Case Western Reserve University Concrete Laboratory Proposal
Anna H. Kennedy
Executive Summary
This proposal is addressed to the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Civil
Engineering Department, requesting that the department fund a new concrete
laboratory. The department currently has inadequate space and instruments to
fulfill their needs as a top-engineering university. The addition of this new
laboratory will bring the department a better environment in which to teach. If my
plan gets accepted, it will result in a full, running, up-to-date laboratory used by
students and professors. This proposal requests that the CWRU Civil Engineering
Department, Civil Engineering alumni, and the Alumni Association supply
$51,962.34 to fund the concrete laboratory. This proposal includes a project
description, a review of why investing in a new concrete lab will benefit the
department, and a detailed schedule and budget for the laboratory.
Project Description
I propose that the Civil Engineering Department invest in a new concrete laboratory.
The addition of this new laboratory will bring the department a better environment
to teach. The addition of this lab will also draw more professors to the university
and help expand the Civil Department. Other comparable universities have up-todate concrete labs, but Case does not. This puts us behind those universities, which
then puts our students behind. If my plan gets accepted it will result in a full,
running, up-to-date laboratory used by students and professors. And thus, the
opportunity for research projects and studies will increase with the addition of the
laboratory. Case will have the opportunity to increase its position in the civil
engineering world. We already have a space for the lab, and a technician to manage
it. I will ask the Civil Engineering Alumni and the Alumni Association to fund the
equipment and renovation needed.
Literature Review
The purpose of this literature review is to learn how a concrete laboratory will
benefit the Civil Engineering Department and to have a basis for the proposal of a
concrete lab at Case Western.
Introduction: Why cement and concrete?
Case Western Reserve University is a top school for engineering, including civil
engineering. Research is what sets each university apart from one another, and
laboratories are what enables that research to be done. Case Western can help its
rankings by investing in itself. By funding a concrete laboratory in the Civil
Department, new professors and research will come to the school. Due to the fact
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that concrete is the most widely used material in the civil engineering world, Case
should have a suitable lab for it (Aitcin, 2000, 1; ACBM, 2010, Overview Page). Case
can help concrete make bigger strides in the engineering world today.
Problems with current facilities
The current concrete area that the Civil Department uses does not meet the
department’s needs in many ways. It is not in a designated room, but a section of
the main laboratory. Much of the usable space in the room was taken when the air
handlers, which service the Environmental Engineers, were installed (Personal
Interview with Neil Harnar, October 28, 2010). These same air handlers also often
leak water onto the space where the cement and similar materials are stored. This
makes it an unsuitable place to have a concrete lab (Personal Interview with Neil
Harnar, October 28, 2010).
Additionally, the main instruments that the department use are out-of-date and not
in a safe position (Personal Interview, October 28, 2010). The saw that is used to
cut the concrete specimens is not in a space that can be used safely. Also, the saw is
out of date, made in the early 1990’s, and needs to be replaced for educational
purposes (Personal Interview with Neil Harnar, October 28, 2010).
Labs act as contact points for new additives and procedures (Halliburton, 2008, 1).
For Case to properly educate their students in the way the professors wish to, a new
and improved concrete laboratory is key. This will be used as an ideal space to
fabricate concrete specimens to be tested in our structures laboratory (Gasparini
Memorandum, 2009, 1).
Requirements for a new concrete laboratory
The location for the new laboratory is already planned and picked out by the civil
department (Gasparini Memorandum, 2009, 4). This area is a 24-foot by 24-foot
space. In this space, we would like to put a cleanout pit, storage space for materials,
a new concrete mixer, a freeze-thaw apparatus, an air entrainment meter, a new
concrete saw, and miscellaneous tools (Gasparini Memorandum, 2009, 3). All these
instruments and tools will enable proper educational sessions to take place for the
department. Many of these testing instruments and tools we do not have currently,
due to the fact we do not have an adequate place to conduct the tests. The new
laboratory and devices will enable testing to be done and learning to take place.
The actual area where the lab is going to be placed is set. Renovation of that space
will have to take place. The cleaning pit will also have to be installed with a
waterline connecting to it (Personal Interview with Professor Gasparini, October 28,
2010). Also, Neil Harnar, the civil engineering lead technician, will run the lab.
Conclusions
This literature review has examined why investing in a new cement laboratory
would benefit the University through interviews and research on cement and its
impact in the world today. The interviews showed inside sources within the Civil
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Department that were very passionate for putting time, effort, and money into a
project such as this. The articles that described the importance of cement in general
shows why this lab will be a valuable addition to the university at a worldwide level,
not just at the university level. The university does not have an adequate lab to do
the work and research that they wish to do. With this proposal to ask the
department for the lab, we can get more undergraduate students involved with
hands-on work in the field of civil engineering. Additional research is necessary to
find the budget needed for this lab, and I am working with many engineers within
the university (Professor Gasparini, Dean Ken Klika) to help with this process.
Concrete Laboratory Construction Plan and Schedule
The concrete laboratory will be incorporated into the Civil Engineering Strength of
Materials Laboratory in Bingham Building. There is already a room designated for
the concrete laboratory within the Strength of Materials Laboratory. Along with a
space for the lab, there is also already an engineer in place that will be head of the
lab. The following information is a construction schedule:
Summer 2011
We will send our intended plans for the 24’x24’ space out to different
contractors. The lowest and best quality bid will get the job. That contractor
will get his or her more specified plans in and approved by the Civil
Engineering Department. Along with the contractor, a plumber will be
selected to install a water line to the intended clean-out pit area. An
electrician and lighting company will also be selected.
Fall 2011
Contractors will begin renovation of the 24’x24’ space. Along with stripping
the interior, the plumber will have the water line completed. The contractors
will then build a concrete ‘bath’ for the clean-out pit. Working with the
contractors, the electricians and lighting companies will be installing their
respective products. New machines and tools will be selected and ordered
from various companies.
Winter 2011-2012
Contractors will have completed stripping the old interior and will start
installing the new interior. Electricians will be working along with the
contractors installing their respective product. Plumbing will complete for
the clean-out pit.
Spring 2012
The walls, floors, lighting, and electricity will be completed. Painting of the
floors and walls will be done. The new equipment will be arriving at the
university. Ordering of cement and concrete supplies will be done.
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Summer 2012
Set-up and organization of the laboratory will be completed. The machines
will be put in their proper place (see Figure 1 below) and the supplies and
tools will be organized.
Figure 1. Intended layout for 24’x24’ space (Images from www.humboldtmfg.com)
Storage space
Clean-out pit
Concrete mixer
Work bench
``
Door from main lab
Concrete saw
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Budget
This budget includes costs of the renovation and different instruments that the
university should consider purchasing to complete this laboratory.
Renovation
Construction (estimate)
Plumbing (estimate)
Lighting/Electricity (estimate)
Year 1 Cost
$25,000
$5,000
$1,000
Instruments
Concrete mixer
Concrete saw
Freeze-thaw apparatus
Air entrainment meter
Concrete supplies
Miscellaneous Tools
Year 1 Cost
$1,700.00
$3,541.00
$8,200.00
$640.00
$250.00
$250.00
Overhead (14%)
$6,381.34
Total
$51,962.34
Personal Qualifications
This past summer I worked in Northwestern University’s cement and concrete
laboratory as a volunteer intern, which quickly turned into a paid lab assistant
position to a PhD graduate student. Northwestern University has a full, up and
running cement and concrete laboratory in their Civil Engineering Department. I
have learned a great deal as to how a laboratory works and the importance of the
laboratory to both students and the university. Additionally, I am currently a
student in ECIV 211, Civil Engineering Materials, where we spend half the class time
in the labs working with the materials, including the current concrete laboratory.
Through personal interviews, I have gained a better understanding of why the
department’s current concrete lab is not adequate for the university’s desired work
and research. Additionally I have received support for my proposal from the Head
Engineer, Mr. Neil Harnar, along with Professor Dario Gasparini and Assistant Dean
for Facilities Management Ken Klika.
Anticipated Involvement
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I would like the Civil Department to take the laboratory and its duties over in order
to keep it running and active. I would also like to see if the Case civil engineering
alumni and the Case Alumni Association would fund the renovation of lab and the
purchasing of the new machinery and tools. I know that the concrete laboratory will
bring the Civil Department and its students new opportunities to learn and grow as
civil engineers. I thank you for your consideration.
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References
Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials Web site. (2001). ACBM. Retrieved
October 26, 2010, from : http://www.acbm.info/
Halliburton. (2008). Innovative cement Enhancements Proven Techniques for a
Successful Cement Job: Planning, Testing and Evaluation. CEMENTING,
Retrieved October 25, 2010, from database.
Aitcin, P. C. (2000, July 10). Cements of yesterday and today Concrete of tomorrow.
Cement and Concrete Research, Retrieved October 25, 2010, from database.
Humboldt Mfg. Co. (2010). Humbolt Construction Materials Testing Equipment,
Retrieved November 1, 2010, from http://www.humboldtmfg.com/
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