The Crow Museum of Asian Art at the University of Texas at Dallas was honored with the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute’s (PCI) Sidney Freedman Craftsmanship Award. The annual award recognizes PCI-certified plants for unique solutions and excellence in manufacturing and craftsmanship of architectural precast concrete and glass-fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) structures and individual components.  

The museum is a testament to the artistry of architectural precast concrete. This two-story museum integrates seamlessly into a dynamic new art district, blending architecture and landscape to create a distinctive identity.

GATE Precast in Hillsboro, Texas, manufactured the precast concrete components. “The most challenging aspect of the panel geometry was the warped panels, which required the use of Rhino modeling software to generate custom CNC [computer numerical control] foam shapes,” said Mike Ryan, vice president of operations with GATE Precast in Hillsboro. “A collaborative approach to precast concrete design and engineering, along with attention to detail and commitment to excellence in production and installation, allowed our team to demonstrate precast concrete’s malleability. This resulted in a stunning façade that captures visitors’ attention.”

“Any time you have architectural precast concrete being used as an interior elevation, especially in a museum, the fit/finish has to be almost perfect,” said Timothy Breen, LEED AP project consultant with Coreslab (CONN), and a member of the award jury. “This architectural precast concrete project met every challenge and expectation the architect had. It was a tremendous job by the production team.”

The award is named after retired PCI Director of Architectural Systems Sidney Freedman, who was a leading voice in precast concrete architectural design for more than 43 years with the organization.

Watch the award video.