News and Articles

For over 25 years, the ACI Foundation has hosted Technology Forums to support ACI’s expanding focus on advancing the concrete industry. These gatherings have been popular, innovation-focused educational and networking events featuring presentations by researchers, ACI committee representatives, and developers of new technologies for design, construction, and inspection. This article is the first of three articles that summarize the presentations made at the 2024 Technology Forum. Reco...

Kaid Nygren Promising Journey with the ACI Foundation Elmer Baker Fellowship The ACI Foundation Elmer Baker Fellowship has long been recognized as an incubator for budding talents in the field of concrete construction, and the 2024-2025 recipient, Kaid Nygren from Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA, exemplifies this tradition of excellence. Nygren’s summer internship with Baker Construction, a key component of his fellowship, offered him a rich tapestry of experiences that am...

Maya Cottongim’s exposure to the construction industry started from the time she could walk. “My dad is an ironworker in Chicago, IL, so I’ve been going on site since I could walk,” Cottongim said. “I was always going with him to bring your child to work day.” Maya Cottongim was the recipient of the ACI Foundation’s 2020-2021 Baker Student Fellowship. However, wanting to try something different for herself, Cottongim first applied to universities wi...

A Summer of Growth and Achievement: Austin Mizen’s Internship Journey with Baker Construction The ACI Foundation’s 2024-2025 Baker Student Fellowship recipient, Austin Mizen from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA, had a remarkable opportunity to intern with Baker Construction during the summer of 2024. Diverse portfolio of projects Throughout his internship, Mizen’s work spanned several high-profile projects, primarily based in Cleveland, OH,...

by Victoria K. Sicaras, on behalf of the ACI FoundationAs the global construction industry intensifies focus on sustainable infrastructure and rapid construction, structural engineers are turning to alternative cements for their environmental characteristics and specialty properties. While alternative cement concretes are allowed in design under ACI 318-19(22), “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary,” they must first be proven to conform to the existing de...

ACI Foundation Fellowship and Scholarship Virtual Information Session The ACI Foundation, along with its Scholarship Council, will be conducting a free virtual information session on the ACI Foundation fellowship and scholarship application process. Meet with ACI Foundation staff and Scholarship Council members for an open discussion on the process and an opportunity to ask questions about the application. The free information session will take place on October 3, 2024, from 2:30 to 3:...

Based on industry requests, ACI Committee 302, ASCC, ASCC Foundation, and ACI Foundation are collecting interior non-air entrained concrete floor slab mixes that have performed well. The slab mix study needs Type I/II for baseline data and IL mixes for comparison.  Once a substantial quantity of newer IL cement mixes and existing or historic I/II or II/V cement-based mixes are collected, then an artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Giatec's Roxi™, will look for st...

From a young age, Habibelrahman Hassan was surrounded by the world of civil engineering. Born in Egypt and raised in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), his early inspiration came from watching his father, a project manager in the field. “Seeing his passion for his work and the projects he managed was truly inspiring,” Hassan said. “Even on his off days, he would be involved in his projects, ensuring everything was on track. That kind of dedication spoke volumes to me.” ...

Innovation Day at the ACI Concrete Convention in Philadelphia The ACI Foundation and ACI Committee 135, Machine Learning-Informed Construction and Design, announced “Innovation Day: AI Odyssey,” a special topic day dedicated to exploring the revolutionary applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in concrete construction. This event will take place on November 5, 2024, at the ACI Concrete Convention in Philadelphia, PA, USA, and promises to provide unparalleled insights into ...

Changes to Annual Request for Concrete Research Proposals The ACI Foundation is reconfiguring how it solicits and funds research proposals. The ACI Foundation’s Concrete Research Council (CRC) will not facilitate its annual Open RFP this summer. Stay tuned for more details about the changes. ACI Foundation’s 2024 Technology Forum Drives Collaboration and Innovation The ACI Foundation’s Concrete Innovation Council (CIC) gathered in Santa Fe, NM, USA, to discuss te...