Devices and methods for forming voids or cavities in concrete such that reinforcing bars can be used to connect different pours of concrete, the devices including an insert having a base and an elongate member extending from the base, and the method including coupling the insert to formwork, pouring concrete into the formwork, which surrounds the insert, allowing the concrete to partially cure, such that it retains its shape, removing the formwork and insert to form a void in the partially cured concrete, inserting a reinforcing bar into the void, applying adhesive to adhere the reinforcing bar to the concrete, and pouring concrete around the reinforcing bar, such that the reinforcing bar joins the two pours of concrete together via the void and adhesive.

A structural member optimized to resist lateral forces, as well as systems and methods of fabricating and implementing same, are disclosed. In some implementations, a modular framework erected at a work site may support forms used for the fabrication of reinforced concrete or masonry structural members which do not have uniform cross-sectional thickness. The modular nature of the framework allows a construction crew to arrange the forms quickly and precisely on site, and the varying cross-sectional thickness of the structural member and positioning of reinforcing elements economize on materials usage while simultaneously increasing the structural member's resistance to lateral loading.