The National Precast Concrete Association’s Creative Use of Precast Awards competition recognizes innovative applications of precast concrete in two categories: Above-Ground and Underground. An independent panel of industry experts served as judges, and awards were presented during The Precast Show 2013 in Indianapolis. For complete descriptions of this year’s winning projects, please visit precast.org/awards.
Above-Ground Category
First Place
Universal Precast Concrete, Inc.
Project: Stagecoach Climber
Location: Yucca Valley, Calif.
The challenge was to produce a realistic, fun-for-kids playground piece while staying within budget constraints, and Universal Precast Concrete met the challenge with a 13-piece, exquisitely detailed precast concrete stagecoach. The realism attained through the intricate design and painting of each piece adds to the authenticity of the replica, which serves as a focal point for the park and an indestructible climbing piece for kids.
Second Place
StructureCast
Project: Madina Center
Location: Stockton, Calif.
When the project architect set out to design The Madina Center, a new Islamic worship center, he had a specific vision that would bring to life the center’s mission and culture. To achieve this look in an efficient and cost-effective manner required a building material that could minimize the project timeline while also providing maximum design potential. The precast concrete solution created by StructureCast included a contract to manufacture and install 56 architectural precast concrete panels. The precast option trimmed the original construction schedule by 15 days, and the panels elegantly captured the architect’s vision.
Third Place
StructureCast
Project: Tejon Ranch Monument Sign
Location: Tejon Ranch, Calif.
As the second-largest contiguous ranch in the United States, the Tejon Ranch Co. controls more than 270,000 acres. A company that controls so much land needs an impressive sign, and a precast-and-stone design provided the perfect solution. The sign was manufactured in four hefty pieces, with the precast elements ranging from 12,000 lbs to 32,000 lbs. This design not only created an aesthetically pleasing result, but also provided a cost benefit and schedule savings and allowed for a small installation footprint in an environmentally sensitive job site.
Honorable Mention
Northeast Precast LLC
Project: Quarry Retaining Wall
Location: Millville, N.J.
Pacific Precast Inc.
Project: Martin Luther King Viaduct
Location: Portland, Ore.
Underground Category
First Place
Oldcastle Precast-Lebanon
Project: Bellamy Bat Cave
Location: Clarksville, Tenn.
With a lethal fungus known as “white nose syndrome” devastating the bat population on the East Coast, the local nature conservancy turned to a precast concrete solution to combat the spread of the deadly disease. The conservancy worked with the Oldcastle Precast plant in Lebanon, Tenn., to craft a bat cave from 28 box culvert sections. The interior top sections were cast with a form liner to mimic a natural limestone cave, and other modifications provided access for researchers and natural separations for bat species. “Precast concrete gave us the best shot at getting this project done quickly and economically, and time is of the essence when you are talking about conservation,” said the owner. The project was featured in 2012 in the New York Times and on PopularScience.com.
Additional Image 1 | Additional Image 2
Second Place
Cape Fear Precast LLC
Project: Precast Concrete Stormwater Wetland
Location: New Bern, N.C.
In the city of New Bern, N.C., a proposed wetland initiative with the NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) and the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund was realized, thanks to precast concrete from Cape Fear Precast. The precast stormwater wetland captures and treats runoff from a large watershed and can treat runoff from more than 1,000 acres of residential and commercial property. The project is unique in both its size and scope, and it is one of the largest stormwater retrofits built to date in the state. The outlet weir for the project is modeled after a labyrinth weir design concept. The “W” shape creates more flow length in a smaller width than traditional spillways. The design also incorporates flashboard risers that provide flexibility for controlling water levels in the wetland.
Third Place
By-Crete
Project: Pegula Ice Arena
Location: University Park, Pa.
The Pegula Ice Arena project included an underground water detention system designed to control runoff mainly from the new arena. This project consisted of 252 pieces of box culvert. The finished system had to be watertight to prevent any sinkholes from forming in the area. Pieces were delivered just-in-time for installation. Three rows of box culverts were installed at a time as the excavation company prepared for the next three rows. This method shortened installation time to less than two months, saving on labor costs and allowing the roads and pathways to stay open for as long as possible. By building the system out of precast concrete, the contractor was able to create a 15-20% cost savings in comparison to pouring in place.
Honorable Mention
Terre Hill Concrete Products Inc.
Project: World Trade Center Transportation Hub Stormwater Filtration System
Location: New York, N.Y.
Leave a Reply