PRO and World of Concrete Announce New Educational Sessions to Advance Constructability and Collaboration in Concrete Design

12/11/2025

PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for Advancing Productivity today announced a strategic partnership with World of Concrete (WOC) 2026 to present two new educational sessions dedicated to improving constructability, collaboration, and productivity in concrete construction. These new offerings, taking place Thursday, January 22, 2026, are designed for engineers, architects, designers, and construction professionals seeking practical strategies to enhance owner project value through better design and communication.

Morning Session: “Engineering—Designing for Constructability”

This session provides design professionals with tools and strategies to integrate constructability into every phase of a project. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how design decisions directly affect on-site productivity, performance, and safety.

Topics include:

Participants will enjoy networking with peers, engaging with industry leaders, and earning continuing education hours applicable to license renewal.

Featured speakers are Kim Basham, President, KB Engineering; Phil Diekemper, Executive Director, PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for Advancing Productivity; Cary Kopczynski, CEO and Senior Principal, Cary Kopczynski & Company and PRO Board of Directors Chairman; Matt Sheehan, Principal, Concrete & Construction Consultants, LLC; and Charles Nmai, Distinguished Engineer and Director of Concrete Sustainability, Master Builders Solutions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Uncover concrete construction productivity opportunities during design.
2. Identify the benefits of concrete constructability.
3. List the ways to integrate constructability into your designs.
4. Recognize common pitfalls when designing slabs-on-ground.
5. Incorporate the latest engineering trends for constructability and reinforcing fibers into your designs.

Afternoon Session: “Engineering—Bridging the Gap Between the General Contractor and the Engineer”

This session focuses on fostering stronger relationships between contractors and engineers to eliminate inefficiencies, avoid conflicts, and improve project delivery. Attendees will explore real-world examples of how collaboration can enhance constructability and productivity across the project lifecycle.

Key discussion points include:

Featured speakers are Kim Basham, President, KB Engineering; Cary Kopczynski, CEO and Senior Principal, Cary Kopczynski & Company and PRO Board of Directors Chairman; Mike Hernandez, Technical Director, American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC); and Bryan Birdwell, President, Structural Services Inc.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe why design collaboration between the contractor and designer can benefit all parties and the project.
2. Develop a positive relationship between the contractor and designer.
3. Recognize how specifications and drawings can impact construction productivity.
4. Create better design/build systems to benefit the project.
5. Discuss how to recognize and avoid costly design and construction conflicts

Full-Day Engineering Package: Designing for Constructability and Bridging the Gap Between the General Contractor and Engineer

For professionals seeking a comprehensive educational experience, WOC’s Engineering-Focused Full-Day Package combines both sessions (Designing for Constructability and Bridging the Gap Between the General Contractor and Engineer) for a CEH-approved program. This full-day experience equips participants with actionable insights that connect design intent with field execution, promoting both productivity and constructability across all project stages.

As a World of Concrete 2026 partner, PRO continues to collaborate with contractors, designers, and materials suppliers to identify and resolve issues that negatively impact productivity in concrete construction. Through the development and dissemination of construction productivity knowledge, such as training for structural designers, industry-wide collaboration efforts, measurement and validation of progress towards increased constructability, and more, the Center and its Members aim to advance new technologies and processes that improve productivity beyond historic levels.

“Constructability is achieved where designers unleash the productivity potential of innovative construction systems,” said Phil Diekemper, executive director, PRO. “By aligning design decisions with real-world construction practices, we can deliver safer, faster, and cost-effective projects, achieving enhanced value to project owners. The World of Concrete is an excellent forum to bring these stakeholders together for the betterment of our industry.”

To register for these sessions or the full-day package, visit www.worldofconcrete.com. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited and discounted rates are available through December 12, 2025.

About PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for Advancing Productivity:

PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for Advancing Productivity was established in 2023 by the American Concrete Institute. The Center, based at ACI World Headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, is a catalyst for solving the barriers of constructability to advance concrete construction productivity, leveraging ACI’s role as a world-leading authority and resource for the development, dissemination, and adoption of consensus-based standards for concrete design, construction, and materials. To learn more, visit www.concreteproductivity.org.

About the American Concrete Institute:

The American Concrete Institute (ACI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the leading global authority for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, and educational, training, and certification programs. Founded in 1904, ACI is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, with a regional office in Dubai, UAE, and Resource Centers located in Southern California, the Midwest (Chicago, IL area), and the Mid-Atlantic (Baltimore, MD area). ACI has more than 90 chapters, more than 350 student chapters, and approximately 40,000 members spanning more than 120 countries. The American Concrete Institute – Always advancing®. Visit concrete.org for additional information.

About World of Concrete:

World of Concrete is the industry's only annual international event dedicated to commercial concrete and masonry construction industries. Featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits with the industry's leading suppliers showcasing innovative products and technologies, exciting demonstrations and competitions and world-class education program.