strutaeng
Well-known member
I know, not really a garage related topic, but it's a concrete topic... 
I see a lot of threads about concrete like strength, finish, durability, etc. Lot's of folks see a little crack on their newly-poured concrete slab and ask if the sky is going to fall, etc. On some threads I've mentioned the term museum-quality concrete. What exactly is that anyways?
Last week I chaperoned to my kid's field trip to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. For those that don't know, the Kimbell is a world-renowned building built in 1972 and designed by Estonia born Louis Kahn. It's a relatively small building composed of a series of these post-tensioned cycloid vaults. Spans are like 100' or so. Very simple and elegant design. This was early post-tensioned concrete.
In 2013 the Renzo Piano pavilion was completed across the lawn of the same property. Actually my first time going to the Kimbell since this part was completed. It's a different building, slightly different materials, but pays a tribute to the original building. The concrete is incredible, similar to the Ft. Worth Modern Art Museum just across the street from my memory. I know that getting this quality of concrete takes an enormous amount of effort, from design, concrete supplier, contractors, subs, etc., not to mention cost, hence why I've called that, museum-quality. Anyways, I just snapped some random photos with my phone, nothing really specific. I'm certainly not a concrete materials expert, but I have worked on some cool projects similar to these on the consultant side and have learned how some of these unique buildings are put together.
So if you find yourself in some museum kinda bored, look around and check out the structure...whether concrete, steel, timber. Better yet, if you are in the area, stop by and check this out, as well as the other museums all within walking distance of each other.
I see a lot of threads about concrete like strength, finish, durability, etc. Lot's of folks see a little crack on their newly-poured concrete slab and ask if the sky is going to fall, etc. On some threads I've mentioned the term museum-quality concrete. What exactly is that anyways?
Last week I chaperoned to my kid's field trip to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. For those that don't know, the Kimbell is a world-renowned building built in 1972 and designed by Estonia born Louis Kahn. It's a relatively small building composed of a series of these post-tensioned cycloid vaults. Spans are like 100' or so. Very simple and elegant design. This was early post-tensioned concrete.
In 2013 the Renzo Piano pavilion was completed across the lawn of the same property. Actually my first time going to the Kimbell since this part was completed. It's a different building, slightly different materials, but pays a tribute to the original building. The concrete is incredible, similar to the Ft. Worth Modern Art Museum just across the street from my memory. I know that getting this quality of concrete takes an enormous amount of effort, from design, concrete supplier, contractors, subs, etc., not to mention cost, hence why I've called that, museum-quality. Anyways, I just snapped some random photos with my phone, nothing really specific. I'm certainly not a concrete materials expert, but I have worked on some cool projects similar to these on the consultant side and have learned how some of these unique buildings are put together.
So if you find yourself in some museum kinda bored, look around and check out the structure...whether concrete, steel, timber. Better yet, if you are in the area, stop by and check this out, as well as the other museums all within walking distance of each other.
Attachments
![IMG_20231027_110533659[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/1828/1828530-ef34ffa09efea6824d748e7632653e62.jpg)
Last edited:
...just gotta keep it down on the noise, as our third graders quickly found out.
