Project Rebuild: Cement and Concrete and Bricks, Oh My!

10/29/2015

by Guen G. '17

Last week in the October session of Project Rebuild, which is an opportunity for students to be part of the renovations of Court, we learned that for our entire childhoods we have been living a lie. The cement truck that we have all stared at with wide eyes is actually a concrete truck! In a brief yet informative seminar, we learned the differences between cement (an element to concrete), and concrete. We also learned about the skeleton of a building -- its structure. There are several different types of structures: masonry, steel, reinforced concrete, and light gauge metal framing.

After grasping the basic ideas of building structure, we headed to the construction site. There were so many exciting renovations going on; to our left, a new well was being drilled, to our right, concrete was being created. Not only were the twenty-or-so students able to see the construction, but we were also able to be a part of it.

For the final activity we broke into two groups to lay bricks and create a concrete mixture. In typical Foxcroft spirit, we had a competition to determine which group’s concrete is the strongest. Stay posted to see which group wins (my bet is on team Concrete Crushers)!

Back

The latest session of Project Rebuild once again took the girls into Court to see first-hand the building and engineering elements discussed in their lecture.
Will Stann with Forrester Construction led students in an exercise where they created a concrete mixture.
Allison B. '17, Guen G. '17 and Alex G. '19 with their concrete mixtures
Another exercise had the students laying brick on a section of wall.

This website uses cookies to ensure the best experience for visitors to our website.
By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies.
See our Privacy Policy for additional information.

An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.

Foxcroft School, 22407 Foxhound Lane, Middleburg, VA 20117 | Phone: 540.687.5555