Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City and Build with Strength Build Low Carbon Concrete Home in Armourdale Neighborhood

Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City (Habitat KC) is partnering with The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (NRMCA) Build with Strength coalition to build a sustainable, noncombustible concrete home in the community. The project also represents the first Habitat KC home that will use insulated concrete forms (ICFs), a sustainable, noncombustible concrete building system that will reduce upfront expenses and on-site construction time while maximizing the structure’s durability and energy performance. Local leaders and media are invited to a Behind the Build event on Friday, October 27th from 12 PM – 1:30 PM at the project site at 704 South Valley Street, 66105.  

 The event will feature a meet and greet with Habitat-KC and build partners, a tour of the property, and the opportunity to learn more about concrete and ICF construction. The event is free and open to the press. Interviews are available upon request. 

 “NRMCA is excited to share the benefits of concrete and ICF construction with Habitat KC,” says Gregg Lewis, Chief Communications Officer at NRMCA. “Through our partnership with Habitat KC and other sponsors, we are able to bring affordable and resilient housing to a family in Kansas City.”  

 Several NRMCA members and partners have donated and/or provided discounted materials for this project, including Ozark Ready-Mix Concrete, Century Concrete, CRH Materials, Geiger Ready-Mix, Talon Concrete, and Concrete Promotional Group. Other sponsors of the project are Fox Blocks, Helix Steel, Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA), and American Concrete Pumpers Association (ACPA). This project is part of a wider initiative between Build with Strength and Habitat for Humanity International to construct at least 50 sustainable concrete homes in 50 states in 5 years. The partnership currently has 76 homes in various stages of construction in 33 states in just under 2-½ years. 

 “We are grateful for the many partners that have helped us bring this home to life,” says Lindsay Hicks, President and CEO of Habitat KC. “This wonderful partnership with NRMCA and others is showing us that we do not have to sacrifice sustainable to provide affordable housing.”  

 After years of neglect and disinvestment, the once-thriving Armourdale community has witnessed a dramatic population decline, plummeting from a peak of 12,000 residents to just 2,500. In a collaborative effort to reinvigorate this historic neighborhood, Habitat KC has partnered with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County to breathe new life into Armourdale. 

 

 

 About National Ready Mixed Concrete Association:  

NRMCA is celebrating 90 years of representing the producers of ready mixed concrete and the companies that provide materials, equipment, and support to the industry. It conducts education, training, promotion, research, engineering, safety, environmental, technological, lobbying and regulatory programs.  To learn more, visit: https://www.nrmca.org/ 

 About NRMCA’s Build with Strength Coalition:   

Build with Strength Build with Strength is a coalition of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and works with communities, lawmakers, and industry employees to advocate for safer, sustainable building materials.  To learn more, visit: https://buildwithstrength.com/   

 About Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City:    

Since 1979 Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City has built or renovated more than 1,200 homes in Wyandotte, Leavenworth and Johnson counties in Kansas, and Clay, Platte and Jackson counties in Missouri. As the largest nonprofit homebuilder in the Kansas City area, Habitat KC provides affordable homeownership that frees families and individuals from instability, stress, and fear and encourages self-reliance and confidence. To learn more, visit: https://habitatkc.org