The Built for Purpose Awards are a new national program from the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA). They honor U.S. infrastructure projects where precast concrete plays a critical role. On Oct. 8, 2026, NPCA named nine finalist projects from eight companies. Winners will be announced at The Precast Show in Salt Lake City, Feb. 3–5, 2027.
Congratulations to every team on the shortlist. We're especially proud to see four of our customers recognized: Alcrete, Gainey's, Jensen Infrastructure, and Permatile Concrete Products Company.
What are the NPCA Built for Purpose Awards?
The Built for Purpose Awards recognize infrastructure projects where precast concrete solves a real problem for a community. NPCA launched the program in 2026 to mark America's 250th anniversary. The focus is on infrastructure that will serve communities for the next 250 years.
Here's how the first year worked:
- Who could enter: NPCA members (no entry fee) and non-members ($250 per project).
- Eligible projects: Work completed or in progress since 2021.
- Deadline: Entries closed Aug. 31, 2026.
- Key requirement: Precast had to be critical to the project's purpose, not a minor part of it.
For an industry whose work often sits underground or out of sight, that's a meaningful shift. These awards put the people and plants behind the projects in front of a national audience.
Who are the 2026 Built for Purpose finalists?
NPCA shortlisted nine projects from eight companies. Gainey's earned two spots. The projects range from hurricane recovery to coral reef restoration.
|
Company |
Project |
Location |
What precast made possible |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alcrete |
REEFLINE Project, Phase 1 |
Miami, FL |
An artificial reef built from 22 full-size precast cars, made with marine-grade concrete and seeded with 2,200 corals |
|
Concrete Express, Inc. (CEI) |
Clear Creek Trail: Huntsman Gulch Segment |
Near Golden, CO |
A safe public trail through a tight stretch of canyon where site conditions left little room to build |
|
Deihl Vault & Precast |
137th St. Elevator |
New York, NY |
A custom precast elevator shaft for an accessibility upgrade in the city's transit system |
|
Gainey's |
Goodbee Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant |
Mandeville, LA |
An all-precast modular treatment system to support an aging plant while a regional facility is planned |
|
Gainey's |
Lake Lure Pump Station Restoration |
Lake Lure, NC |
Repairs to a sewer pump station damaged by Hurricane Helene that was releasing untreated wastewater into the lake |
|
Jensen Infrastructure |
Shine Creek Fish Passage |
Port Ludlow, WA |
Large culvert systems that replaced failing pipes and reopened passage for salmon and steelhead |
|
Permatile Concrete Products Company |
TDOT Route 321 Restoration |
Butler, TN |
A rebuilt road after Hurricane Helene washed it out, designed to hold up in future floods |
|
Pre-Con Products |
Adventure Park Multi-Benefit Stormwater Capture |
Los Angeles County, CA |
A 13-foot underground vault of more than 1,400 precast pieces that holds 6.4 million gallons of stormwater |
|
Velpont Bridges (Aster Brands) |
Blake Hill Road Bridge |
Mount Vernon, ME |
A replacement bridge that carries emergency vehicles and school buses again |
Source: NPCA shortlist announcement, Oct. 9, 2026.
A special congratulations to our customers
Four of the eight shortlisted companies are Idencia customers: Alcrete, Gainey's, Jensen Infrastructure, and Permatile Concrete Products Company.
Their projects show what precast can do under pressure. Two of them, Gainey's Lake Lure restoration and Permatile's Route 321 rebuild, helped communities recover after Hurricane Helene. Jensen's culverts reopened a creek for salmon. Alcrete's reef is growing coral off the coast of Miami.
Work like this starts long before a piece leaves the yard. It depends on careful quality control and crews who take pride in getting it right. We're grateful to support teams who hold themselves to that standard, and we're glad to see their work recognized at the national level.
How were the finalists judged?
Judges scored each entry on five areas:
- Clear impact on a community or on infrastructure
- Measurable long-term benefits
- Effective use of precast concrete
- Sustainability and resilience
- A compelling project story
The panel included Bill Bundschuh (Pretech Corporation), Claude Goguen (NPCA), David Jolly (O.F.D.C. Communications), Don Marsh (Concrete Products), and Bob Waterloo (Hill and Griffith Co.). Judges did not review projects tied to their own companies.
When will the winners be announced?
NPCA will name the winners at The Precast Show, Feb. 3–5, 2027, in Salt Lake City. Awards include one gold winner, three silver winners, five bronze winners, and honorable mentions. Winning projects will also be featured in NPCA publications and digital media.
Frequently asked questions
What are the NPCA Built for Purpose Awards? A national awards program from the National Precast Concrete Association. It honors U.S. infrastructure projects where precast concrete plays a critical role in serving communities. 2026 is the program's first year.
How many finalists are there for the 2026 Built for Purpose Awards? Nine projects from eight companies. Gainey's has two projects on the shortlist.
Which companies were named Built for Purpose finalists? Alcrete, Concrete Express, Inc. (CEI), Deihl Vault & Precast, Gainey's, Jensen Infrastructure, Permatile Concrete Products Company, Pre-Con Products, and Velpont Bridges (Aster Brands).
When will NPCA announce the Built for Purpose winners? At The Precast Show in Salt Lake City, Feb. 3–5, 2027.
How many Built for Purpose Awards will be given? One gold, three silver, and five bronze, plus honorable mentions.
Who could enter the Built for Purpose Awards? Both NPCA members and non-members. Members entered for free, and non-members paid $250 per project. Projects had to be completed or in progress since 2021.
Cheering them on in Salt Lake City
Precast rarely gets the credit it deserves. It sits under roads, inside transit systems, and beneath parks, doing its job quietly for decades. The Built for Purpose Awards give the teams behind that work a moment in the spotlight, and every finalist has earned it.
The Idencia team will be at The Precast Show in February, and we're looking forward to celebrating with all nine finalist projects.
Read the full announcement: See every project and the full list of judges on NPCA's website.
Heading to The Precast Show? Reach out to our team. We'd love to connect in Salt Lake City.
Tags:
Oct 20, 2026, 9:09:19 AM
Comments