PCI opens call for 55th Annual Design Award entries

Source: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute

PCI is accepting entries for its 2018 PCI Design Awards through September 18. The program recognizes design excellence, innovation, and construction quality using precast concrete. All winning projects will be showcased at the 2018 PCI Convention and National Bridge Conference at The Precast Show in March 2018, and included in a summary article of PCI Journal, Aspire, and Ascent magazines.

“Every year the judging panels are impressed with the innovation and versatility showcased in the precast concrete projects submitted to the PCI Design Awards,” says PCI CEO Bob Risser. “All of the projects submitted highlight specific attributes that precast concrete is known for, such as speed of construction, resilience and durability, and design and construction versatility.”

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. Entries are accepted in two primary categories, buildings and transportation structures; within each there are several subcategories. Buildings examples include commercial structures, K-12 and higher education facilities, government/public buildings, religious structures, housing structures, and, parking structures. Transportation examples include bridges (new, rehabilitated, and non-highway) and special transportation solutions. In addition to 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. They 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 precast concrete internationally, PCI has created two 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. There is no entry fee. Complete information including submission guidelines is posted at www.pci.org/designawards. Additional information can be obtained from PCI’s Becky King at [email protected] or Brenda Banks at [email protected].