Three Parking Structures Receive Awards of Excellence

These outstanding projects were singled out for extraordinary design and their innovative use of precast concrete to overcome project challenges, while meeting their program goals, said Special Awards Jury member Richard G. Weingardt of Richard Weingardt Consultants, Inc. These projects highlight the versatility of precast concrete systems, both aesthetically and structurally.

The annual competition's 28 winning projects comprised 20 buildings and eight bridges. Winning parking structure projects are listed below.

2011 PCI Design Awards Winning Parking Structure Projects

• Best Parking Structure (0-999 cars)
  164th Street Garage
  Bronx, N.Y.
  Architect: Clarke Caton Hintz Architects, Trenton, N.J.
  Precaster: Unistress Corp., Pittsfield, Mass.


• Best Parking Structure (1000+ cars) Co-winner
  Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport ConRAC Garage
  San Jose, Calif.
  Architect: TransSystems, Phoenix, Ariz.
  Architect: Fentress Architects, San Jose, Calif.
  Precaster: Clark Pacific, West Sacramento, Calif.


• Best Parking Structure (1000+ cars) Co-winner
  Orlando Health Parking Deck C
  Orlando, Fla.
  Architect: Baker Barrios Architects, Tampa, Fla.

The PCI Design Awards recognize design excellence and construction quality using precast concrete. The program demonstrates how designers are continuing to utilize precast/prestressed concrete components to achieve sustainable, more cost-effective, aesthetically pleasing, and quickly-constructed projects. Included among the winning building entries are commercial buildings, a retail/mixed use project, parking structures, sports facilities, public/institutional buildings, higher education developments, healthcare buildings, multi-family homes, hotels, and retirement facilities.

Leading designers and engineers are capitalizing on precast concrete to meet real-world design challenges, green code demands and difficult site conditions to bring projects in on-time and on-budget, said PCI President James G. Toscas, P.E. We are proud to honor the best in precast concrete structure design and quality with this annual program."

Judges for the 2011 PCI Design Awards consisted of three panels. The first focused on Buildings, the second on Bridges/Transportation, and the third on special awards for Sustainability, All-Precast Solutions, and the Harry H. Edwards Award for industry advancement. Members of the Special Awards Jury were Richard Weingardt, P.E., Dist. M. ASCE, F. ACEC, consulting engineer, Richard Weingardt Consultants, Inc.; Jonathan Boyer, AIA, principal, Farr Associates; and Allen Finfrock, P.E., vice president of design, Finfrock Industries. Members of the Buildings Jury were Robert Powers, AIA, LEED AP, architect, HOK; Craig Smith, AIA, principal, Loebl Schlossman & Hackl; Richard Fencl, AIA, CSI, LEED AP, principal/technical director, Gensler; Jim Crockett, editorial director, Architectural Products; and Stuart Howard, FRAIC, president, Royal Institute of Architects, Canada.

About PCI

Founded in 1954, the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is the foremost developer of standards and methods for designing, fabricating, and constructing precast concrete structures. PCI also operates the worlds leading certification program for firms and individuals in the precast concrete structures industry. Institute members include firms comprising the precast concrete structures industry as well as architects, consultants, contractors, developers, educators, engineers, materials suppliers, service providers, and students.

PCI develops, maintains, and disseminates the industrys body of knowledge and publishes a broad array of periodicals, technical manuals, reports, and other informational documents, including an award-winning technical journal. Additionally, PCI offers a variety of continuing education options, technical conferences, conventions, exhibitions, and awards programs.