• Most foundations and slabs-on-ground
• Walls, beams, columns, floors, roofs
• Large portions of bridges, pavements, and other infrastructure.

Recycled content. Fly ash, slag cement, or silica fume can substitute partially for cement, and recycled aggregates can replace newly mined gravel. Recycled content can contribute to LEED Credit M 4.

During the life of the structure:

Energy Performance and Thermal Mass. Thermal mass improves energy performance when appropriately insulated. When 3 in. or more in thickness, concrete forms an air barrier. May contribute to LEED Credit EA 1.

Durable. Concrete stands up to natural disasters, wind-driven rain, moisture damage, and vermin. Less replacement means reduced resource requirements.

Cool. Using light- or natural-colored material helps reduce the heat island affect. When used for exposed horizontal surfaces may contribute to LEED Credit SS 7.

Low emitting. Concrete has low VOC emission and does not degrade indoor air quality.

Recyclable. Concrete is commonly recycled in urban areas into fill and road base material at the end of service life. When existing concrete is recycled during construction, may contribute to LEED Credit M 2.

Concrete was the primary building material used to construct the Pierce Transit North End Turna Around Facility in Tacoma, Washington. A pedestrian ramp snakes between more than 60 cast-in-place waterfall and landscaping containers at the Turnaround. The ramp connects the assembly plaza with the downtown transit bus transfer area below. The compex geometry of the project, combined with the watertightness and durability considerations, made concrete the logical choice. (PCA No. 10088).

Mix. The design professional specifies the appropriate concrete properties for a particular project and use, and an appropriate mix design is developed. The mix design specifies the amount and type of cementitious materials, water, and aggregate (sand, gravel, or crushed rock). Mixing, transporting, and handling of concrete are coordinated with placing and finishing operations.

Placement. Concrete should not be placed more rapidly than it can be spread, struck off, and consolidated. It should be deposited continuously as near as possible to its final position. In many types of construction, concrete is placed in forms and consolidated. Consolidation compacts fresh concrete to mold it within the forms around embedded items and reinforcement and eliminates stone pockets, honeycombing, and entrapped air. Vibration is the most widely used method for consolidating concrete. Self-compacting concrete, also referred to self-consolidating concrete, is able to flow and consolidate under its own weight and requires no vibration.

Curing. After the concrete is placed, a satisfactory moisture content and temperature is required for concrete to develop adequate strength and durability; this is called the curing process. Curing compounds or other surface treatments prevent the rapid loss of moisture from the surface of concrete and aid in the curing process.

Finishing. Exposed concrete surfaces, usually the top surface, generally require finishing if they will be visible. This includes driveways, pavements, sidewalks, floors, slabs, and other flatwork. Options include various colors and textures, such as exposed aggregate or a pattern-stamped surface. Some surfaces may require only strikeoff or screeding (which removes excess concrete and evens out the exposed surface) to the proper contour and elevation. Other surfaces may have a broomed, floated, or trowel finish. Sawcut joints, if required, are made after the concrete is sufficiently hard or strong to prevent raveling (is the disintegration of the surface to leave loose or protruding aggregates).