When most people think of concrete the last thing that comes to mind is using it build a canoe. The talented Civil Engineering students at Western Michigan University, however, aren’t most people. Demonstrating the durability and versatility of concrete by thinking outside the box, they not only build canoes from concrete, but race them in a battle of brawn & brains every year at the ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition.

Last week, Consumers Concrete and the West Michigan chapter of the AGC hosted a luncheon & concrete plant tour to rally support for the next generation of construction professionals in the community. According to the Associated General Contractors of America, they are very active in promoting the education and development of tomorrow’s industry leaders through the partnering with numerous industry groups.

The Consumer Concrete plant tour facilitated by the AGC was a prime opportunity for the students. Not only did they raise awareness for programs such as the ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition, but they also reaped the benefits of seeing the actual application of engineering principals they learned in the classroom.

“Giving the students a real-live look into the everyday operations of the concrete plant helped solidify the importance of what they learn both in the classroom and with hands-on projects such as the concrete canoe contest,” said Assistant Structural Engineering Professor, Upul Attanayake, Ph.D. “This event was an excellent opportunity for them to meet and network with their future peers.”

Since next year’s competition is “LEED focused”, the WMU team is attempting to build a completely green canoe in the upcoming year. Consumers Concrete has opened its doors to the students to offer support, advice and materials to the
up-and-coming engineers who plan to compete again in the 2009 competition. Brimming with optimism for the future, the WMU crew captain said, “We really appreciate Consumers Concrete for opening its labs to us and sharing your knowledge with. We also want to take this opportunity to thank the AGC for their continued support.”

Consumers Concrete is Michigan’s largest producer of concrete products in Michigan. Each year Consumers provides technical advice and products to architects, engineers, general contractors, masons and the general public ranging from sidewalks to skyscrapers. “We not only strive to provide great products and services, but we also like to get involved with the community to contribute to making our region the best place to live,” said a representative of Consumers.

The competition will challenge students to showcase their creativity and knowledge while simultaneously demonstrating the versatility of concrete as a building material. The 2009 National Concrete Canoe Competition will be held at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama from June 11-13, 2009.