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SidleyChem observes that the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL), which opened on July 4, 2026, in Medora, North Dakota, has drawn significant attention for its sustainable design. The low-carbon concrete developed by Amrize and Dickinson Ready Mix was a key highlight of the project.

Project Background and Concrete Requirements

TRPL was designed with sustainability at its core, featuring solar panels, geothermal wells, and a green roof with native flora. For the building’s primary material—concrete—the project team set clear carbon reduction targets.

Sustainable Concrete Mix Design

Amrize supplied all cement and slag (a steelmaking byproduct) for the project, totaling nearly 10,000 tons (over 5,000 tons of cement and 4,000 tons of slag). Dickinson Ready Mix handled concrete production.

The three parties jointly developed seven different mix designs using:

• Eco-friendly Portland-limestone cement

• Slag (an industrial byproduct diverted from landfills)

• Fly ash (a coal industry byproduct)

An Amrize technical engineer noted that this combination not only significantly reduced the carbon footprint but also substantially improved concrete durability, enabling it to withstand North Dakota’s extreme temperature conditions.

Carbon Reduction Results

Dickinson Ready Mix set a target of 30-35% carbon reduction. The actual results exceeded expectations:

• 40% reduction compared to the regional benchmark

• 50% reduction compared to the company’s standard mixes

The Vice President and General Manager of Dickinson Ready Mix described the project as “a generational project” and expressed pride in the company’s contribution.

SidleyChem Perspective:

The TRPL project showcases cutting-edge sustainable concrete mix design and reinforces a key trend: high-performance admixtures are essential for achieving low-carbon, high-durability concrete. Whether activating supplementary cementitious materials like slag and fly ash or precisely controlling workability and strength, a well-designed admixture system is critical.

SidleyChem remains committed to providing the concrete industry with high-performance superplasticizers, shrinkage reducing agents, cellulose ethers, and other core admixture products, helping customers achieve both performance and environmental goals in sustainable construction projects.

Explore SidleyChem’s concrete admixture solutions