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First CEMEX U.S. Building awards recognizes innovation, design, & environmental sustainability

HOUSTON - May 24, 2006

In its first ever U.S. awards competition, CEMEX, Inc. honored 12 finalists in outstanding achievement in construction and design at the inaugural CEMEX Building Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 24, 2006. Three projects were selected as best in the nation and their designers, contractors and engineers were awarded not only the U.S. title in either Housing, Institutional/Industrial, or Infrastructure project categories, but also received a specially designed concrete and glass award.

"Whether it's a bridge, a custom home, or an apartment and retail community, with CEMEX's people and products, we help you build it across America.And built it better," said Gilberto Perez, President of CEMEX, Inc. "The projects these finalists have completed across America represent just how far we've come in our industry. They raise the bar on design, construction, innovation, and environmental sustainability."

The award recipients were recognized for use and application of concrete, innovation, execution of the project, architectural or structural design, urban concept and the attention and respect for the environment the builder, architect or engineer displayed. The recipients will later compete against winners from approximately 30 countries for the world title at the fifteenth CEMEX International Awards held in Monterrey, Mexico in November 2006.

The award recipients are as follows:
Housing Award Recipient: Fremont Mews Apartments, Sacramento, Calif.
Fremont Mews provides a unique blend of mixed-income housing with reserved open space to create a vibrant urban residential experience. It reserves 48 of its total 119 units for low-income residents and provides all of its residents close proximity to light rail stations and the state's recently completed East End Office complex. In addition to providing much needed housing, the project has retained 19,200 square feet of land formerly used for community gardening. The land will continue to be maintained as a permanent garden and open space. Fremont Mews is also respectful of the environment, with underground parking and close access to the light rail system to allow for greater proximity to key urban elements. CEMEX provided ready mix concrete for this project, which included a combination of flyash and straight cement mixes.

The General Contractor was JR Roberts Corporation; and the Concrete Contractor, RJS & Associates.

Infrastructure Award Recipient: Santana Row, San Jose, Calif.
Santana Row combines high-end residential, office and retail in a charming and unique architectural style. The $700 million project has created a city-within-the-city of San Jose. Town square areas provide spots for sidewalk vendors and park-like settings for relaxation and conversation. The development includes 1,200 residential units, local and national restaurants, cafes, high-end clothing stores, a food market, and a hotel. The structures were designed to appear as if they were built at different times, in different eras, yet the complex generally follows an Old World theme. The mix of residential over retail and underground parking makes for residents an ideal urban living experience. Part of this experience is due to the design - the post-tension concrete provides reduced building volume and is an excellent acoustical barrier. More than 37,000 cubic yards of CEMEX concrete were used to construct post-tension decks that support parking and residences above retail areas. Since nothing like this has been built in America, developer Federal Realty Investment Trust researched urban areas in Spain to help identify key factors for a vibrant street environment.

Santana Row was designed by Architects Sandy & Babcock. The Concrete Contractor was RJS & Associates, and the General Contractor was Bovis Lend Lease.

Institutional/Industrial Award Recipient: The CalPERS Headquarters Building, Sacramento, Calif.
The recent expansion to Lincoln Plaza included a new 660,000 square foot headquarters building for the California Public Employee Retirement System (or CalPERS). This impressive structure combines office and retail space, along with two levels of underground parking. Of the 70,000 cubic yards of concrete supplied by CEMEX, a large portion utilized high volume slag and flyash. The slag concrete not only incorporated an environmentally responsible building material, but also provided a better concrete product for the technically demanding job - denser, less permeable and delivering higher ultimate strength and fewer cracks. The slag concrete also produces less heat when hardening, and this characteristic was particularly important in pouring the building's slab foundation, which was eight to 10 inches thicker than average. The use of recycled materials has allowed CalPERS to pursue a Leadership & Energy in Environmental Design (LEED) designation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The CalPERS building was designed by Kendall/Heaton Associates. Contractors were Hensel Phelps Construction Company and Amaroso Construction Company.

CEMEX, Inc. received applications from builders, architects and engineers across the U.S. who created structures that exemplify innovation and creativity in the use of cement and concrete products, and that fostered a culture of continuous improvement and environmental sustainability in construction. The top recipients were selected by three U.S. architects, Dr. Harvey Bryan, an AIA Fellow and professor of architecture and design at Arizona State University; Marley Carroll, an AIA Fellow and Managing Partner with Odell Associates, Inc. in Charlotte, N.C.; and Jerry Regenbogen, a landscape and urban architect where he is Principal-in-Charge of Regenbogen Associates in Charlotte, N.C. Three Editors-in-Chief of industry publications, Roger Nielsen of Permanent Buildings & Foundations magazine, Bill Wilson of Roads & Bridges magazine, and Rick Yelton of The Concrete Producer and Masonry Construction magazines presented the awards.

Housing Award Finalists:

  • The Morgan Residence, Waynesville, N.C.: Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, this 18,000 square foot home blends beautifully with its surrounding environment. It was designed by Architect Raymond Smith.
  • The President's Residence at Rollins College, Winter Park, Fla.: The new 7,200 square foot Barker House, on the campus of Rollins College, houses the school's President, Lewis M. Duncan and his family. The project's contractor was Wharton-Smith, Inc.
  • The Railla Residence, Brentwood, Calif.: This home uses concrete creatively to respond to a tightly sloping hillside and difficult access issues - making the living experience richer, and showcasing many creative architectural uses of cement and concrete products from the moisture-proof wine cellar to the roof tiles. The concrete contractor and owner of the Railla residence is Andy Railla of DNM Construction Company.

Infrastructure Award Finalists:

  • The CATS Vehicle and Maintenance Facility, Charlotte, N.C.: The vehicle and maintenance facility for Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is a five-building complex designed to house offices, employee parking, a bus terminal, dispatch office and maintenance facilities for all city buses. The Contractor for the job was Edifice, Inc.
  • Oakdale Plaza, Oakdale, Calif.: Part of a downtown revitalization project for the city of Oakdale, known as the "Cowboy Capital of the World," the plaza's centerpiece is the Bianchi Community Center, a multi-purpose building for events. The General Contractors were Greg Opinski Construction for the Bianchi Community Center, and DL Falk Construction for Oakdale Plaza. The Architect was RRM Design Group.
  • Riverplace, Greenville, S.C.: A revitalization project for downtown Greenville, Riverplace includes an office building, condominiums, a parking deck, streetscape and a colored concrete river walk. The project was designed by Cooper Carry Architects. The General Contractor was Harper Corporation.

Institutional/Industrial Award Finalists:

  • The Air Force One Pavilion at the Ronald Reagan Library, Simi Valley, Calif.: The facility, added to the hilltop site occupied by the Ronald Reagan Library, is a 90,000 square foot pavilion featuring a majestic vista through a glass wall, which makes the Air Force One aircraft appear as though it is flying. It was designed by Clinger & Spina and Associates. The project Engineer was John Martin & Associates and the General Contractor was Hathaway Dinwiddie.
  • The International Technology Research Center at the International Center for Automotive Research, Greenville, S.C.: Developed by Clemson University and BMW, the facility will serve as a research center for the automotive industry, housing research and design engineers. The building was designed by the Design Strategies architectural firm. The General Contractor was Harper Corporation.
  • The New Mexico State University Golf Course Clubhouse, Las Cruces, N.M.: The project's unique architecture presented a challenge for contractors because of the different elevations incorporated into the design. Excavations, piers and columns required exact execution in measurement and placement in order to support the upper floors. Highland Enterprises was the Contractor for the NMSU Golf Course Clubhouse.

CEMEX operates 12 cement plants across the United States, and over 300 concrete plants, making it the largest cement producer in the U.S. and the largest manufacturer and distributor of cement, ready-mix and aggregates.

CEMEX is a growing global building solutions company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. Commemorating its 100th anniversary in 2006, CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions and efficiency advancements and to promote a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cemexusa.com.

Contact Information:

Media Contact
Jennifer Borgen
713-722-1799
Jenniferh.borgen@cemex.com