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Concrete, concrete everywhere ... but why do we use it for fences? The history behind the Valley's architectural block

Concrete, concrete everywhere ... but why do we use it for fences? The history behind the Valley's architectural block

FromValley 101


Concrete, concrete everywhere ... but why do we use it for fences? The history behind the Valley's architectural block

FromValley 101

ratings:
Length:
15 minutes
Released:
Jun 15, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

There's a chance that the concrete fence in your backyard could be partially made out of materials from volcanoes. 
In 1944, three Arizonans invented a new type of concrete block, the Superlite block. The key material in Superlite is volcanic scoria, which is essentially cooled volcanic magma. In this case, it's mined in Winona, AZ.
The Superlite block allowed Phoenix to grow at an exponential rate after World War II. It was light, soundproof, fire proof and it could hold up to our summers. By 1955, Superlite was used in the construction of 75% of new buildings in the Valley.
And it's still used a building material today, including in our fences. 
To read Taz Khatri's Modern Phoenix blog post on this subject, click here.
Released:
Jun 15, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Whether you're a longtime Arizona resident or a newcomer, chances are there's something you've always wondered about the Valley. From The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com comes Valley 101, a weekly podcast where our journalists find answers to your questions about metro Phoenix. From silly to serious, you tell us what to investigate. You can submit questions at valley101podcast.azcentral.com or reach us on Twitter @Valley101pod.