Unlike calcium chloride, these accelerators do not contribute to corrosion of reinforcing steel and are well-accepted by specifiers. Concrete's lighter and brighter look enhances parking lot safety, too. However, the thought and planning that went in to the design and selection of the mixes, and the level of expertise exhibited by McCarthy in their use, was exceptional. The Northwest Division of McCarthy, located in Bellevue, WA, and part of the nation's oldest privately held construction firm, was named general contractor for Harbor Steps in 1995, overseeing development of Harbor Steps East, West, and Harbor Steps Park. You must be ingenious with how you spend your construction dollars, and find clever ways of creating value out of what's already there.
Contractors also are well-skilled in concrete forming and casting.
As in most high-rise commercial projects, many variables had to be addressed with respect to Harbor Steps' concrete applications. We worked around seasonal changes, varying strength requirements, and placeability issues. The task began with mat foundation placement, the first application considered. Because the mat foundation doubles as the wearing surface for the lowest of a six-level underground parking garage, excavation was minimized, and construction costs reduced. A similar method for higher slump was used for the post tensioned deck mix, which allowed for easier pumping, placing, and finishing.