Precast Studios Leading the Way from Concepts to Reality

The major program funding by the PCI Foundation is the Precast Studio program. Each of these programs at 7 schools around the nation manage to introduce the precast industry to students and have them interact. This unique program is on the forefront of architectural education -- and has created some incredibly popular programs at universities such a New Jersey Institute of Technology,  University of North Florida, University of Wisconsin, University of North Carolina, Illinois Institute of Technology, and others.

The PCI Foundation put together this video that gives an update on what is happening with the studios.

The foundation has worked with six schools to create these studios, either in the architecture department, engineering department, or as a comprehensive studio that melds the two departments together.

The six studios are as follows:

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee -- This is the "granddaddy" of the studios. It is an architectural program developed and sponsored by Spancrete that was the first of its kind. This year, the students combined their precast work with some urban planning to create many different projects all within one neighborhood -- so each of the projects related to others.

Illinois Institute of Technology -- This was the second studio created, with a model similar to the Spancrete Studio at UWM. Professor Tom Brock has used projects that ranged from a Charter School for the City of Chicago to artist work/live space to take senior level students through the design process in precast concrete. This studio has partnered with the PCI of Illinois & Wisconsin to bring in industry expertise.

University of North Carolina, Charlotte - Thomas Gentry has led this studio which includes both architecture and engineering students. The studio has been successful, having been offered several times now. PCI Georgia / Carolinas has worked closely with the students to ensure "real world" feedback on student projects.

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona -- has offered a PCI Foundation-sponsored studio in the architectural department. They have worked in conjunction with the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Manufacturers Associates of California

University of North Florida -- This is an engineering program that was created by professor Adel El-Safty working with Gate Precast. "This builds an intellectual connection between the industry and academia," says El-Safty. He stresses that students have been able to move beyond theory into "real world" design. The studio has worked in conjunction  the Florida Prestressed Concrete Association.

New Jersey Institute of Technology -- The newest studio in the PCI Foundation roster starts this fall at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The architecture students in this program will work with local precasters who are part of the Mid-Atlantic Precast Association and PCI Northeast.