Low-Carbon Concrete Reduces Global Warming Potential of DC Project by 25%

9th & W, one of the newest additions to Washington, DC’s thriving U Street Corridor, is noteworthy not just for the complex architectural angles that define its façade. The project is also earning attention for the low-carbon concrete used to build the structure.

Owned by MRP Realty, the 344,000-square-foot high-rise community will be home to 312 apartments. It will also include a rooftop terrace and pool, ground-floor retail, and two levels of below-grade parking. Designed to achieve LEED® Gold certification, the project incorporates an array of features to reduce energy demand, including rooftop panels, high-performance insulation, and energy-efficient lighting.

With more than 15,000 cubic yards of concrete required for the project, Baker Concrete Construction and general contractor CBG Building Company saw an opportunity to reduce the global warming potential (GWP) of the structure itself. Baker worked with ready-mix supplier Holcim US to optimize mix designs using ECOPact low-carbon concrete. ECOPact concrete performs just as well as standard concrete but with a lower percentage of embodied carbon. The collaboration reduced the GWP of the structure by 25% from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s regional baseline.

The project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2023.