Est. 1979 · 47 years in practice St. Paul (651) 292-1123
Reigstad Engineers, Inc.

Precast Concrete Engineering

Reigstad delivers precast concrete engineering for complex commercial and structural projects across the country.

Call (651) 292-1123
Precast Concrete Engineering

Request an estimate

Tell us what you need

No obligation

By submitting this form you agree that we may contact you about your request and share your name and email address with partner companies for email marketing. We never share your mobile number or text message consent with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

Precast Concrete Engineering Built on 47 Years

Reigstad provides precast concrete engineering for commercial, institutional, and infrastructure projects throughout the United States. Established in 1979 and licensed in Minnesota and Mississippi, we've completed precast design and detailing on thousands of projects spanning parking structures, stadiums, office buildings, warehouses, and specialty facilities. If your project demands engineering depth and not just a stamped drawing, call us at (651) 292-1123.

Precast concrete engineering is a distinct discipline from general concrete construction. The work involves structural system selection, member design, connection detailing, and coordination with fabricators and erectors well before a single piece leaves the plant. What drives scope and complexity on a precast project: member spans and load requirements, connection geometry, tolerances for erection, the number of unique piece types, and whether the structure demands architectural finishes or only structural performance. Projects with repetitive bays and standardized sections move faster and cost less to engineer than those with irregular geometry or custom architectural profiles. Every job is different. Contact Reigstad for an accurate estimate.

Precast concrete structural beams with lifting lugs staged at construction site

What Precast Concrete Engineering Involves

  • Structural system selection: determining where precast outperforms cast-in-place or steel
  • Member design for double tees, hollow-core planks, beams, columns, and wall panels
  • Connection design and detailing for gravity, lateral, and seismic load paths
  • Coordination with precast fabricators on plant capabilities and production schedules
  • Review of erection drawings and field support during construction

Engineering Process

Precast vs. Cast-in-Place: Choosing the Right System

The choice between precast and cast-in-place concrete affects schedule, cost, and long-term structural performance.

Controlled Fabrication

Precast members are cast in a plant under controlled conditions, which produces more consistent concrete quality and allows reinforcement to be precisely positioned. That matters most on long-span members where deflection tolerances are tight.

Compressed Construction Schedules

Fabrication runs parallel to site work. By the time foundations are ready, structural members are already staged for erection. On projects with demanding schedules, that parallel-path advantage is often the deciding factor.

When Cast-in-Place Makes More Sense

Irregular geometry, heavily congested connections, or projects where a precast plant isn't within practical shipping distance are cases where cast-in-place or structural steel may be the better engineering answer. We'll tell you which.

Freeze-Thaw Performance

In climates with severe freeze-thaw cycling, precast concrete produced at low water-cement ratios and properly air-entrained outperforms site-cast concrete placed under variable weather conditions. This is a real durability advantage in northern climate construction.

Precast Products

Structural, Architectural, and Utility Precast Systems

Precast concrete spans a wide range of product types. Each has specific engineering requirements.

Structural Framing

Double tees, hollow-core planks, inverted tee beams, and precast columns form the gravity system in parking structures, office buildings, and warehouse facilities. See our parking consulting services for how precast integrates into structured parking design.

Wall Panels

Precast wall panels serve as both cladding and lateral load-resisting elements. Insulated sandwich panels add thermal performance. Connection design between panels and the primary structure requires careful attention to thermal movement and differential settlement.

Stairs, Steps, and Site Elements

Precast stairs, landings, curbs, and pavers are common on institutional and commercial sites. They're straightforward to engineer but require coordination with the structural frame to handle load paths and tolerances correctly.

Specialty and Custom Members

Unique geometry, exposed architectural finishes, or structural demands that fall outside standard product catalogs require custom engineering. Projects like the City Vue Apartments in Eagan, Minnesota illustrate how precast systems can be tailored to complex building programs.

Our Process

How a Precast Engineering Engagement Works

  1. 01

    Structural System Definition

    We review the project program, loading requirements, and site constraints to define the precast system. This includes member selection, span arrangement, and preliminary connection concepts.

  2. 02

    Design and Detailing

    Member design, connection details, and fabrication drawings are developed in coordination with the precast producer. Tolerances, handling, and erection sequence are engineered into the drawings, not left to the field.

  3. 03

    Construction Support

    We provide responses to RFIs, review erection submittals, and can support construction inspection during the structural phase. Problems caught at the shop drawing stage cost a fraction of what they cost once steel is in the air.

What Shapes the Cost and Scope of Precast Engineering

Precast engineering scope is driven by the project, not by a standard fee schedule.

The variables that move a precast engineering engagement from straightforward to complex are worth understanding before a project goes to bid.
Number of unique piece types
High repetition in a structure means fewer unique member designs; irregular buildings with many custom pieces require proportionally more engineering effort.
Connection complexity
Gravity connections in a simple warehouse frame are far less involved than moment-resisting or seismic connections in a mid-rise structure.
Coordination with other systems
Projects where precast interfaces with structural steel, post-tensioned slabs, or complex MEP penetrations require additional detailing and coordination.
Fabricator involvement
Early engagement with the precast producer reduces design iterations and resolves plant capability questions before they become field problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between precast concrete and cast-in-place concrete?
Precast concrete is fabricated in a controlled plant environment and transported to the site for erection. Cast-in-place concrete is formed, poured, and cured on-site. Precast offers more consistent material quality, faster erection schedules, and better performance in environments with extreme temperature swings, but it requires more precise engineering coordination upfront to manage tolerances and connections.
What are examples of precast concrete products used in structural engineering?
Common structural precast products include double tees and hollow-core planks for floor and roof systems, inverted tee beams, rectangular beams, precast columns, load-bearing wall panels, and stair units. Architectural precast adds exposed-finish panels, spandrels, and column covers. Each product type has specific span capabilities and connection requirements that must be engineered for the specific structure.
How does precast concrete handle extreme temperature changes?
Precast concrete produced at low water-cement ratios with proper air entrainment performs well through repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The controlled plant environment ensures consistent mix design and curing conditions that are difficult to replicate on a construction site in variable weather. Connection design must also account for thermal expansion and contraction in the structural frame.
What are the main advantages of precast concrete for commercial projects?
The principal advantages are schedule compression through parallel fabrication and site work, consistent structural quality from plant production, reduced on-site formwork and shoring, and long-term durability. For parking structures specifically, precast double-tee systems are the dominant structural solution in the United States because they're fast to erect and durable under vehicle loads and deicing chemicals.
What is the downside of precast concrete?
Precast requires early structural decisions that lock in member geometry before the design is fully coordinated. Connections are more complex to engineer than in some cast-in-place systems, shipping distances to the plant affect cost and logistics, and highly irregular building geometry can make standardization difficult. These aren't reasons to avoid precast. They're reasons to involve the structural engineer early.
How long does precast concrete engineering typically take?
Engineering duration depends on the scale and complexity of the structure. A straightforward warehouse or parking structure can move from system definition to released fabrication drawings in a matter of weeks if the design is coordinated and the fabricator is engaged. Complex structures with custom members, intricate connections, or regulatory review cycles take longer. Attempting to compress the engineering schedule after design decisions have already been made is where most schedule problems originate.
What types of structures are commonly built with precast concrete?
Parking structures, office buildings, warehouses, distribution centers, stadiums, educational facilities, hotels, and marine or utility structures all commonly use precast concrete framing or cladding systems. Reigstad has provided precast engineering on projects of all these types across the United States, including the Island View Casino Resort expansion in Gulfport, Mississippi and institutional facilities at the University of Southern Mississippi.
What are examples of precast concrete products?
Common structural precast products include double tees and hollow-core planks for floor and roof systems, inverted tee beams, rectangular beams, precast columns, load-bearing wall panels, and stair units. Architectural precast includes exposed-finish panels, spandrels, and column covers. Each product type has specific span capabilities and connection requirements that must be engineered for the specific structure.
What types of structures can be built with precast concrete components?
Parking structures, office buildings, warehouses, distribution centers, stadiums, educational facilities, hotels, and marine or utility structures all commonly use precast concrete framing or cladding. Reigstad has provided precast engineering on projects across all of these building types throughout the United States.
Why might a project choose precast over traditional concrete construction methods?
The primary reasons are schedule compression through parallel fabrication and site work, consistent structural quality from plant production, and reduced on-site formwork and labor. For repetitive structural systems like parking decks, the speed and durability advantages of precast are well established. The tradeoff is that it demands more precise engineering coordination earlier in the project.
How long does the precast concrete engineering and fabrication process typically take?
Engineering duration depends on structure scale and complexity. A straightforward warehouse or parking structure can move from system definition to released fabrication drawings in a few weeks if design is coordinated and the fabricator is engaged early. Complex structures with custom members or regulatory review cycles take longer. Most schedule problems in precast construction originate from compressing the engineering phase, not the erection phase.

In the field

A look at our work

Precast concrete structural frame mid-assembly showing columns, beams, and floor slabs on a construction site with crane and
Industrial precast concrete manufacturing facility with multiple gray concrete beams on forms and molds, blue containers, and
Precast concrete panels and beams at construction site showing spalling, surface deterioration, cracks, and exposed aggregate

Related

Next step

Start a Conversation About Your Precast Project

Reigstad has provided precast concrete engineering for 47 years. Contact us to discuss your project.

Rather talk now?(651) 292-1123

No obligation

By submitting this form you agree that we may contact you about your request and share your name and email address with partner companies for email marketing. We never share your mobile number or text message consent with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.