How Precast Builds: An Introduction to Precast Concrete Systems
Length 1.0 Hour I Credits: AIA 1.0 HSW LU I 1.0 PDH
Description
Now more than ever owners and designers are choosing modern prefabricated techniques for their projects.
Precast, prestressed concrete projects deliver construction speed, offsite fabrication in controlled facilities for
year-round construction, design flexibility with advanced casting and molding capabilities, reduced project risk
combining multiple trades into a single contract scope, and reduced building energy consumption, improved indoor
occupant comfort, and resistance to fire, blast, and potential storm damage.
This course provides an overview of how precast, prestressed components are manufactured, PCI’s leading industry
certification program, as well as numerous innovative examples of resilient, sustainable architectural and
structural precast concrete applications.
Learning Objectives
- Overview of Precast Concrete Systems: Gain an
understanding of architectural and structural precast concrete systems, connections, and constructability.
- Precast Concrete Advantages: Explore the benefits of
precast concrete to gain understanding of its role in reducing costs, design flexibility, energy efficiency, and
building performance.
- Aesthetic Versatility: Learn how precast concrete
products can deliver a multitude of textures and finishes.
- Resiliency Concepts: Understand the concept of resiliency
and how precast concrete systems provide robust multi-hazard protection.
How Precast Builds: Accelerated Bridge Construction
Length 1.0 Hour I Credits: AIA 1.0 HSW LU I 1.0 PDH
Description
Since its introduction in the United States in 1949, precast, prestressed concrete has rapidly become the preferred
composite material for bridge design and construction as well as many other transportation related projects. Today,
it remains the solution of choice for transportation agencies and their designers across the country. This growth
came, and will continue to come, from the commitment of precast producers to develop, improve, and implement
advanced materials, products, and technology all aimed at enhancing the performance of bridges and transportation
structures.
Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) is a unique approach to project planning, material acquisition, and on-site
work for bridge construction, rehabilitation, and replacement. A trusted method that professionals all over the
world have employed for more than twenty years, ABC uses prefabricated road and bridge elements to support
cost-effective and fast project completion.
Learning Objectives
- Useful Design Tools: Review PCI transportation structure
design and education resources.
- High Quality, Low Maintenance Components: Take a deep
dive into prestressed concrete bridge elements and how to select them for ABC construction.
- Economical Fabrication: Discuss the design and
fabrication of prestressed bridge elements for precast, prestressed ABC construction.
- Fast, Safe Installation: Explain the production,
shipping, and handling of precast, prestressed elements.
- Precast, Prestressed Concrete ABC Successes: Highlight
regional projects constructed using ABC techniques.
Best Practices for Precast Concrete Bridge Design, Fabrication, and Construction
Length 1.5 Hours I Credits: AIA 1.5 HSW LU I 1.5 PDH
Description
Prestressed concrete provides an ideal combination for bridges, allowing longer and/or shallower spans and improved
durability. This program covers many aspects of the design, fabrication, and construction of precast
transportation structures. Presenters will review the following precast, prestressed products: box
beams, deck beams, bulb tee girders, NEXT beams, and full and partial depth deck panels.
Topics discussed during this program include straight strand design versus draped strand, beam reinforcement details,
skewed elements – production and design issues, storage, shipping and handling, closure joints for ABC projects,
camber and profile management, tolerances, and resolution of non-conformances.
Learning Objectives
- Diverse Bridge Applications: Prestressed concrete
superstructures and substructures that are adaptable to many design situations.
- Economical Design and Detailing Strategies: How to
select the best members for the specific design considerations.
- Structural Efficiency: Highlight strategies for the
economical design, shipping, and construction of precast products.
- Proven Track Record: With decades in operation and
hundreds of completed structures, fabricators deliver expert technical design assistance, budget development,
schedule planning, and value engineering for successful project outcomes.
How Precast Builds: PCI Architectural Certification Program Updates
Length 1.0 Hour I Credits: AIA 1.0 LU I 1.0 PDH
Description
PCI certification is recognized as a leading, and one of the most widely specified, quality-assurance programs in the
construction industry. It is specified and or accepted by all major specification entities and government bodies in
the United States and Canada. This comprehensive certification program includes in-plant production and in-the-field
installation auditing to assure that all products are manufactured and installed to stringent industry standards.
Following an established certification program reduces client risk and ensures that the products will perform as
expected for the life of the structure.
Over the past 30 years, architectural precast concrete has evolved from ‘big flat grey panels’ to ‘colored mixes and
finishes’ to complex curves, 3-D forming and integrated materials like brick, terra cotta and stone. Until 2021, PCI
had a ‘one size fits all’ certification program for those producers that have the capability to provide
architectural colors and finishes. To ensure successful project outcomes PCI has expanded architectural
certification categories with architect and construction stakeholder input.
This presentation will review the new categories in depth as well as how to work with a fabricator to align project
expectations with plant capabilities.
Learning Objectives
- Dynamic Building Facades: Partner with precast
fabricators early to explore what’s possible with architectural precast concrete.
- Advanced Manufacturing Techniques: Explore form, finish
and texture complexity by application and certification category.
- Achieve Your Vision: Collaborate with fabricators to
create samples and mockup panels that meet your design intent.
- Specify with Confidence: Review how to specify
Architectural Precast Concrete using the appropriate PCI Certification Category.
How Precast Builds: Architectural Precast Versatility
Length 1.0 Hour I Credits: AIA 1.0 HSW LU I 1.0 PDH
Description
Architectural precast concrete provides the specifier design freedom. Economical to produce, erect and
maintain, architectural precast products can be customized in a virtually limitless range of colors, textures and
shapes — creating a dramatic range of architectural expressions to fit any project or application.
Prefabricated concrete wall panels are the easiest and most economical way to enhance the aesthetics of your next
project. Thanks to their unique combination of thermal insulation and pest-, mold-, and weather-resistant
properties, precast building
enclosures have a greater lifetime cost efficiency than any other wall construction — and can even be
used as a structural component to create more design
possibilities.
This presentation will provide an overview of the many finishes available with precast concrete, along with
methodologies for achieving them. We will also discuss combining multiple finishes into single panels, veneers and
embedded materials, selection of mix designs, approaches to achieving colors, proper specification, and procedures
to ensure expectations are aligned.
Learning Objectives
- Endless Inspiration: Due to the material’s plasticity,
one-of-a-kind color, form, and texture options are possible.
- Expert Craftmanship: Review how clay products and
natural stones can be veneered to precast concrete to speed construction and reduce costs.
- Quality Control: Gain fabrication knowledge to ensure
flawless, consistent, and reliable project outcomes and tight product tolerances.
- Built for Longevity: Explore precast case study examples
that incorporate sustainable features and manufacturing.
How Precast Builds: Parking Structures
Length 1.0 Hour I Credits: AIA 1.0 HSW LU I 1.0 PDH
Description
Today’s parking structures must be built sustainably, reduce operational and maintenance costs, last longer, and have
more stringent aesthetic requirements. In many cases, they must be high performance structures exceeding standard
expectations.
This presentation will explain what a high-performance parking structure is, as well as how to design and build them
utilizing high performance precast concrete. The latest innovations and design methodologies,
including connections, proper detailing and maintenance will be discussed. Aesthetic options and versatility
will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives
- Complement Surrounding Architecture: Incorporate design
features to add architectural interest to the structure’s facade.
- Meet Program Requirements: Whether an increase to
existing parking, an addition to an adjoining structure, or mixed-use commercial building application precast,
prestressed concrete delivers functional, durable parking structures to meet specific project needs.
- Construction Speed and Ease: Prefabricated, precast
concrete systems are ideal when efficient installation is required, reducing construction impact in urban areas
and
the community.
- Technical Expertise and Engineering Excellence: The
material solution for about 70% of parking structures built in the Mid-Atlantic. Fabricators deliver
expert
technical design assistance, budget development, schedule planning, and value engineering for successful project
outcomes.
How Precast Builds: Resilient K-12 Schools
Length 1.0 Hour I Credits: AIA 1.0 HSW LU I 1.0 PDH
Description
Schools are much more than just buildings; they are interactive learning environments, gathering places, and safe
havens for the community. Construction of schools can be impacted by a myriad of factors, including the evolving
construction industry, recent code changes, increasing sustainability requirements, and a challenging economy. These
factors are all increasing the demand for safe, healthy, high-performance educational facilities. In this
presentation, attendees will learn how to design and build high-performance, sustainable, and resilient schools,
with reduced life-cycle costs utilizing precast, prestressed concrete architectural and structural building
solutions. A variety of case studies will be presented to highlight precast concrete’s high-performance attributes,
including optimization of versatile, efficient, and resilient building applications.
Learning Objectives
- Redefining Educational Spaces: Explore innovative
approaches to school design that prioritize high performance and resilience, leveraging the incredible potential
of
precast concrete.
- Life Safety and Beyond: Discover how integrated
architectural and structural precast concrete solutions enhance crucial life safety aspects, including fire
resistance, storm resilience, superior acoustics, and indoor air quality.
- The Power of Prefabrication: Uncover the advantages of
off-site construction and prefabrication techniques, particularly when utilizing natural, low-embodied energy
materials. Learn how these methods accelerate construction to meet tight deadlines, minimize site disruption,
reduce
waste, lower transportation demands, and facilitate seamless trade coordination.
- Sustainable Excellence: Dive into sustainable design
concepts that help control costs, maintain quality, and align with sustainability goals. Gain insights into how
precast concrete contributes to sustainable design objectives while saving both time and money.
How Precast Builds: Sustainable and Resilient Structures
Length 1.0 Hour I Credits: AIA 1.0 HSW LU, 1.0 GCBI, 1.0 PDH
Description
Precast concrete has numerous qualities that can help buildings perform efficiently and offer occupants and
communities healthy, flexible, and useful spaces that can be effectively utilized and adapted over many years.
This presentation explores the holistic design and construction of durable, long-lasting structures that are
sustainable, safe, and resilient. Case studies of projects that used precast concrete for durability, resilience,
and sustainability examine high performance qualities and attributes to consider when specifying the material.
Precast manufacturers are incorporating diverse strategies to meet client sustainability goals. These
initiatives will also be explored in the presentation.
Learning Objectives
- Holistic Design: Define the concepts of resilience and
sustainability with a focus on holistic building design, reduced energy use, and long-term, lifecycle
performance.
- Structurally Sound, Low Maintenance Structures. Precast
concrete design can withstand flooding and hurricane loads as well as other extreme events.
- Sustainable Manufacturing Practices: Transparency
documentation and sustainability reporting through the use of environmental product declarations.
- Precast Protects People and Property: Discuss how
material choices impact the safety and well-being of occupants, including indoor environmental comfort.
- Built to Stand the Test of Time: Explore case
studies that effectively utilized precast concrete to achieve their sustainability goals.
How Precast Builds: Total Precast Concrete Structures
Level 2: Intermediate I Length 1.0 Hour I Credits: AIA 1.0 HSW LU I 1.0 PDH
Description
Prefabricating and erecting a building’s structural system through a single-source precast concrete manufacturer adds
constant value to the owner, contractor, and design team in a fast-paced, highly integrated, and technology-driven
environment. Each year hundreds of precast and prestressed concrete projects are completed in the Mid-
Atlantic region across building sectors, including K-12 and university buildings, data centers and industrial
structures, and mixed-use commercial projects.
This presentation will discuss how precast concrete offers unique benefits as a total building structural and
enclosure solution. Several case studies across building applications will be discussed.
Learning Objectives
- Endless Aesthetic Possibilities: Review different total
precast concrete structural systems that offer structural and enclosure efficiency without sacrificing
architectural
features.
- Offsite Prefabrication: Quality controlled facilities
with oversight and protocols. Multiple trades combined into a single contract scope for safer, cleaner
jobsites with little construction waste. Fabrication that isn’t weather dependent.
- Accelerated, Year-Round Construction: Precast elements
are delivered just-in-time for installation. Increased envelope area enclosed with a single crane pick.
- Cost-Effective, Long-Lasting Solutions:
Inorganic and noncombustible, precast concrete contributes to numerous high performance building attributes
which
minimize operating costs for the life of the building.
- Regionally Sourced, Readily Available Materials:
Manufacturers are pushing innovation to reduce their environmental footprint.
Precast/Prestressed Plant Tour (1, 2, 3, 4 hours)
Length 1 – 4 Hours I Credits: AIA 1 – 4 LUs I PDH: 1 – 4
Description
Attendees will observe firsthand how designs and engineering details are executed in the precast manufacturing
process. They will also observe the entire precast and prestressed manufacturing process from engineering and
connections, forms set-up, casting and finishing. Attendees will learn how precast fits within the entire building
system and how to specify precast concrete accurately and safely.
Learning Objectives
- Achieve Remarkable Architecture Through Prefabrication:
Adherence to rigorous quality control processes while delivering custom, highly engineered solutions for every
project.
- State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Capabilities: Processes
that are evolving to meet unique design and sustainability requirements.
- Collaboration Through Technology: Explore how BIM is
used on projects to integrate other building materials to meet tight tolerances.
- Tried and True Experience: An industry in its seventh
decade, precast producers are constantly innovating to deliver more effective design solutions with predictable
project outcomes.
Handouts
Download a handout to learn more about what to expect from a precast, prestressed concrete plant tour!
PCI-Certified Architectural Precast
Plant Tour Handout
PCI-Certified Bridge Fabricator Plant
Tour Handout