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Concrete Preservation Institute – Field School at Alcatraz
Chemistry, Construction & Sustainability

Concrete Preservation Institute at Alcatraz

Why Concrete Matters

Students pour concrete on morgue stairs

Concrete is one of the world's most durable materials and the second most consumed material on earth next to water. With the abundance of concrete in the world, restoring existing structures makes the most sense from an economic, environmental and social aspect. As a result, skilled professionals are in demand to care for aging structures.

CPI’s Field School at Alcatraz develops future leaders with its program that provides three 12-week sessions each year at Alcatraz Island and Pearl Harbor. The program is open to military veterans and reservists, military spouses, college students and other young adults over the age of 18.

Field school participants work on morgue stairs

Preserving landmark structures, such as the facilities on Alcatraz Island, is the ultimate act of sustainability. A focus on sustainability, resiliency and ongoing maintenance should be an integral part of improving our infrastructure. When buildings are restored, rather than demolished, waste is prevented from entering landfills. By preserving landmarks and buildings, the surrounding infrastructure, such as the existing roads and utility lines, is also reused.

The restoration projects on Alcatraz Island provide creative solutions that the construction industry can use as they look for ways to repair and repurpose buildings so that they are relevant for today's needs while maintaining their cultural and historical significance. With BASF’s assistance, students learn ways to use chemistry solutions and technological improvements to preserve the lifetime of these iconic structures.

Christopher Perego, BASF
Christopher Perego, industry sector manager at BASF Construction Systems
“Restoration is important because it protects a vital link – a link to our past, a link to our story, a link to our history. When you visit a city and you look at its skyline and you admire its buildings, what you're really looking at is history. You're looking at somebody's story. It's a story worth preserving.”