PCI Gulf South Newsletter|Issue #31
How Precast Builds
DC Blox Data Center
Gate Precast Company
Photos via DC Blox
DC Blox’s bold purple accent walls are just a small part of what makes this precast concrete building special. The 31,000-ft² structure will become the center piece for the DC Blox technology and innovation campus, giving employees a state-of-the-art center to do their work.

This 31,000-SF flagship data center contains 18,000-SF of white space and 13,000-SF of office space, with conference rooms, demo space, hoteling cubes and workstations. The center has a fully-protected private network, 5MW of customer capacity in a building designed to withstand 150 mph winds. The owner’s long-term plan is to develop a Technology and Innovation Campus that will drive the connected digital economy in the city where it is located.
GOOD…BETTER…BEST

Oftentimes when you purchase an item, you are presented with a good option, a better option or the best option. Depending on what the specific item is, “good” may be good enough. In the precast industry, “good” is never good enough and as such, PCI strives to continually advance, upgrade and revamp its policies, procedures and products.
Take for instance the recent implementation of the “new and improved” Architectural Certification Program. Aimed to more specifically identify the architectural complexity of PCI certified building products, the expanded framework of categories aids designers and producers during the bid process.

This example is one of many tweaks PCI has made in the quest to remain the gold standard in the precast building market.
Design for Resilience and Sustainability with Precast Concrete Webinar
This webinar discusses considerations for the holistic design and construction of durable, long-lasting structures that are sustainable, safe and resilient. A building's primary goal is to protect the lives, lifestyles and livelihoods of its occupants.

Watch the recording or view more upcoming and recorded webinars at the link below.
PCI Convention and The Precast Show
Join us March 1-5 at the the 2022 PCI Convention and the Precast Show in Kansas City, Mo., for the largest precast concrete-specific trade show in North America. Visit the PCI Convention website to reserve your spot and see all of the exciting council and committee meetings, education sessions, and fun being planned.
Save the Dates
PCI Gulf South Spring Meeting
Natchez, MS
April 12 and 13, 2022
 PCI Gulf South Summer Convention
Lake Charles, LA
Golden Nugget Casino Resort
July 14 through 16, 2022

Registration coming soon
2022 PCI Design Awards Winners Announced
Congratulations to the winners and honorable mentions of the 2022 PCI Design Awards. Three jury panels of architects, engineers, and precast concrete producers selected a total of 28 winners and 13 honorable mentions. Look for project details, project teams, and photos on the PCI website.
Learn@Lunch - Go Virtual!
PCI Gulf South offers a variety of ways to reach the existing design community.
The Learn@Lunch program was developed to allow professionals the opportunity to learn about precast products and systems.

Get the design credits you need all without having to leave your home or office!
65th Annual Alabama Transportation Conference
The Alabama Transportation Assistance Program and Auburn University in conjunction with the state of Alabama held the 65th Annual Transportation Conference in Montgomery, AL on February 9th, and 10th. It was a welcome change to have the conference in person this year, as last year’s event was held virtually.
Mississippi State Studio & Jackson Precast Tour
One of the invaluable components of a PCI Foundation studio are plant tours. Plant tours offer students an up close view of what producers do and what goes into producing a quality precast product. On Friday, February 18, the students from the Mississippi State studio program descended on the Jackson Precast plant in Jackson, MS.
The Winter 2022 issue of Ascent Magazine is Here!
This issue features several example of how precast builds K-12 schools. Precast concrete is the ideal construction material for this segment, demonstrating resilience and safety, saving costs, and shaving time off construction schedules. Read the Winter 2022 issue to learn more.

Articles include:
  • RB+B’s Designs Embrace New Approaches to Learning
  • NYC Schools Opt for Precast Concrete
  • Making the Grade
  • Sidney Freedman Craftsmanship Award
  • Insight: Precast Concrete is an Essential Material for Schools
  • University Profile: Kennesaw State University
  • and more!
Attention Students!
If you are a recently graduated student and want to continue to receive emails from PCI Gulf South, please be sure to update your email address as
most school email addresses expire after 6 months!

To update, simply forward your new email address to
pcigulfsouth1@att.net and we will update it in our system.
Did you know?
It was in 1824 when modern cement was invented. This invention is credited to Joseph Aspdin of England. He named his cement Portland, after a quarry that yielded strong stones. Today, Portland cement is the most common ingredient found in concrete.
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Regardless of the design or product being produced, all precast building materials get their start in a manufacturing facility at the hands of highly skilled producers. The “day-in-day-out” production process is shrouded in a blanket of safety protocols intended to minimize or eliminate worker injury.