American Concrete Institute Announces Award Winners
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) announced the winners of the 2016 Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards, who were honored during the ACI Awards Gala at the Concrete Convention & Exposition, October 24, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pa.
The highest honor, "The Excellence Award," was presented to Palazzo Italia (Italian Pavilion Expo 2015), Milan, Italy, and submitted by the ACI Italy Chapter. This award is given to a project that demonstrates excellence in concrete innovation and technology, and stands out above all other entries.
The Italian Pavilion is the throbbing heart of Expo 2015. The architectural design envisages the construction of a complex structure whose exterior and some interior spaces recall the shapes of branches in a thick forest. The entire outdoor surface and part of the interiors consist of i.active BIODYNAMIC cement panels, obtained using Styl-Comp technology from the new material developed at i.lab, the heart of Italcementi's research and innovation. The "bio" component is given by the product's photocatalytic properties, originating from the active ingredient TX Active, patented by Italcementi. In direct sunlight, the active principle contained in the material "captures" certain pollutants present in the air and converts them into inert salts, helping to purify the atmosphere from smog. The "dynamic" component is a specific characteristic of the new material, whose particular fluidity allows the creation of complex shapes like those found in the Palazzo Italia panels.