C-Crete’s vision, “𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡”, inspired by Michelangelo.
February 2025
We unveiled this vision in a cinematic style to highlight the significance of this moment: After two centuries of carbon-heavy Portland cement concrete shaping civilization, we now stand at the threshold of a revolutionary alternative – Cement-free Concrete (C-Crete). It offers equivalent or better performance, but with a near-zero carbon footprint.
In essence, we are transforming the form and function of Earth’s natural rocks to create a sustainable material for modern construction – much like Michelangelo reshaped marble but on a monumental scale, using a variety of local rocks (granite, basalt, zeolite, and more). Imagine a future where buildings are extensions of the Earth itself.
The raw materials for C-Crete are as elemental as they come – rocks, water, and air (for CO₂ capture) – all of which are represented in both the collage and the real-world backdrop of the video.
Join us in reshaping the future!
Ready to Fly: World’s First Major Airport Paved with Cement-Free Concrete.
January 2025,
On behalf of C-Crete and our partners, we are excited to share that San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has become the world’s first major airport paved with Portland-cement-free concrete (C-Crete). For over a century, since the invention of the airplane, all major airports around the world have been grounded by conventional Portland cement concrete, burdened with a hefty carbon footprint. But now, the runway has cleared for change. With C-Crete’s revolutionary product – free of Portland cement and its CO2 emissions – we’re taking off to new altitudes, leaving cement emissions behind.
It took us a long time (~15 years) to capture these shots and finally see the “fly” front and center of the C-Crete product, especially the first shot! But the wait was well worth it. This is the airport we use every 1-2 weeks. Now, we’ll be gazing out the window of our seats at the future of construction, with C-Crete beneath every flight.
A huge thank you to all the partners who’ve helped us reach this height in sustainability – Turner Construction Company (Emi LaFountain, Brett Stuckey, Vandad Mazarei, Julia Gisewite); SFO (Anthony Bernheim, Julia Katz); Magnusson Klemencic Associates (Pablo Garcia); Bauman Redi-Mix Concrete (Mike Bauman, Brittany Bauman, Raul Pena); Gensler and others. Your contributions have helped us break boundaries.
Looking ahead, we can’t wait for the day we pour cement-free concrete on the runway, facilitating low-carbon concretes soaring into the blue skies of everyday use!
C-Crete Pours World’s First Granite-based Concrete In NYC
November 2024,
We are thrilled to officially announce the development and pouring of the world’s first granite-based concrete – free from Portland cement and its CO2 emissions – at a supertall building in NYC.
Thanks to the C-Crete team for their unparalleled commitment: so far, C-Crete has introduced and poured various Cement-free Concrete (C-Crete) products based on basalt, zeolite, and now granite. Each of these products represents a world record following the 200-year reign of carbon-heavy limestone-based portland cement concrete. The reserves of each rock sit on every continent, and their deposits are on par with or exceed those of limestone.
C-Crete founder, Rouzbeh Savary, shared this quote: “Regarding 270 Park Ave in Manhattan, the new global HQ of JPMorganChase, I first became familiar with Lord Norman Foster’s aesthetically designed structures about 26 years ago. Captivated by their majesty – his Millau Viaduct was the cover of my presentations for years – I followed my passion for material design and discovery of the elementary units that hold up such magnificent structures. Now my “material design” breaks into his “building design”! immense joy… Even if it is small for now, every giant leap begins with a small step.”
Many thanks to the following for helping this pivotal pour in Manhattan: Allan Paull, Max Driscoll, and Jeremy Williams at AECOM Tishman; Fortunato Orlando at Severud Associates; Chris De Luca at Tishman Speyer; Michael Prince at JPMorganChase; Michael Zagula and Constantine Quadrozzi at SRM Concrete; and others. History will remember you as harbingers of sustainable supertall buildings. Looking forward to the day we pump cement-free concrete to the last floor, touching the sky!
Press release is here
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/c-crete-technologies-pours-worlds-first-granite-based-concrete–free-of-portland-cement-and-co2-emissions–at-manhattan-supertall-building-302257351.html?tc=eml_cleartime
Photo Credits: Foster + Partners, C-Crete Technologies and NYC Constructors.
An exciting video that heralds a new era, paving the way for a brighter future!
October 2024,
Last month, a section of Highway I-94 in Minnesota underwent a transformation, paved with Cement-free Concrete (C-Crete) – a revolutionary product that stands free from the shackles of Portland cement and its CO2 emissions – cracking the 200-year reign of Portland cement concrete, the very backbone of our infrastructure.
Interestingly, we met the final technical requirements of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) in less than a day – compared to the usual 28 days. So, the highway section paved with C-Crete could have opened to traffic in less than 24 hours.
A special shoutout to these groups for helping pave the way for a brighter future (pun intended): Larry Sutter; Maria Masten, Emil Bautista, PhD, PE, Bernard Izevbekhai, P.E., Ph.D., Tom Burnham, and Benjamin Worel at MnDOT; Alfred Gardiner, PE and Ben Holbrook at Braun Intertec Corporation; Holcim Ready Mix; and others. You will be recognized as vanguards of change in road construction. Looking forward to paving the entire highway with cement-free concrete, all the way to the net-zero carbon destination!
Enjoy the video (ensure that the sound is on).
Breaking Ground with Cement-Free Concrete at LA’s Sustainable Campus!
January 2025,
Earlier this month, we began the exciting journey of pouring cement-free concrete (C-Crete) at a unique, nature-integrated Live-Work-Thrive Campus in Los Angeles, masterfully designed by SHoP Architects and Steinberg Hart and brought to life by Lendlease’s global placemaking expertise.
This pour represents the first use of Portland-cement-free concrete in Southern California, perfectly aligning with the sustainability mission of Habitat. The project features biophilic design elements interwoven with vibrant greenspaces as well as inviting amenities and inspiring workspaces aimed at elevating the content capital of the world.
Many thanks to the teams who embraced this pioneering pour – free of Portland cement and its CO2 emissions – within such an inspiring project: Lendlease (Jack McTavish, and former members AMANDA KAMINSKY, Sara Neff and Joan Gibbons), Holmes US (Nina A. Mahjoub, Megan Stringer, Adam Slivers), Cemex Ready Mix (Hernan Jose Perez, Christopher Iaccio, Ronald Taber), JT Wimsatt Contracting Co., Inc. (Wesley Catig), ClimateWorks Foundation (Don Davies, Larry Sutter), and others.
Hope the innovative low-carbon materials continue to flow into thoughtfully crafted urban campuses like this, enriching our planet’s habitat globally!
No More Dyes or Pigments in Concrete: This Is the Color of Earth!
January 2025,
After nearly two decades of work, we are thrilled to unveil a groundbreaking advancement in concrete – a naturally occurring color palette. Gone are the days of artificial dyes and pigments; the earthy tones in this image reflect the hues of the Earth itself, manifested “as-is” in C-Crete products!
While our primary mission was to create Portland cement-free concrete (C-Crete) by changing the form and function of naturally occurring non-carbonate rocks – such as granite, basalt, and zeolite – this preservation of rock color emerged as a delightful by-product. It’s one of those serendipitous moments in science that has brought us more joy than we could have imagined.
The lack of color change in C-Crete is the visual proof that we are not altering the rocks; rather, we are honoring nature with essentially no CO2 emissions. In contrast, traditional Portland cement concrete is gray – due to the high-temperature burning of materials, releasing massive CO2.
To all architects, designers, artists, and engineers: you are no longer bound by gray concrete. Like choosing paint colors for your home, you can now select from a spectrum of naturally occurring colors in concrete that complement your design – colors that never fade.
What you are witnessing here is the world’s first concrete representing the color of our planet – without Portland cement and its CO2 emissions. With that, welcome to C-Crete’s world!