Historically, the building and construction industry has been slow to adapt, and innovative building materials have been met with skepticism. Traditional building structures are proven and new processes are plagued by long cycle times. However, one innovative building system has a proven track record of success.

The Emmedue Advanced System is an innovative building system based on modular panels fabricated from expanded polystyrene. The panels are enclosed by double-galvanized steel mesh. They are industrially produced and then assembled and finished on site with two layers of concrete.

The Emmedue panel is an economical solution that produces a high-quality structure, offering several modular panels including single panels, double panels, floor panels, stair panels, landing panels and specialized curved panels. The modular solution improves construction efficiency while offering absolute design flexibility, as it can be integrated with other building systems. It produces an extremely light structure that is suitable for earthquake-prone areas and climate extremes.

The Emmedue Advanced System helped define the architecture of El Blok. Through the use of their high-versatility curved panels, El Blok was formed, and the aesthetics mirror a block of coral removed from the bottom of the sea.

A testament of the structural integrity of the Emmedue Advanced System is exemplified by El Blok as it weathered the storm surge of Hurricane Maria. The structure was built in Vieques, a small island just east of Puerto Rico. It took a direct hit from a powerful category 5 hurricane, and whereas neighboring structures were blown away, El Blok stands at the epicenter of recovery.