Celebrating Concrete!
Liquid Stone exhibit, carnival and canoes leave lasting impression.
by Stacey Enesey Klemenc
Its chameleon-like attributes allow it to become so many things, from ordinary sidewalks and towering skyscrapers to patios that resemble slate and countertops that rival the finest stone. Both decorative and practical, concrete comes in any color imaginable, with a texture smooth, rough or in-between.
Contractors have appreciated these qualities for many years. And, thanks to a recent concrete extravaganza that featured a Concrete Carnival family festival, an exhibition and a concrete canoe competition, many not associated with the trade have learned to appreciate its surprising and fascinating properties, too.
The events, held in June, were primarily sponsored by the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., and the American Society of Civil Engineers, Lafarge, and Degussa Admixtures Inc./Master Builders.
“Many people never give concrete a second thought — and fewer still understand how versatile and interesting it can be,” says Degussa Admixtures President and CEO Mike Shydlowski, whose company has sponsored the National Concrete Canoe Competition since 1988. This series of events in the nation’s capital was designed to change that line of thinking.
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