CARMEL, Ind. Oct. 8, 2026 – NPCA announced today at its 61st Annual Convention in Reno, Nevada, the nine shortlisted finalists for its first “Built for Purpose” Awards. The awards program honors infrastructure projects that showcase the enduring role precast has played, and will continue to play, in the growth of the United States and American infrastructure.

built for purpose logo

This year’s shortlisted companies and projects include:

  • Alcrete – REEFLINE Project, Phase 1, which used 22 life-sized precast cars arranged in an underwater “traffic jam” to reflect the resilience of nature against human impact. Cast in marine-grade concrete and seeded with 2,200 corals, the project uses precast to build a manmade reef in Miami, Florida.
  • Concrete Express, Inc. (CEI) – Clear Creek Trail: Huntsman Gulch Segment, which transformed an extremely constrained portion of Clear Creek Canyon just outside Golden, Colorado, into a safe, accessible trail corridor, using precast to overcome extraordinary site constraints and expand public access to one of Jefferson County’s most distinctive natural environments.
  • Deihl Vault & Precast – 137th St. Elevator project which manufactured a custom precast concrete elevator shaft for a major accessibility improvement project within the New York City transit system.
  • Gainey’s  – Goodbee Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, developed an all-precast modular concrete wastewater treatment system tailored to meet the demands of an aging treatment system in Mandeville, Louisiana, while longer-term plans for a regional facility were being coordinated.
  • Gainey’s – Lake Lure Pump Station Restoration, which helped stem an environmental emergency caused by Hurricane Helene in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Preast concrete was used to repair a damaged sewer pump station that was discharging thousands of gallons of untreated wastewater into the lake, necessitating a restoration of service and protection of the ecosystem.
  • Jensen Infrastructure – Shine Creek Fish Passage project, which installed sophisticated culvert systems in Port Ludlow, Washington, designed to restore salmon and steelhead fish passage by replacing deteriorating pipes with massive, modern, environmentally focused systems, while respecting a federal injunction tied to Native American tribal treaties.
  • Permatile Concrete Products Company – TDOT Route 321 Restoration Project in Butler, Tennessee, which restored residents’ access to their schools, hospitals, homes and jobs after Hurricane Helene washed out this critical infrastructure. The approach used on the project also ensured the road would not fail again in the event of a future flooding event.
  • Pre-Con Products – Adventure Park Multi-Benefit Stormwater Capture Project, which is a 13-foot tall underground vault assembled of more than 1,400 precast concrete elements, capable of holding 6.4 million gallons of stormwater in unincorporated Los Angeles County, critical for intercepting runoff and also supporting sanitary sewer treatment and reuse downstream.
  • Velpont Bridges (Aster Brands) – Blake Hill Road Bridge project, which replaced an aging bridge in Mount Vernon, Maine, restoring safe, reliable access to the community and which now allows for critical vehicles – including emergency vehicles, school buses and more – to cross and provide critical services.

“Precast concrete improves public safety, protects natural habitats and contributes to the resilience of American infrastructure” said Nick Rhoad, CEO and President of NPCA. “These projects exemplify the very best of our industry, shining a bright light on the creativity, innovation and passion that our producers bring to their work every day. We are thrilled to honor them with this inaugural award and share the positive impact they have had in their communities, as well as the benefits they provided with their incredible expertise.”

When scoring entries, judges looked across five key areas to thoughtfully and strategically judge each submission: clear community or infrastructure impact; measurable long-term benefits; effective use of precast concrete; sustainability and resilience; and a compelling project story. The judges were:

  • Bill Bundschuh, President & Owner at Pretech Corporation
  • Claude Goguen, Director of Outreach and Technical Education at NPCA
  • David Jolly, Communications Consultant for O.F.D.C. Communications LLC
  • Don Marsh, Editor at Concrete Products
  • Robert “Bob” Waterloo, Technical Sales Manager at Hill and Griffith Co.

The results of the competition – which will include one gold winner, three silver winners, five bronze winners, and all honorable mentions – will be awarded at The Precast Show, February 3-5, 2027, in Salt Lake City. Winners will also be featured in NPCA publications and digital media, as well as nationally.

For more information, visit www.Precast.org/BuiltForPurpose