Administrators at the University of Georgia (located in Athens, Georgia) needed to construct and open a new 260,000 sq ft (24200 m2)parking structure in time for the fall season’s first football game, less than eight months away, while meeting specific aesthetic requirements for campus architecture. An all-precast concrete structure met the specified requirements, including spandrels with inset brick to blend with surrounding university buildings. The final design emphasized classical architectural elements, including the appearance of stone arches and fenestrations, a heavily rusticated base, and an ornamental cornice. The precast structure proved especially efficient when unexpected soil conditions on a congested site had to be addressed prior to the start of construction. The success of this project in meeting a short construction deadline while producing a cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing design for the University led to its selection as Best All-Precast Solution in the 2002 PCI Design Awards program.
