Black-to-white concept saves major green for FedEx

Traffic almost never stops at the Federal Express World Service Center in Bedford Park, Illinois.  So when it was time to lay down a new parking lot as part of a massive 3-phase expansion, Scurto Cement Construction suggested a better way.

“This lot will cover nearly 1.1 million square feet and handle continuous truck and trailer traffic,” explains Greg Scurto.  “We knew that the right concrete mix, properly installed, would actually cost less than asphalt. We were able to exceed the structural numbers of the asphalt in the original plan while saving FedEx 50 cents per square foot on a first-cost basis.”

Lot construction began last month, Scurto says, with Prairie providing the mix and high-quality aggregate needed for smooth results.

Concrete competes as asphalt prices soar

Driven by rising oil prices, the cost of asphalt has jumped 300% in the past 3 years. “As a result, more customers are investing in concrete, especially when they own their own facilities as FedEx does here,” reports Joe Ungari of Prairie’s sales team. 

Concrete works for new installations – but owners are also tearing out asphalt and replacing it with concrete, notes David Scurto. “It’s a far superior product for long-term performance,” he states. “With concrete you’ll get 20-plus years of service without the ruts, sags and potholes you suffer with asphalt.”

Saving green by going green

The savings gained with black-to-white (B2W) conversions result in part from concrete’s built-in environmental benefits. “Owners can cut expenses while they earn LEED credits with concrete,” confirms Brad Huiner of Prairie’s technical sales team. Here’s how it works:

• Reduced lighting costs. Concrete reflects at least 3 times more light than asphalt, which means fewer fixtures and lower energy costs year after year.
  
  
• Heat island reduction. Concrete holds and re-radiates less heat, another source of LEED credits and energy savings.
  
  
• No petroleum – and no VOCs. Concrete does not off-gas harmful toxins. It’s stable in sunlight, so costly resealing and patching are eliminated.
  
  
• Lower costs through longer life. More years of worry-free service mean less disruption to business operations. When it’s time to rebuild, concrete can be recycled, keeping the green benefits going.

Greg and David Scurto are enthusiastic about the B2W trend. “Along with FedEx, we’ve completed major projects for Menards and two leading auto dealerships,” Greg reports. “With Prairie’s superior mixes and aggregate and their dedication to quality control, we know we can help more and more companies make the black-to-white choice.”


FedEx World Service Center in Bedford Park - At a Glance

Learn more about the benefits of B2W.