Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Recognizes 2021 PCI Best Healthcare and Medical Building

The Texas Health Frisco new bed tower was recognized as the Best Healthcare and Medical Building in the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute’s 2021 Design Awards. The awards have showcased and recognized the creative and innovative use of precast concrete for the past 58 years. A panel of industry experts that includes engineers, architects and precast concrete producers judges all nominees.

Judges awarded 26 projects and 12 honorable mentions for design excellence in building and transportation categories. The categories were judged on aesthetic, structural and use versatility; site, energy and operational efficiency and risk reduction; and resiliency, such as structure durability, multi-hazard protection and life safety and health. All winning projects will be showcased and honored May 21 at the 2021 PCI Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. Visit pci.org for details and photos of all winning and honorable mention projects.

Project team for Texas Health Frisco New Bed Tower

Owner: Texas Health Resources
PCI-Certified Precast Concrete Producer: Gate Precast Company
Precast Concrete Specialty Engineer: Stehler Structural Engineering
Architect: HKS
Engineer of Record: Thornton Tomasetti
General Contractor: Austin Commercial
PCI-Certified Erector: SnS Erectors
Photo Credit: Bryan Wallace, HKS Inc.; Daryl Shields, HKS Inc.; Gate Precast Company
Project Cost: $168 million
Project Size: 450,000 ft²

Key project attributes

• Panels feature three different-colored concrete mixture designs, along with four different finishes
• A “file-to-fabrication” workflow enabled team members to push ideas forward and manage budgetary parameters in the digital file
• The Design-Assist process cut 2% off the precast concrete budget, and a month from the construction schedule compared with a traditional Design-Bid-Build project

Project/precast scope

• Create a nature-inspired façade
• The project included 902 precast concrete elements
• Precast concrete installation began in May 2018 and finished in October 2018