High Performance Precast: Sustainability, Resilience and Aesthetics
This 3-hour seminar will provide architects and engineers with essential knowledge about precast, prestressed concrete as a high-performance building material for sustainable, resilient, and aesthetically compelling buildings. Participants will learn about the precast industry’s efforts to deliver transparency with Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and industrywide and regional Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The program will explore concrete industry innovations aimed at reducing Global Warming Potential (GWP), including technical developments and process improvements currently being implemented by producers. Beyond sustainability, this seminar will demonstrate to attendees the remarkable aesthetic versatility of precast concrete, including techniques for achieving diverse colors, textures, forms, and finishes, as well as methods for veneering natural materials to combine beauty with precast's inherent speed and durability advantages. The program will also discuss the practical design applications of precast concrete in parking structures and podium construction, examining structural systems, connections, detailing, and maintenance strategies for high-performance buildings. Through case studies and technical analysis, participants will gain actionable knowledge about designing with and utilizing precast, prestressed concrete.