PCI Gulf South Newsletter|Issue #25
How Precast Builds
Charleston Progressive Academy
Precast courtesy Tindall Corporation
The decision was made in 2011 to preserve the mid-century building with thoughtful additions conveying the significance of its architectural and social merits. To complete these additions, precast concrete was used to save time and money and resolve a number of design issues.

Precast concrete was selected for the shear walls of the school addition to address the challenges presented by working within a tight construction schedule, on a small urban site, and in a high seismic region. As part of the school’s renovation, two new buildings were constructed within an existing courtyard space.

The construction of the new buildings began in November 2012 with the goal of opening the school in August 2013. This time line presented an exceptionally tight construction window for the new structures.
Director's Corner
MISSION...it’s what makes people get up each day and trudge forward. It’s that “thing” worth investing in or fighting for. Sometimes, it’s the collective goal of many people, as in the mission of PCI Gulf South and our belief that growing the precast market is beneficial to everyone, not just precast producers.
McNeese State Studio
McNeese State University, located in Lake Charles, LA was recently awarded a PCI Foundation Studio. The studio program, which is composed of industry partners and academia, will focus on precast products and their use in the petrochemical industry.
PCI Gulf South's 2020 Spring Meeting
PCI Gulf South held their rescheduled Spring meeting on September 1st and 2nd. Originally scheduled for April 6th and 7th, the meeting was held in person at Ross Bridge Golf Resort in Birmingham, AL. 
Webinar Series: Accelerated Bridge Construction Using Precast Concrete
The presentation will discuss precast resources that can used for accelerated bridge construction projects. The overview will assist designers in determining the appropriate solutions for precast substructures and superstructures in design and construction. Several case studies will showcase the versatility and aesthetic enhancements of precast used in ABC applications.


Tuesday, October 22, 12 pm CDT

Credits:
AIA 1.0 HSW/LU
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!
Producer Profile
Atlantic metrocast, inc. provides a wide range of prestressed and precast products to meet the needs of every customer. With production plants in Portsmouth, VA, La Plata, MD, and New Orleans, LA, Atlantic metrocast, inc. is able to serve both East Coast and Gulf Coast regions with all prestressed/precast concrete needs. 
2020 ASCE Meeting
The ASCE Mississippi section held their annual membership meeting September 16th-18th using a virtual format. The ASCE invited PCI Gulf South to present on the NEXT beam as part of the meeting.
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.
PCI 2020 Committee Days
PCI Committee Days proceeded on a virtual platform with meetings spread over a three week timeframe. Click the link below to see some of the notable takeaways this year.
Quality Control Training Courses are Now Virtual
Today’s business environment demands a high degree of training and certification in all areas of concrete manufacturing and installation. Customer satisfaction is the principal goal in achieving profitability and a thorough quality control program that extends outside of the plant to the point of install.
 
Based on updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all in-person Quality Control Schools are officially canceled. In their place, PCI has issued online training courses for quality control sessions.
Level I/II
Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 2020
Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2020

Level III
Oct. 6 - 9, 2020
Dec. 8 - 11, 2020
Certified Field Auditor
August 24 - 27, 2020

Certified Company Auditor
August 28, 2020
Did you know?
While concrete does not have a melting point, a temperature of a thousand degrees Fahrenheit will decompose the concrete. This means that the heat will evaporate the water and turn the sand and gravel into molten lava.
Upcoming Events
Check Out Our Blog!

Schools and Precast in Urban Environments
School facilities constructed with precast require less maintenance in the long term and are smart investments. Boasting numerous advantages, precast limits the need for ongoing facilities spending and allows districts to direct more funds toward the education of the student.

The resurgence of precast into the school market started in 2000 when labor shortages placed a crunch on the timelines for school projects. The advancements in precast building products gained a second look of designers because of the lengthy list of advantages precast brings to a project.