Savanna Eckenrode

LITTLE BOOK OF PRECAST AESTHETICALLY VERSATILE Precast concrete begins as a blank slate and through the use of customizable formliners, polishing and acid washing, photo engraving and thin brick type products, it can be transformed into a unique and visually captivating creation. CUSTOMIZABLE As a building material, precast concrete is an ideal choice for expansion type projects because it can be designed to match existing structures creating a seamless appearance. The wide range of available thin brick products as well as color and texture options leave the door open to many possibilities. Lee County Alabama Overpass by Forterra This attractive and highly functional PCI certified precast bridge gracefully spans four lanes of traffic utilizing long spans swiftly installed with minimal manpower. The bridge will serve for decades to come with minimal maintenance required. STRUCTURALLY VERSATILE The offsite manufacturing process associated with precast concrete allows components to arrive at the project location ready to be installed. The process results in minimal disruption and shorter closures. Also of note, is the reduced number of workers present in an active job site therefore minimizing the potential for worker injury. St. George Catholic Church by Gate Precast St. George Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, LA showcases what is possible when integrating custom precast concrete products containing thing brick with a historic structure to add new life and preserve traditional aesthetics. PRODUCT VERSATILITY Easily integrated with crisp, clean lines, historic compatibility and aesthetic appeal, precast concrete products possess superior versatility. This unique flexibility makes it a top choice for project styles that range from traditional to contemporary. LSU Tiger Stadium Entrance by Tindall Corporation Precast is produced offsite and arrives ready to be erected without additional time spent sitting on site. Projects like LSU Tiger Stadium entrance that are completed on extremely constricted project sites can benefit from the site efficiency of precast. SITE EFFICIENT Lessening environmental impacts while satisfying an underlying need is key with the use of precast concrete. Because each component arrives at the project site “just in time” there is minimal site disruption and improved overall efficiency. Highly skilled precast concrete erection crews diligently direct the components into their resting place. ENERGY EFFICIENT Precast concrete building systems have an inherent thermal efficiency quality that is especially desirable for large energy consuming structures such as hospitals and schools. Insulated wall and floor panels lower the initial HVAC investment for the structure and provide ongoing savings in the form of reduced operating costs. Robert J Curry Public Safety Center by Jackson Precast The new 73,500 SF complex replaces the original police station that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The new safety center met FEMA 361 guidelines and is ready to act as a hurricane shelter. SAFETY & HEALTH RESILIENT Resilient structures are very important when it comes to the health, safety, and comfort of a city. Precast concrete does not give off hazardous gases whether wet or dry which improves indoor air quality. Long, clear spans in a precast concrete building provide plentiful daylighting which can add to the well-being of occupants. FIRE RESISTANT Precast concrete provides inherent fire protection and resiliency. Concrete does not combust and therefore helps contain fires in a controlled space. Precast concrete also provides passive fire protection, which means it does not rely on another system or someone to take action. Parking Garage Hurricane Michael left a path of destruction in its path through Florida in 2019. This precast parking garage was able to withstand the storm without any damage because of the resiliency of its precast components. STORM RESISTANT Precast concrete is inherently resilient and provides excellent protection against high winds, storm surge, and flying debris. It is often used in FEMA shelters, residential, institutional, public, government, and other structures providing protection and resiliency. Biloxi Bay Bridge by Gulf Coast Pre-stress After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge in 2005, MDOT decided to choose precast to replace the structure with a more resilient structure. The new bridge is now able to withstand a Category 5 Hurricane while retaining is character through concrete aesthetic features such as colored concrete. STRUCTURALLY RESILIENT Commercial, industrial, multifamily—all types of buildings experience day-to-day wear and tear —these structures need to last through years of constant use. For a long-lasting building, designers need a tight building envelope with low-maintenance interior and exterior finishes. Precast concrete structures can be designed for 100-year service life with minimal upkeep. LNG Control Maintenance Warehouse by Alfred Miller Companies When clients require blast resistance facilities, precast is able to meet their need. The LNG Control Maintenance facility took advantage of the blast resistance of precast to create a 91,000 SF total precast blast resistant structure for their operations while reducing their construction costs. BLAST RESISTANT Precast concrete provides excellent Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP) and blast resistance. It has been used in many military, government, and other critical infrastructure projects throughout the US providing protection and resiliency. SEISMIC RESISTANT Precast concrete can provide excellent protection against earthquakes and has been successfully used in seismic regions all over the world, and in all building types. LSU Basketball Practice Facility by Gate Precast Admixtures can add even more value to precast components by giving them additional protection to the elements. The LSU basketball addition included precast cladding that was treated with a self-cleaning photocatalytic titanium dioxide admixture to protect the outside from mildew. SELF PROTECTIVE Precast not only protects occupants inside a structure; it can also help protect itself. By using special admixtures, precast producers can create concrete panels that resist mildew and self clean or piles that are protected against the damages of sea water. Photography by Dimension Images SUSTAINABLE Precast/prestressed concrete contributes to sustainable design in many ways. It is a versatile and durable material, produced in a factory by highly trained personnel with virtually no waste. On site, precast panels can be quickly erected with minimal disruption to the site and precast's thermal mass can save energy and increase comfort. CONTINUALLY IMPROVING The precast industry is continually improving whether it be through new technical specifications for producers or new innovative ways to reduce its’ carbon footprint. PCI actively works with other concrete associations and experts to create resources to help educate personnel in the industry on best practices for using precast on their projects. King Bee Road Replacement by JJ Ferguson To meet the timeline and long term needs of the surrounding area, Stone County decided to choose precast for its bridge replacement on King Bee Road. JJ Ferguson was able to provide quality components from a PCI certified plant ensuring the durability and resiliency of the precast. QUALITY CONTROLLED PCI producers are certified to ensure that the precast products they are producing are manufactured and installed according to stringent industry standards. This means when precast arrives at a jobsite it has already gone through a process to guarantee its quality. Veteran Memorial Highway Sound Barriers By Alfred Miller Companies Noise barriers have come along way from simple panels along highways. Decorative panels such as the ones on the Veteran Memorial Highway are possible without sacrificing noise cancelling ability or structural integrity. NOISE CANCELLING The durability and easy installation of precast makes it a great solution for project that have a noise cancelling requirement. From noise barriers on highways to insulated precast panels in between apartments, precast is an economical solution to noise pollution. Wesley Barrow Stadium By Boykin Brothers Even though the total project was only 5,070 SF, the City of New Orleans decided to choose precast for its new Wesley Barrow Stadium to replace the older structure that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Precast was the right choice because of it could meet the tight schedule and budget of the City even on a smaller sized project. FIT FOR ALL SIZED PROJECTS The innovative and adaptable ability of precast concrete makes it the perfect fit for all types and sizes of projects from large scale, complex structures, to small, simple facilities. No matter how big or small, precast can be the solution that meets project schedules and budgets. Route 49 Dual Bridges By F-S Prestress Precast, prestressed concrete systems are used to quickly construct high quality, durable structures that require minimal maintenance. Precast can deliver on reduced future maintenance promises for structures such as the Route 49 Dual Bridge so clients like MDOT will not have to worry about repairing the structures for decades. REDUCED FUTURE MAINTENANCE Because precast is a resilience, durable solution it requires reduced future maintenance when compared to other construction materials. Structures built from precast can be design for 100-year life spans and withstand extreme weather events while incurring little if any repair costs.