PCI accepting entries for the 51st Design Awards Competition

CHICAGO – The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is now accepting entries for its 2013 Design Awards competition. This long-standing annual awards program recognizes design excellence, innovation, and construction quality using precast concrete. The deadline to submit a project for consideration is May 20, 2013.

All winning projects will be showcased at the 2013 PCI Convention and National Bridge Conference in September, and will be included in a summary feature article that appears in PCI Journal and Aspire and Ascent magazines. Combined, these three publications reach more than 65,000 industry stakeholders.

“The PCI Design Awards program showcases unique and innovative trends not just in precast concrete, but in design and architecture as a whole,” said Debra Kunce, FAIA, LEED AP, lead strategist at CORE Planning Strategies in Indianapolis. “Each year, the projects demonstrate cutting-edge aesthetics, functionality, and efficiency. I look forward to what this year’s winners will bring to the table.”

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. This year’s 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,” said PCI President James G. Toscas, P.E. “For over 50 years, the Design Awards program has identified outstanding precast projects and highlighted them to the buildings industry. This year’s focus on high performance projects will take the competition to a new level and further 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 and entertainment, institutional, housing and residential, industrial and warehouse, and custom solutions. 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.

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.

Any structure in the United States, Canada, or Mexico that has been completed within the last three years and is substantially constructed using precast concrete manufactured in a PCI-Certified or CPCI-Certified plant is eligible. Entries are made electronically and should be submitted by the architect or engineer of record. Winners will be announced in late July 2013. There is no entry fee.

For complete information including submission guidelines, visit www.pcidesignawards.org/2013intro/. For additional questions, contact Brian Miller at bmiller@pci.org or Jennifer Peters at jpeters@pci.org.

View the 2012 Design Award-winning projects at www.pcidesignawards.org/2012/.