Reporting annual sales of over $20 billion, Fortune 500 company PriceCostco, Inc. has over 250 retail locations nationally and internationally. These retail facilities have to convey a sense of efficiency and economy while housing products in exciting structures that fit in well with their surrounding communities.

"Concrete masonry provides added value to PriceCostco because of product standardization available throughout the United States as well as foreign markets," says Ali Moayeri, Vice President of Construction, PriceCostco. From a systems point of view, Moayeri says the material also offers impact resistance, highlighting the strength and durability of concrete masonry products.

MAJOR BENIFITS OF CONCRETE MASONRY DESIGN:

Design Flexibility

From an architectural point of view, PriceCostco believes that this is the key design issue. "One can achieve a high-quality look without sacrificing economics... it all depends on the detailing," says Mitchell Smith of Mulvanny Partnership Architects.

Insulation and Energy Efficiency

A major benefit of concrete masonry is the way in which the hollow-core units can be insulated, says Smith. When using tilt-up technology, with which PriceCostco originally built, insulation is required on the inside of the wall where it is visible and unattractive, or requires that panels be precast with insulation sandwiched between them.

Low Maintenance

Ease of maintenance played a major role in PriceCostco's choice of concrete masonry tall slender walls over tilt-up technologies. "The client recognized that colored concrete masonry retains its original appearance with more consistency than a painted finish," says Smith.

Retail Buildings | Correctional Facilities | Religious Buildings | Office Buildings | Multi-Family Housing | Schools | Single Family Home

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Building Applications | Interlocking Concrete Paving | Segmental Retaining Walls | Articulated Concrete Block Paving | Concrete Masonry Units