Source: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago
PCI is accepting entries for its 2015 Design Awards competition entries through May 18.
This long-standing annual awards program recognizes design excellence, innovation, and construction quality using precast concrete. All winning projects will be showcased at the 2016 PCI Convention and National Bridge Conference at The Precast Show in March 2016, and will be included in a summary feature article that will appear in PCI Journal, Aspire, and Ascent magazines.
“Every year we are impressed with the innovation and versatility showcased in the precast concrete projects submitted to the PCI Design Awards,” says Kimberly Wacker, corporate director, Marketing and Communications, Spancrete and PCI Marketing Council Chair. “I look forward to seeing the emerging trends and cutting-edge aesthetics, functionality, and efficiency that this year’s submissions are sure to highlight.”
Throughout the past half century, the PCI Design Awards 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. In recent years, the program also focuses on how the use of precast concrete enabled a project to meet its high performance goals. Entrants are encouraged to share these details in their submittals.
“Precast concrete is a versatile, efficient, and resilient material,” says PCI Managing Director, Business Development, Brian Miller, PE, LEED AP. “For over 50 years, the Design Awards program has identified outstanding precast projects and highlighted them to the buildings industry. Over the last few years, the focus on high performance projects has taken competition to a new level and furthered its legacy of cultivating ideas and advancements in both the precast concrete structures industry and the construction industry overall.”
Entries are accepted in two primary categories: buildings and transportation structures. Within each primary category there are several subcategories. Buildings examples include commercial, education, residential, government/public, and parking structures. Transportation examples include bridges (new, rehabilitated, and non-highway) and special transportation 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.
This year, due to the success of the PCI Design Award program and the vast number of parking structure submissions each year, PCI has expanded the program by dividing the general parking structures category into three subcategories: all precast, precast façade only, and hybrid structures.
Independent juries of industry experts will consider creativity and ingenuity in the use of precast concrete to achieve aesthetic expression, function, economy, and sustainability. The juries will also recognize excellence in design, engineering, manufacturing, and erecting. Separate juries will evaluate buildings, transportation, and special categories.
Eligible projects must have been completed within the last three years and be substantially constructed using precast concrete. As in past years, if the project is in the United States or Canada, the precast concrete used must have been manufactured in a PCI-Certified or CPCI-Certified plant; however, due to the increase in use of high performance precast concrete internationally, PCI has created two new international categories: buildings and bridges. Projects entered into these categories must be located in a country other than the United States or Canada. The PCI Certification requirement is temporarily waived for this category. All entries must be made electronically and should be submitted by the architect or engineer of record. Winners will be announced in August 2015.
Complete information including submission guidelines, can be found here. Additional information can be obtained from PCI’s Jennifer Peters at [email protected] or Brian Miller at [email protected].