C-Crete Technologies, a sustainable building materials manufacturer, has poured the world’s first granite-based concrete entirely free of Portland cement and CO2 emissions. The activity took place at 270 Park Avenue in Manhattan, the site of JPMorgan Chase’s new global headquarters, designed by Foster + Partners and engineered by Severud Associates Consulting Engineers.
The 12-cubic-yard slab of granite concrete was used for a topping slab in the upper lobby of the supertall skyscraper, which refers to buildings between 1,000 and 2,000 feet in height. This accomplishment builds on C-Crete’s previous successful pours, which utilised alternative feedstocks like zeolite and basalt.
Granite, a non-carbonate rock composed mainly of silicon, aluminium, and calcium, is the most abundant rock on Earth, surpassing limestone, the primary material in Portland cement. Unlike Portland cement, which is responsible for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions, C-Crete’s cement binders made from granite, zeolite, and basalt release no CO2 during production.
C-Crete’s granite-based concrete delivers performance comparable to or better than traditional Portland cement-based concrete. It boasts a compressive strength exceeding 5,000 psi and demonstrates similar pumpability, workability, setting time, and surface finish. The product meets ASTM International standards for mechanical and durability properties, verified by independent third parties while maintaining cost parity with conventional concrete.