The precast concrete industry continues to innovate the construction industry. Nowhere better recognizes this work than the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Design Awards bringing attention to the various projects, types, and styles of our built environment in three categories: specials, buildings, and transportation. Marking the 60-year anniversary of the program, PCI announced the 25 winners and eight honorable mentions.
The U.S. precast concrete market saw $5.74 billion in 2021 and this growth is anticipated to continue. (PCI is currently collecting data for 2022.) According to a late January 2023 release, the market consulting firm MarketsandMarkets Inc. expects that the global precast market is expected to grow to $198.9 billion by 2027.
Recognizing the creative and innovative uses of precast concrete, panels of engineers, architects, and precast concrete producers judge each of the nominees.
All categories were judged on the same three criteria with the special category with additional requirements.
- Versatility: Aesthetic, structural, and use
- Efficiency: Site, energy, and operational; and risk reduction
- Resiliency: Structure durability, multi-hazard protection, and life safety and health
Contractors and designers are pushing the envelope in their construction projects, being as innovative as possible to stay competitive. For example, a handful of projects are putting precast work to the text by further proving concrete structures are able to protect life from both natural and human-made disasters such as blast, fire, and toxic events - the P1479 Outdoor Infantry Immersion Trainer and FORTRESS Nameplate #1 are great examples.
The additional requirements for the Harry H. Edwards Industry Advancement Award, the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Award, the Sustainable Design Award, and the All-Precast Concrete Solution Award included industry advancement, sustainable design, technology, and designs using all-precast concrete solutions.
“Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to the jurors and PCI staff who make the program a success,”
—PCI President & CEO Bob Risser, PE
Winning projects will be recognized on February 24 at the 2022 PCI Convention in Columbus, Ohio. PCI publications, including Ascent, PCI Journal, and ASPIRE magazines, will also feature the winning projects. In total, 63 submissions were accepted this year.
2023 PCI Design Awards Winning Projects
The Special projects were judged by Suzanne Aultman, PE, FPCI, LPCI, vice president of engineering, Metromont Corp. Corey Greika, PE, vice president, sales manager, Coreslab Structures (Indianapolis) Kyle Knop, AIA, CSI, CDT, vice president, senior project manager, Zimmerman Architectural Studios.
- Harry H. Edwards Industry Advancement Award
FORTRESS Nameplate #1, La Vernia, Texas
Contractor: Tindall - All-Precast Concrete Solution Award
NM 50 over Glorieta Creek, Glorieta, N.M.
Contractor: Castillo Prestress - Building Information Modeling (BIM) Award and Justice/Correctional Building
Wayne County Criminal Justice Center, Detroit, Mich. (pictured)
Contractor: Fabcon - Sustainable Design Award and Best Rehabilitated Bridge
Swift Island Historic Arch Bridge Rehabilitation and Widening, Albemarle, N.C. (pictured)
Contractor: Eastern Vault Company, Inc., Ross Prestres
One of the winners of the Mixed-Use category: The Serif and LINE Hotel, San Francisco, Calif., Contractor: Willis Construction Co. Inc.Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
The Buildings projects were judged by Adam Roark, PE, project design manager, Gage Brothers Vanessa Schutte, AIA, ALEP, K-12 education central region leader, DLR Group Michael Zensen, AIA, LEED, AP, CDT, CCCA, BECxP, CxA-BE, vice president, Cannon Design Heidi Ziemann, PE, LPCI, chief engineer, JVI Inc.
- Government and Public
1021 O Street Office Building, San Francisco, Calif.
Contractor: Willis Construction Co. Inc. - Higher Education/University
University of Toronto Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Contractor: TKL Group - International Building
HYLO Tower, London, U.K.
Contractor: Fibrobeton Yapi Elemanlari San. Ins. Tic. A.S. - Manufacturing
SEW-Eurodrive Smart Factory & Maxolutions Showroom, Wellford, S.C.
Contractor: Tindall – South Carolina Division - Military
P1479 Outdoor Infantry Immersion Trainer Camp, Lejeune, N.C.
Contractor: GATEPrecast Co. - Mixed-Use (co-winners)
The Jasper, Charleston, S.C.
Contractor: GATE Precast Co.
The Serif and LINE Hotel, San Francisco, Calif., (pictured)
Contractor: Willis Construction Co. Inc. - Multi-Family
Elm 551 at Parkside of Old Town, Chicago, Ill
Contractor: Dukane, Wells - Office
1001 Water Street, Tampa, Fla.
Contractor: STABIL Concrete Products, LLC - All-Precast Concrete Parking Structure
CCHS Wilmington Visitors PG, Wilmington, Del.
Contractor: High Concrete Group - Hybrid Parking Structure
Restoration Hardware – Knox Street Gallery Parking Structure, Dallas, Texas
Contractor: GATE Precast Co. - School K-12
NYCSCA PS IS 667, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Contractor: High Concrete Group - Stadium/Arena
UBS Arena, Elmont, N.Y.
Contractor: Universal Concrete Products - Theater
Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, Kirkwood, Mo.
Contractor: MPC Enterprises Inc. - Custom Solution
Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center Dive Tower, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Contractor: GATE Precast Co.
Winner of the Sustainable Design Award and Best Rehabilitated Bridge: Swift Island Historic Arch Bridge Rehabilitation and Widening, Albemarle, N.C., Contractor: Eastern Vault Company, Inc., Ross PrestresPrecast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
The Transportation group was judged by Reggie Holt, senior structural engineer, Federal Highway Administration Bijan Khaleghi, state bridge design engineer, Washington State DOT Todd Lang, PE, SE, senior bridge engineer, HDR Inc.
- Main Span up to 75 feet
Acceler-8 I-90 Bridge Replacement Southborough and Westborough, Mass.
Contractor: JP Carrara & Sons, Inc. - Non-Highway Bridge (co-winners)
I-579 Urban Open Space Cap, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Contractor: Northeast Prestressed Products, Inc.
Mid-Coast Extension of the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley, San Diego, Calif.
Contractor: Oldcastle Infrastructure - Special Solution
Key Crossing Reliability Initiative, Baltimore, Md.
Contractor: Coastal Precast Systems
Information on how to enter the program can be found at PCI Design Awards - Making a Submission.
