This course discusses the construction aspects and usage of architectural concrete in the construction industry. Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the world. One special subset is called architectural and decorative concrete, which refers to a substance that provides an aesthetic finish and structural capabilities. Architectural concrete is made to be seen. Achieving an architectural or decorative appearance usually requires that something different be done to the concrete. Whether that involves special forms, special finishing techniques, or special ingredients, the variety of effects is almost unlimited. 

Architectural concrete comes in many shapes and sizes, and is used for finishing or decoration on a building surface, as opposed to a structural use. This course provides guidance for the design and construction of architectural concrete, including planning and design, forms, materials and proportions, batching and transporting, placement, curing and form removal, exposed aggregate surfaces, finishing, and quality assurance. The course material is based entirely on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering Manual EM 1110-1-2009: Architectural Concrete.

At the conclusion of this course, the learner will have a better understanding of the construction aspects of the quality architectural concrete as well as an understanding of the following topics:

• Structural guidelines
• Architectural guidelines
• Precast options, form construction and reuse
• Material proportioning and mixing
• Concrete mixing and transportation
• Concrete curing methods
• Form removal and storage methods
• Aggregate distribution and exposure methods
• Concrete placement and finishing methods
• Concrete consolidation and defect repair
• The process of stain removal