Source: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago
PCI is now accepting 2012 Design Awards competition entries through May 21. All winning projects will be showcased at the 2012 PCI Convention and National Bridge Conference and included in a summary feature article in the PCI Journal, Aspire and Ascent magazines. Throughout its 50-year history, the program has helped the design and construction community innovate and advance by showcasing ideas that push the envelope, overcome challenges, and improve upon existing concepts.
“There is a lot you can do with precast, probably more than most people realize,” said PCI President James G. Toscas, P.E. “The Design Awards help to share this information, cultivate ideas, and expand concepts that will lead to tomorrow’s advancements, in both the precast industry and the overall construction industry.”
Entries are accepted in buildings and transportation structures categories, each with several subcategories. Buildings examples include commercial and entertainment, institutional, housing and residential, industrial and warehouse, and custom solutions. Transportation examples include bridges (new, rehabilitated and non-highway) and special solutions. In addition to these best-in-class awards, special awards will be given for industry advancement, sustainable design, and the best all-precast concrete structure or solution.
Independent juries of industry experts will consider creativity and ingenuity in the use of precast concrete to achieve aesthetic expression, function, economy and sustainability, also recognizing excellence in design, engineering, manufacturing and erecting. Separate juries will evaluate buildings, transportation and special categories. Any structure in North America completed within the last three years and substantially constructed using precast concrete manufactured in a PCI-Certified or CPCI-Certified plant is eligible. There is no Design Award entry fee, although projects are submitted electronically, ideally by the architect or engineer of record. Winners will be announced in July 2012.