique lightness which provides the core aspect of this innovative children's center. By reducing the quantity of raw materials used, the slim panels allow more space for insulating material. Consequently, this project will be compliant with the "BBC- Effinergie" eco-label (designation for identifying new buildings with low power requirements which to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions).

Belleville Day Care Center, Paris, France: Capturing light

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:07:23 GMT

Conceived by Parisian architect Bruno Rollet, the textured, glistening white Ductal® panels that decorate the façade of the Belleville day care center are innovative because of the unique way that they capture sunlight. Chosen for its aesthetic and resistance properties, Ductal® covers the entire facade (650 m²) of this new building.

The surface was given its texture by pouring the material into a mold covered with a patterned plastic formliner. Depending on time of day and strength of the sunlight, the panels capture light at different angles and their appearance changes. The overall effect is enhanced by brightly-colored boxes, giving off a geometric impression that seamlessly fits in to the urban landscape.

Wall Panels – Rhodia, Aubervilliers, France: Ribbed Elegance

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:04:35 GMT

The facade of the Rhodia corporate building in Aubervilliers (near Paris) is covered with large, ribbed Ductal® panels, pinned to its supporting wall.

Due to its ductility and resistance to flexure, Ductal® enabled the creation of panels up to 4.40 m² and just 20 mm thick (excluding the ribs). The panels were poured flat into the formwork, to enable the creation of 33 mm thick ribs which hold dowels for attaching the panels. Once removed from the formwork, the panels were stored in crates and transported to the site to be fixed to the supporting walls.

The RATP Bus Depot, Thiais, France: Graphic Architecture

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:01:42 GMT

Fully covered with a Lego® style textured skin made with Ductal®: the RATP administrative center in Thiais has an extremely strong visual identity.

Located in a suburban industrial zone frequented by 300 buses, 24 hours a day, this project is the brainchild of ECDM (Emmanuel Combarel Dominique Marrec) architects and represents an ode to graphic art.

"We wanted to work on the mineral aspect of the surrounding environment and came up with a building that was a continuation of the road surface, emerging from it like a deformation," explains architect Dominique Marrec. "This work led to the idea of a skin that muddles one's perception of the traffic routes and the building."

Where the two construction techniques meet - heavy prefabrication and cladding - the 3 cm thick skin is curved where it meets the ground and rises upwards, erasing all differences in thickness to lose itself in the sky. Apart from being an anti-slip surface, the Lego® style shell and ground elements produces a moiré pattern that the lights and mirrors of the colored structural glazing reproduce over and over.

"The skin uses Ductal® not just for its structural properties, but also for its surface rendering, the depth of its color and the quality of its finish."

The project concept and Ductal®'s performances enabled the architects to provide complete freedom when furnishing the open spaces. The interior plan was designed to fulfill their needs and then the skin was cut out to install the openings, patio and access points.

"If Ductal® provided a solution to most situations that our choices imposed, it is above all because many parties invested their time in studying, building prototypes, performing tests and creating molds that fulfilled all the requirements that our approach imposed in terms of rigor and economy of resources," concludes Dominique Marrec.

Lille Metropole Modern Art Museum, France: latticework protects artwork from sun exposure

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:55:34 GMT

Scenic decoration of museums often requires the incorporation of natural lighting. At the same time however, it is crucial that precious works of art remain protected against potential damaging effects from UV rays.

A unique lattice façade, created by architect Manuelle Gautrand for an extension to the Lille Metropole Museum of Modern Art in Villeneuve d'Ascq, resembles a veil made of Ductal® and provides an excellent example how this challenge can be met.

"Our aesthetic and technical efforts were guided by three objectives, explains the architect. "The whole museum (designed by Roland Simounet) has a high mineral aspect. We therefore wanted to continue and extend this achievement, by respecting the care and time taken, as well as the choice of materials. What is more, works of art are often fragile and we wanted to protect them while encouraging the use of natural lighting. This part of the museum overlooks a beautiful park and it was interesting to undertake our work in such an environment. The Ductal® veil fulfills the functional and aesthetic objectives that we were aiming for."

All of the picture windows overlooking the park are decorated with concrete marquetry that produce the effect of a mashrabyia -- filtering the light and creating an abstract form which resembles plants climbing on a random background.

"What interested us the most was the possibility of achieving real latticework in concrete with a smooth, matt, light, very sober and very elegant finish. From a technical point of view, Ductal® offers the advantage of enabling this sculpture to be produced on extremely thin concrete panels - between 7 and 9 cm - almost three times thinner than conventional concrete. We therefore solved the problem of weight, ease of attachment and positioning in front of the picture windows."

Ornans infant school (France): Light and shadows at the infant school

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:53:34 GMT

Nature, games, spontaneity, softness; childhood values can be applied to all types of creativity. Such an example is the Ornans nursery school in Doubs, France, imagined by Architectes Associés Duncan Lewis and Yvan Loizeau and completed in partnership with Jousselin Préfabrication.

"The architects were looking for a way to use very thin mesh work forms on a façade mostly made of aluminum-frame picture windows," explains CEO Jean-Yves Jousselin.

"The architects wanted to play on the decorative effect of a thin skin of panels on the facade, interspersed with a multitude of leaf-shape inlays and perforations - 7 different forms and up to 100 inlays for the densest panels. The inlaid panels create light and shade effects in the classrooms. On a technical level, the designers had previously considered a thin GCC (glass/cement composite) panel solution. But these panels would have required the use of peripheral stiffeners, which would lend little to the aesthetic result and increase the weight of the elements. The mechanical properties of Ductal® enabled us to propose pieces only 3 cm thick without surrounding supports. "

"The 21 pieces (1.55 m x 3.60 m for some and 4.6 m x 5.6 m for others) were mounted using 4 very discrete attachment points, to create a poetic façade that diffuses a very soothing interior atmosphere. To complete the wrinkled surface aspect, the architects wanted to bring a final touch of fossilized leaves that we achieved after testing several prototypes."

ZAC Paris Rive Gauche (France) : Mineral leaf decor for a vertical landscape l

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:50:22 GMT

Each of the 44 perforated panels is 6.60 m high and 2.30 m wide.

Brise soleil on Doua campus, Lyon, France: a double perspective

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:50:57 GMT

To design brise soleil for the facade of the Doua building at Claude Bernard University, Lyon, architect Eric Chabal wanted a mineral material which closely resembled the original concrete used to construct this building in the 1960's. He also wanted the brise soleil to the finish of the existing concrete. Lastly, the rectangular elements had to have a variable thickness of 2 cm on the outer edge and 4 cm against the window, with spans of 1.7 meters that could offer extremely high sun resistance and durability. Ductal® met each one of these demands and, in total, one thousand precast brise soleil were installed on the facade, allowing the sunlight to stream into the building's interior.

Wall cladding: A VIP reception at Orly Airport car parks

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:50:54 GMT

In an effort to welcome passengers more warmly, Paris-Orly airport decided to revamp three levels of its P0 parking area and its access halls to the West terminal. The halls were decorated with iridescent colored cladding and rounded forms made of Ductal® to offer travelers a harmonious and inviting environment.

All of this was a major aesthetic accomplishment, as the panels also serve to integrate all of the airport's access signage and advertising inserts. The association of white Ductal® and stainless steel plinths, created by architect Frédéric Schlachet is particularly successful.

"Notwithstanding the size of the project - 600 panels measuring 3 m by 1.2 m, a large portion of which have concave or convex curves to decorate structural columns," explains Pierre Pallot, R&D manager of the Bonna Sabla group, "the uniqueness of this project is that Ductal® enabled us to work like joiners. Covered wall partitions of entries to car parks and pedestrian elevators, sills of staircase banisters, special rounded or angular pieces and storage spaces, are just a few examples of how this highly versatile concrete has been used."

Reconstruction of Laval courthouse bell tower: Clocked at 48 hours

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:50:27 GMT

Seated 22 meters above ground on the roof of the Laval courthouse, the Campanile has been the city's emblem since the end of World War II. In the process of taking it down for renovation, the tower was broken, so the renovation work turned into building an exact replica.

"We worked from photos to prepare the mold drawings," explains Gilles Deniau, head of Etablissements Deniau, the precaster commissioned by Heulin to build this rather unusual project. "Not only did we have to build an exact replica, but also had to solve two other problems. First, there was the weight of the corbelled structure on an elevator shaft. Second, the tower had to be lowered into place from a street that was too narrow for a large crane. Ductal® offered a solution to all these problems.

At equal resistance, the lightness of the material is unparalleled: a 4-tons tower that would have weighed 22 tons had conventional concrete been used, was cast in three parts in a special formwork. As a result, a large crane could be installed on the street to lift the three block components. The entire construction, 7 m in height and 2 m in diameter, was installed in only 48 hours. Lastly, the raw, grey concrete finish gave the new tower just the aspect the architect had been looking for, to recreate the bell tower as people knew it."

“Leaping trout” at Glenmore Elbow, Canada: Public art on the highway

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:50:24 GMT

Convinced that the "banks" of urban highways should be attractive, the City of Calgary asked artists Violet Costello and Bob Thomasson to design artwork for the retaining walls of one of the busiest urban highways in the country.

Drivers can now see 144 14-foot fish made of Ductal®, swimming along their daily route. The originality of this giant artwork is based on relief work and realism, the color range, the finesse and the versatility of cutouts permitted by Ductal®.

"Initially the fish were to be an integral part of the retaining wall panels," explains Walter Winkler, Operations Manager at Lafarge Alberta Precast. "But we soon realized that it was better to manufacture them separately and fix them to the wall panels afterwards. The rendering is much more realistic and amongst other factors, this solution offered a faster completion time." Especially as the superimposition of the wave and fish patterns presented alignment challenges with the panels, to which the use of Ductal® was a natural solution. Several prototypes were produced in order to achieve the effect that the artists desired and give drivers the impression that the highway represents a long river.

Villa Navarra

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:50:14 GMT

"On this project, the material displays every aspect of its excellent performance in something that looks like a real choreography..."

The adventure of this structural cantilever roof is perfectly summed up in the explanation given by Rudy Ricciotti, architect of art dealer Enrico Navarra's new "Intermaterial" art gallery.This piece of work is exceptional for aesthetic and technical reasons. It resembles a long furtive silhouette lounging on the rock, a pure expression of the material.

With a length of 40 m by 7.7 m and just 3 cm thick at the edges, the "airplane wing" roof features 17 identical 2.4 m-wide modules that were precast and assembled on site. Truly a world first.

For Romain Ricciotti, the civil engineer who did the calculations for this unconventional airplane wing, "Ductal® makes it possible to dispense with reinforcements, leaving the designers completely free to consider new shapes. Here the major innovation lies in the extreme reduction of the material, which has a total bend of only 4 mm under thermal variations. Despite transport and handling constraints related to such large sections (3 tons each), Ductal® provides a mechanical optimum that is close to that of steel structures with far more conceptual flexibility."

"This roof, proportioned in relation to its own weight, wind lift, thermal expansion and service load, is delivered as is without needing any waterproofing," enthuses Rudy Ricciotti. "And without doubt the most attractive part is making use of high technology that combines aeronautical industry skills for designing the molds, specialized casting calculations to align the metal fiber reinforcements in the desired structural direction and above all, techniques that continue to employ the traditional skills of the trade. In this respect, ultra-high performance concretes have definitely opened up a new era."