From the Roman Colosseum to the Hoover Dam, concrete has been used in the construction of buildings and other structures for centuries. Concrete is reliable, strong and durable so it makes sense to use it when constructing such things. Below are six amazing concrete creations!
The Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza were built with one of the oldest methods of creating concrete, dating back to 3000 B.C. The pyramids were constructed with bricks made of mud and straw, and the material used in between the bricks was gypsum and heated limestone. These mortar materials would harden much like cement today does.
The Roman Colosseum and Pantheon
The Roman empire is known for many things, including its architecture. To create their concrete, they would use volcanic ash, limestone and water. They would lay a framework consisting of wood, stacked rocks or bricks and then pour their concrete into the form. They would continue to create layers until the structure was completed. They also used lighter aggregates in the higher layers to alleviate the weight for the bottom load-bearing layers. They used travertine in the bottom layers but tuff and pumice in the top layers.
The Colosseum is a perfect example of the longevity of concrete. It was completed in 80 A.D. and took about 10 years to construct. The Pantheon is considered the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, has 4,535 metric tons of concrete and was finished in 128 A.D.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is the tallest manmade structure in the world, resting at 2,722 feet in the city of Dubai. The construction of this building broke all kinds of records, including the highest vertical concrete building. It consists of 430,000 cubic yards of concrete. It opened in 2010 and is filled with offices, studio apartments, restaurants and more.
Hoover Dam
This concrete dam weighs 6.6 million tons. It was built in the early 1930s, during the Great Depression, to regulate flood water from the Colorado River. It helps generate hydroelectric power for residents in Nevada and Arizona. As a result, the largest manmade reservoir in the US was created!
The Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a hub spot for international trade between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Before it was created, trade ships had to travel around South America to deliver items. It began in 1904 and took about 10 years to complete. It consists of 4,500,000 cubic yards of concrete and spans 51 miles.
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the primary office building for the United States Department of Defense, located in Virginia. The five-sided and five-level building uses about 400,000 cubic yards of concrete. It is also bordered by five roadways. Hence the name. It took only 16 months to complete this build.
Let’s continue building concrete creations
Custom Concrete Creations is passionate about concrete. We are leaders in the decorative concrete world, specializing in flooring. We serve commercial and industrial clients throughout the Midwest. Our experience, professionalism and the way we treat our clients makes us a great choice. Contact us today to get started on your concrete creations!