By: Lindsey Bloomquist, Manager of Communications and Networking, Tilt-Up Concrete Association

Each year the International Tilt-Up Convention and Expo brings together the tilt-up industry’s top professionals for three days of tours, demonstrations, education, technology, networking, awards, entertainment and much more. With Miami as the 2017 host city and the iconic Fontainebleau Hotel as our backdrop, this year’s event was the hottest yet!

The event kicked off with a tour of some of Miami’s most impressive tilt-up projects. The Buildings Tour, sponsored by Owens Corning and IconX, featured various building types, including a museum, dormitory, the world’s tallest tilt-up panel, an office building and a church, to name a few.

“Once again, what an amazing showcase of what tilt-up can do,” stated Len Overbeek, co-founder of Tilt Wall Ontario. “It was very impressive to see the architectural and structural achievements of some of these projects. It gets my heart pumping and my energy up for promoting tilt-up for another year in a market where tilt-up has a long way to go.”

The Buildings Tour concluded at the 2017 Outdoor Demo, sponsored by HD Supply Construction & Industrial White Cap. “The Outdoor Demonstration this year in Miami took on the challenge of creative form and finish in tilt-up to show attendees out-of-the-box thinking at new levels,” said James Baty, manager for regulatory and technical affairs for the TCA. Designed by Mark Johnson of Johnson Structural Group, and constructed by Woodland Tilt-Up with concrete provided by CEMEX, this year’s sculpture demonstrated unique formliner finishes, creative windows, panel curvatures, horizontal lid panels and much more. “The structure also featured some of the latest textured paint and vibrant stain techniques to give it a true Floridian flare,” said Baty.

“During the presentation component of the evening,” Baty described, “TCA members participating in the structure were asked questions about challenges faced when attempting to achieve desired finishes and results using components that may be less familiar to traditional tilt-up contractors. There were also several time savers presented and products designed to deliver higher levels of efficiency and quality control.” The event was hosted on the premises of HD Supply Construction and Industrial White Cap in Medley, FL, where the structure will remain as a presentation tool for their sales force. Complemented with food trucks, live entertainment and libations, the Outdoor Demo is something that attendees look forward to year after year.

As always, the convention is designed to provide attendees with valuable education that can be applied directly to their next tilt-up job. This year’s education program ranged from Tilt-Up 101, connecting those new to the industry or the construction method, to more advanced topics on the architectural capabilities, engineering and construction of tilt-up.

“My experience at the TCA convention was incredible,” said Ingrid Bellera of Harvard Jolly Architecture. “The speakers and audience offered a variety of perspectives and shared experiences that are not only beneficial to the contractors, but to the entire design team.”

Speakers and attendees alike are infamous for being the most transparent professionals in the industry. “It is an honor to be able to be a part of an industry where competition can sit down and buy one another a drink,” stated Dave Overbeek, co-founder of Tilt Wall Ontario. “At every TCA event, we feel like everyone is part of a big family.” The amount of knowledge that is shared between tilt-up competitors is unparalleled. Contractors often open their job sites to other TCA members and share their successes, failures and best practices in order to better the system as a whole. The transparency is contagious, and will continue to be the catalyst that pushes the tilt-up industry to new levels.

In addition to the tours, demonstrations and education, the Tilt-Up Convention and Expo brings together the leading tilt-up suppliers and manufacturers in today’s tilt-up industry. “I had the opportunity to network with a lot of great people, as well as see the latest and most innovative tilt-wall products in the industry,” said Bellera. “Tilt-up construction merges aesthetic appeal, economic advantage and durability. It was great to experience all of the different perspectives firsthand.”

The products and services showcased in the exhibit hall not only offered attendees hands-on experience, but also provided means and methods to save time and money and improve the look of their next project. These products assist in the advanced technological, design and construction capabilities that are available today.

With these advancements, the organizations, people and projects that have successfully illustrated the variety, beauty and flexibility of tilt-up construction continue to grow. Accompanied by music from three-time Grammy winner Tomasito Cruz, these companies, individuals and projects were honored at the fifth Annual Tilt-Up Awards Gala on the second night of convention, September 29, 2017.

At this year’s Tilt-Up Awards Gala, sponsored by Nox-Crete Products Group, the TCA announced the Alphonse Engelman Safety Awards, 37 Achievement Awards, 12 Excellence in Achievement Awards, six Professional Awards, and inducted Philip Kopf, FTCA and Jeffrey R. Needham, FTCA into the College of Fellows. For more information on this year’s winners, please visit www.tilt-up.org/awards. Congratulations to 2017 award recipients!

For further event details, please visit www.tilt-up.org/event. On behalf of TCA staff and board of directors, thank you to everyone who was a part of the 2017 Tilt-Up Convention and Expo, and we look forward to seeing you in Dallas, Sept. 20-22, for the 2018 Tilt-Up Convention and Expo!