“Just because we can do it doesn’t mean we should” was a phrase I recently heard uttered by one of the judges at a studio final review. The comment was made in relation to material selection relative to student designs. The examples that pertained to the discussion were those involving a recently completed WOODEN parking garage and the construction of a 21 story office building. 

As technological advances are made in various sectors of the building industry and research testing “supports” the safety and viability of the expanded use of some materials, designers are faced with the challenge to implement the usage of certain materials on projects that they might have otherwise steered clear of. Whether the issue is cost, availability or public perception, there are common reasons why the best material is not always the one chosen on a project.  

As the year kicks off, a large focus for PCI Gulf South will be on school construction. There is no other place I can think of where  the safety, health and welfare of the occupants is more important. In my personal experience in the Mid-Atlantic region, I had the opportunity to be involved with school construction projects where precast concrete played an integral role in creating safe, efficient, durable, functional and attractive buildings. PCI Gulf South has set the goal of expanding the use of precast concrete in the educational sector where the need for safe shelters is vitally important. Contact me or any of the PCI Gulf South producers if you would like to learn more about using precast concrete on your next project.