December 23, 2019

The Epstein-designed and built Prestage Foods of Iowa plant in Eagle Grove, Iowa was a winner at the 26th annual Iowa Excellence in Concrete Awards program held at Iowa State University. Presented by the Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association, the Excellence in Concrete awards recognizes individuals and/or companies who are moving the concrete industry forward with innovative ideas in the use of concrete for residential and commercial construction.k

Prestage, which has a reinforced cast-in-place concrete shallow foundation system, was a winner in the Agricultural category and was selected for its number of inventive uses of concrete. According to John Lach, PE, SE, Epsteins Senior Structural Project Engineer, one of the innovative elements we incorporated included a proprietary slab-on-grade system called Ductilcrete. This is a two-layer slab-on-grade system that uses synthetic macro fibers and shrinkage, reducing admixtures to increase the load carrying capacity of the slab as well as allow for increased joint spacing, reduced curling and elimination of traditional reinforcing steel.

Additionally, for some of the other concrete elements, Epstein used traditional insulated precast concrete wall panels, precast double tee roof panels supported by inverted tee and L-beams, and precast columns. Full concrete superstructures were utilized in selected areas in the facility and precast wall panels were used at CO2 and the loading docks while precast columns were used at the Cut Floor.

We are delighted to have received this award; congratulations go out to our entire team!