Spancrete Studio: The Granddaddy of Precast Studios

The Spancrete Studio,  was started by Spancrete Companies in Waukesha, WI, and the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Matt Jarosz and Gil Snyder, two professors at UW, have shaped and guided the studio over the last 7 years. They have been aided by the engineers and other professionals at Spancrete to help create a program that has been copied and repeated throughout the nation.

This year, the studio took on not just one precast project, but an entire city neighborhood, populated with precast buildings. Using  one Milwaukee neighborhood, the project started with urban planning. Once the parcels were assigned uses, students worked either individually or in groups to create buildings that worked in relation to the plan and to each other. Many of these projects will be be submitted to the PCI Design Competition this year.

Although the PCI Foundation did not start the Spancrete Studio, it has used it as a model to create unique and powerful learning experiences for architecture and engineering students. It's sole focus on precast, the intense work of the studio, and the partnership with the local industry have set it apart from other studios offered by the school.

To learn more about how you can become involved with the PCI Foundation, or to  donate a raffle prize or auction package, please check out the PCI Foundation Auction and Raffle website.