Medical Center Honored with PCI Sidney Freedman Craftsmanship Award

CHICAGO – The Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami Beach, Fla., was honored with the 2026 Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (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 structures and components. The structure, featuring an architectural precast concrete façade designed to resemble marble, demonstrates how precast concrete can elevate any project.

Wells’ Kissimmee, Fla., facility manufactured the project’s precast concrete façade. The six-story, 220,000-square-foot building sets a new standard in precast concrete design, production, and installation. The façade features undulating precast concrete spandrels that encircle the entire structure. The project’s complexity is evident in the curved, compound, tilted, and skewed panel angles and the custom-fabricated, faceted window system that lets natural light fill the facility.

“The Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center is a space where craftsmanship matters in every detail, and our team brought that commitment to every phase of the work,” said Michael Trosset, vice president of operations at Wells in Kissimmee. “Wells partnered with the design team early to turn a highly complex, wave-inspired concept into a facade that could be built with precision. Having that work recognized by PCI is a proud moment for our whole team.”

“The fluid nature of the curved compound panel design and production is exceptionally well done,” said Robert Pace, director of architectural pre-development at Missoula Concrete, who served as a juror. “The difficulty factor is high since most panels are one of a kind. White cement with a light abrasive texture is the perfect choice for this. Concealed connection points for pieces were well thought out. It’s exciting to see precast used in a free-flowing manner.”

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.

Photo caption: The Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center received the 2026 PCI Sidney Freedman Craftsmanship Award. Photo: Christopher Barrett Photography

Watch the award video.

Read the entire release here.

About PCI

Founded in 1954, The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is a technical institute for the precast concrete structures and systems industry. PCI develops maintains, and disseminates the Body of Knowledge for the design, fabrication, and construction of precast concrete structures and systems. PCI develops consensus base standards, industry handbooks, quality assurance programs, certification, research and development projects, design manuals, continuing education, and periodical publications. PCI members include precast concrete producers, erectors, suppliers, professional engineers and architects, educators, students, and industry consultants who complement the wide range of knowledge of precast concrete. For more information, visit pci.org/howprecastbuilds.