“We are honored to be a part of the Gulf Coast Reconstruction & Hurricane Preparedness Summit, and we look forward to helping citizens affected by this tragedy rebuild their neighborhoods and communities,” said Chris Davis, Hanson’s director of sales.

Millions of Americans are still affected one year after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused destruction and devastation along the Gulf Coast. In response, Hanson created AeroDwell™ concrete wall panels, which are sustainable in any environment and versatile enough for commercial structures as well as homes.

Made from cellular concrete with micro-air bubbles, Neopor®, sand and cement, the AeroDwell™ building system is ideal for Gulf Coast reconstruction efforts. The concrete panels are incredibly strong and resistant to water, mold, termites/pests, fire and hurricanes/wind. Additionally, AeroDwell™ wall panels weigh less than dense concrete and are comparable in cost to conventional home building methods. This system offers superb insulation and energy efficiencies with easy installation.

AeroDwell™ wall panels eliminate the need for framing, insulation, exterior sheathing and sheetrocking, and reduce construction delays and costs: the entire construction process for a dried-in structure can be completed in just three days. During production, openings for doors, windows, electrical conduits, and telephone and television wires are cast into the panels, and exterior finishes can be customized by overlaying brick, stucco, siding or stone.

Summit participants will have an opportunity to see the innovative building technology firsthand during a site visit to the New Orleans plant, where Hanson’s South Central region president, Clifford Hahne, will lead a ceremonial walk-through of a demo house. Attendees are invited to visit the site Monday, August 28, during the times listed below. Hanson will provide transportation from the Pontchartrain Center to the plant.

Media event: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Site visit 1: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Site visit 2: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Site visit 3: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The demo house features colors chosen from the Sherman Williams “Veaux Carre” Collection as well as four facades to show the product’s versatility and different architectural designs. In keeping with New Orleans architecture, builders chose stucco and smooth shiplap fronts. Builders also used brick and textured shiplap on the home and designed it with the historical Mississippi Gulf Coast “old plantation” in mind.

“With the AeroDwell™ building system, we hope to provide citizens with an architecturally beautiful home that is weather resistant, strong and sound and will withstand Mother Nature’s harshest elements,” said Clifford Hahne, Hanson’s South Central region president.

The Gulf Coast Reconstruction & Hurricane Preparedness Summit, the largest reconstruction effort in recent U.S. history, will feature key federal officials discussing the $100 billion reconstruction program, new federal programs and funding to prepare against future catastrophes, as well as state and local officials providing details on reconstruction and preparedness contracts. Hanson’s personnel will moderate a panel discussion on hurricane preparedness construction. Please visit www.katrinareconstruction.org for additional information on the summit, presentations, sponsors and reconstruction efforts.

After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wreaked havoc along the Gulf Coast, Hanson responded immediately by establishing the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund within days of the destruction to raise money for the 150 employees affected by the storm. Contributions began pouring in, and as the fund reached $45,000, Hanson’s CEO announced that the company would provide a dollar-for-dollar matching contribution, which resulted in $90,000 raised for Hanson employees. In addition to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, Hanson donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross and created the AeroDwell™ building system to help rebuild homes and commercial buildings for the hardest-hit areas.

About Hanson Pipe & Precast North America
Founded in 1931, Hanson Pipe & Precast, a division of Hanson PLC, has become North America’s largest manufacturer of concrete pipe and precast concrete products, including residential and commercial building components, bridges, manholes and retaining walls.

Originally founded to provide manufacturing of concrete pipe for sewer and culvert construction, Hanson Pipe & Precast North America has grown and prospered into an organization of more than 7,800 employees and 108 plants with products available throughout the U.S. To learn more about Hanson’s quality products, services and building technology, please visit www.hansonpipeandprecast.com.

About Hanson PLC
Hanson is one of the world’s leading heavy building materials companies. It is one of the largest producers of aggregates — crushed rock, sand and gravel — and also one of the largest producers of concrete products, clay bricks and ready-mixed concrete in the world. Its other principal products include asphalt and concrete roof tiles, and its operations are in North America, the UK, Australia, Asia Pacific and continental Europe.

Hanson operates through six divisions: Hanson Aggregates North America, Hanson Building Products North America, Hanson Aggregates UK, Hanson Building Products UK, Hanson Australia & Asia Pacific and Hanson Continental Europe.

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