The project

Terra partnered with Lithko in Dallas, TX to optimize a low-carbon concrete mix using OPUS SCM™ produced from locally sourced feedstock. The mix was developed to support the customer’s sustainability goals while maintaining the performance and constructability expected from conventional concrete systems.

The project consisted of a 206 cubic yard sidewalk placement using a concrete mix where OPUS SCM™ replaced 35% of the

Type IL Portland cement. The project evaluated the field performance, workability, finishing characteristics, and constructability of OPUS SCM™ under real-world commercial placement conditions.

Concrete performance

The concrete used for the project was designed for a 28-day compressive strength of 3,500 psi. Third-party testing confirmed

that the OPUS SCM™ concrete mix achieved and exceeded the strength target.

Placement occurred during early morning operations under field production conditions. An evaporation reducer was applied

during placement to support surface moisture retention and finish operations. The mix maintained targeted workability and air

content during placement. Initial set behavior and finishing response aligned with contractor expectations and the overall

placement was reported as comparable to Type IL cement concrete systems.

At a 35% replacement level, the mix achieved an estimated CO2 reduction of approximately 25% compared to a conventional

Type IL cement mix.

Performance data

The project

Terra broke ground in June 2026 on its new company facility in Golden, Colorado. The new building will increase office space by 300% to accommodate the organization’s growing needs. Terra’s queue of candidate customer feedstocks has grown to as much as 12 months at times, and the new facility will accommodate up to three pilot plants—a significant expansion from the company’s current single pilot plant.

Structural and architectural concrete will dominate the new building, and a significant portion of the concrete poured will be batched with Terra’s OPUS SCM™. Eagle Materials, a major investor in Terra, will supply the concrete from one of their local ready-mix concrete plants. This OPUS SCM™ has been produced using the same feedstock that Eagle Materials intends to use to supply their proposed future Terra Advanced Processing Facility. The OPUS SCM™ produced with this Eagle feedstock has demonstrated exceptional performance, substantially exceeding that of traditional fly ash SCMs.

Terra is one of the few climate technology companies in the built environment sector with an AASHTO-accredited concrete materials laboratory. The new facility will include expanded laboratory space as well as more advanced testing equipment and analytical capabilities.

Concrete pours are expected to begin in August 2026, with project completion anticipated in Q1 2027. This will be the first building in the Denver metro area constructed with low-carbon concrete utilizing Terra’s proprietary OPUS SCM™.

The project

In July 2023, OPUS SCM™ produced from a granitic feedstock was used in concrete placement during construction of the new Porsche Sugar Land Texas dealership. The project was managed by Christensen Building Group as General Contractor, with Odi & Son and A.G.E. Construction handling batching and placement, and Dally and Associates serving as the structural design firm.

The challenge

The project required a concrete mix designed to meet a compressive strength target of 3,500 psi at 28 days—in a premium commercial construction context where performance and schedule reliability were non-negotiable.

The result

Lower-carbon concrete that performs like the real thing.

OPUS SCM™ replaced 20% of Portland cement across 100 cubic yards of concrete. The mix finished and set comparably to a traditional concrete mix. The strength target was met and exceeded, confirmed by accredited third-party testing.

Performance data

Testing conducted by Alpha Testing and Braun Intertec, accredited third-party concrete laboratories.