In a world where the construction landscape is constantly shifting, staying ahead of the game is essential for owners, developers, designers, and contractors. Embrace the future of construction with our captivating course, as we delve into the fascinating world of precast concrete systems. Structures aren't just about meeting codes and requirements; they're about revolutionizing the way we build. Explore modern prefabricated techniques while simultaneously reducing costs and enhancing sustainability and resiliency.

Learning Objectives:

• Overview of Precast Concrete Systems: Gain an understanding of architectural and structural precast concrete systems, connections, and constructability.
• Precast Concrete Advantages: Explore the benefits of precast concrete to gain understanding of its role in reducing costs, design flexibility, energy efficiency, and building performance.
• Aesthetic Versatility: Learn how precast concrete products can deliver a multitude of textures and finishes.
• Resiliency Concepts: Understand the concept of resiliency and how precast concrete systems provide robust multi-hazard protection.

The aesthetics of a structure are very important, as it is what most people identify with. High performance materials should provide aesthetic versatility in order to efficiently meet a structure’s architectural requirements. Precast concrete provides incredible aesthetic versatility from providing multiple colors and textures, to developing shapes, forms and very ornate details. Precast can also simulate or be veneered with natural materials providing all of their beauty, but with the added speed, durability, many other benefits of precast. This presentation will provide an overview of the many finishes available with precast concrete, along with methodologies for achieving them. We will also discuss combining multiple finishes into single panels, veneers and embedded materials, selection of mix designs, approaches to achieving colors, proper specification, and procedures to ensure expectations are aligned.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the finish options of precast concrete
• Describe methods to achieve color, form and texture
• Explain how clay products and natural stones can be veneered to precast concrete to speed construction and reduce costs
• Discuss the latest innovations in aesthetics and finishes

A structure’s envelope has considerable impact on its overall performance, as highlighted by recent code changes. The envelope not only serves as a barrier between the outside environment and conditioned space, but also as a part of the aesthetic expression for the structure. It must also serve as a protective shield against environmental forces. High-performance building envelopes can help reduce the overall energy consumption of a structure throughout the structure’s life, and maintain and protect its interior environment and occupants.

This presentation addresses what high performance building envelopes are, as well as key elements to their performance. It will discuss how to use precast concrete wall systems to meet the latest code requirements such as continuous insulation and air barriers, and include topics such as moisture management, thermal mass effect and how to calculate effective R-values, integration with other building systems, and more. This session will also touch on the idea of resilience. A structure must be able to resist environmental forces, such as high winds and earthquakes in order to protect life and fulfill its intended purpose. Case studies are used to highlight information presented. 

• Describe the three basic types of precast concrete envelope systems
• Describe new envelope code requirements
• Explain thermal mass and how to use it to create more energy efficient buildings
• Discuss moisture management methodologies

Schools are much more than just buildings; they are interactive learning environments, gathering places, and safe havens for the community. Construction of schools can be impacted by a myriad of factors, including the evolving construction industry, recent code changes, increasing sustainability requirements, and a challenging economy. These factors are all increasing the demand for safe, healthy, high-performance educational facilities. In this presentation, attendees will learn how to design and build high-performance, sustainable, and resilient schools, with reduced life-cycle costs utilizing precast, prestressed concrete architectural and structural building solutions. A variety of case studies will be presented to highlight precast concrete’s high-performance attributes, including optimization of versatile, efficient, and resilient building applications.

• Redefining Educational Spaces: Explore innovative approaches to school design that prioritize high performance and resilience, leveraging the incredible potential of precast concrete.
• Life Safety and Beyond: Discover how integrated architectural and structural precast concrete solutions enhance crucial life safety aspects, including fire resistance, storm resilience, superior acoustics, and indoor air quality.
• The Power of Prefabrication: Uncover the advantages of off-site construction and prefabrication techniques, particularly when utilizing natural, low-embodied energy materials. Learn how these methods accelerate construction to meet tight deadlines, minimize site disruption, reduce waste, lower transportation demands, and facilitate seamless trade coordination.
• Sustainable Excellence: Dive into sustainable design concepts that help control costs, maintain quality, and align with sustainability goals. Gain insights into how precast concrete contributes to sustainable design objectives while saving both time and money.

Hollow-Core Floors and Walls

This course instructs participants about hollow-core products and how to design and build utilizing hollow-core floors and walls. Participants also learn about the inherent fire resistance of hollow-core, a major life-safety consideration. After this program, participants will be able to: Identify the different precast, prestressed hollow-core concrete systems Explain the benefits of using precast, prestressed hollow-core concrete Discuss the benefits of using hollow-core concrete with owners and other designers.

• Understand fabrication techniques, erection procedures and transportation considerations for precast Hollowcore plank and wall panels.
• Understand design and detail for precast products including connections and economical layout considerations.
• Understand High Performance Building principles using precast concrete systems
• Understand how to integrate the precast structural system with other building systems.

Parking structures have changed a lot over the past decade. Today’s parking structures have to be built sustainably, reduce operational and maintenance costs, last longer, and have more stringent aesthetic requirements. In many cases, they have to be high performance structures exceeding standard expectations. This presentation will explain what a high performance parking structure is, as well as how to design and build them utilizing high performance precast concrete. The latest innovations and design methodologies, including connections, proper detailing and maintenance will be discussed. Aesthetic options and versatility will also be presented.

• Describe the primary attributes of a high performance parking structure
• Discuss the latest innovations in parking structure design
• Explain the differences in various structural systems for parking structures
• Describe proper maintenance procedures for parking structure

The concept of 'high-performance' encompasses sustainability, and goes beyond a single criteria approach by requiring optimization of all relevant attributes for a project on a life cycle basis.

This presentation will introduce how high performance is being applied to special purpose and routine highway structures in the transportation industry. It will provide an overview of how precast/prestressed concrete is being used to meet long lasting, low maintenance, accelerated constructed and low cost requirements for bridges and pavements. The presenter will briefly discuss where engineers can learn more about the basic concepts and detailed methodologies related to design and preservation of these ever changing transportation facilities. It will also introduce some of the newest innovative systems and designs being used throughout the United States for simple and complex structures.

• Define what high performance concrete transportation structures are
• Discuss the advantages and long-term benefits of high performance design as they relate to concrete transportation structures.
• Describe how precast concrete contributes to design versatility, efficiency, and long-term performance of transportation structures.
• Discuss some of the newest technologies in the transportation industry

In this program, owners and designers will learn about the low initial cost, low maintenance requirements, and long life expectancy of prestressed concrete bridges. Precast bridges have also proven to be high in long-term durability and fire resistance and have excellent riding characteristics.

• Appreciate the growth in the demand for prestressed concrete bridges
• Explain the advantages of using prestressed bridges
• Differentiate non-precast bridges from totally precast bridges
• Consider the low cost, low maintenance requirements, and long life expectancy of prestressed concrete bridges when choosing design materials.

Population growth continues to explode creating an urgent need for multi-family housing that offers strength, durability, and improved safety. Precast, prestressed concrete construction for single, residential, and mixed-use structures is resilient, versatile and cost-efficient. Participants will learn the basics of using precast, prestressed concrete components in multi-family housing and the value of using precast, prestressed concrete floor and wall systems.

• Overview of Precast Techniques: Acquire an understanding of precast concrete fabrication techniques, learn about erection procedures, and navigate the complexities of transportation considerations.
• Economical Design: Discover the art of designing cost-effective layouts with precast products, enabling you to optimize budgets while enhancing the quality of your projects.
• Seamless MEP Integration: Learn the seamless integration of Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems into the precast structural system, leading to highly efficient and functional multi-family spaces.
• Sustainability and Resilience: Delve into how precast concrete contributes to sustainable and resilient building designs, ensuring long-term performance that exceeds industry standards.
• Resource Treasure Chest: Access a wealth of design resources tailored specifically for creating single and multi-family housing using precast products. Equip yourself with the tools to bring your architectural visions to life efficiently and effectively.

After this course, participants will be more familiar with how precast concrete systems allow an industrial structure to meet the demands of heavy use and dynamic production advancement. Additionally, the program explores the use of precast concrete components for specific industrial, retail, and manufacturing applications that take advantage of precast concrete's fire-resistance and long roof span capabilities. Participants also discover benefits to the designer and owner in terms of increased durability, flexibility of design, high quality of manufactured products, versatility, high-performance, durable materials and speed of construction because precast components can be erected quickly once they arrive at the site.

• Identify and discuss the different industrial applications for precast, prestressed concrete systems
• Discuss High Performance attributes of Precast concrete systems in Industrial structures
• Explain the benefits of using precast, prestressed concrete in industrial building design
• Make an informed material choice for your next industrial building design

Health awareness and athletic competition have become increasingly more important throughout the past years. We see expansions of professional sports teams, new extreme sports being introduced, old facilities being rebuilt, and a growing demand for new facilities. For example, the athletic facility market is expected to grow by 15% or more over next couple of years. Furthermore, these structures have increasing requirements to design and built for high performance and provide flexibility, functionality, and durability. This presentation will provide an overview of today's high performance athletic facility design using precast concrete systems, as well as include recommendations to optimize designs. Topics discussed will be highlighted with case studies.

• Discuss the basics of athletic facility design
• Describe the key considerations of high performance design relative to athletic facilities
• Describe the various elements used in precast concrete systems in athletic facilities
• Explain how to maximize the value of using precast concrete systems in athletic facilities

After this presentation, participants will understand the following concepts: (1) The key to sustainable building lies in long-life, adaptable, low-energy design. (2) The earth’s resources are best conserved if the service life of a building is prolonged. (3) Using precast concrete in buildings conserves energy and resources during and after construction because of the following characteristics of precast concrete: (a) The materials used in precast buildings are natural, renewable, and locally available. (b) Water and materials used in precast buildings are often recyclable and recycled. (c) Indoor and outdoor air quality are improved in precast buildings because less (or no) VOC-based preservatives and paints are required, and because of the thermal mass qualities of precast concrete.

• Understand High Performance Building principles using precast concrete systems
• Understand precast connections and how to create designs with adaptability and deconstructability in mind.
• Understand how to integrate the structural system with other building systems
• Discuss sustainable principles and how it relates to concrete

After this program, participants will be more familiar with what a total precast concrete structure is, how a total precast structure can benefit a project, and what components are used to construct a total precast structure. Participants will also learn how to manage a successful project.

• Make a distinct connection between precast products and their specific applications/benefits
• Use total precast concrete structural systems in various applications
• Identify various manufacturing processes involving precast concrete
• See the value that a precast concrete manufacturer contributes to the project

Attendees will observe firsthand how designs and engineering details are executed in the precast manufacturing process. They will also observe the entire precast and prestressed manufacturing process from engineering and connections, forms set-up, casting and finishing. Attendees will gain a better understanding of precast and prestressed capabilities and related quality issues. Attendees will learn how precast fits within the entire building system and how to specify precast concrete accurately and safely. 

• Discuss the wellness/welfare aspects of precast concrete as a building material
• Explain how the precast concrete production process applies sustainability concepts
• Discuss the quality control procedures endemic to the precast concrete production process
• Implement sustainable precast design and manufacturing concepts to their own production processes