Constructability and Practicality: Turning Knowledge into Results (September 2026 President's Memo)

Last month, I shared observations from meetings with ACI stakeholders around the world and reflected on how our global community is united by common challenges and opportunities. Whether discussing resilience, sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI), or workforce development, one theme remains constant: our industry is searching for solutions that are not only innovative, but also practical. That brings me to one of the priorities I identified at the beginning of my term as President: constructability and practicality.

As a concrete contractor, I see every day how project success depends on turning plans into reality. The greatest value of our industry’s collective knowledge is realized when it can be translated into safe, efficient, and successful project execution. Even the most sophisticated design, specification, or technology creates value only when it can be effectively implemented by the people building our projects. Constructability helps bridge that gap between knowledge and results.

ACI has long played an important role in advancing both technical excellence and practical application. Through its committees, technical documents, educational programs, certification activities, and industry partnerships, the Institute brings together diverse perspectives from across the concrete community to develop guidance that is both technically sound and relevant to real-world construction.

Several ACI groups focus specifically on constructability and productivity. ACI Committee 134, Concrete Constructability, works with other technical committees to promote constructability considerations within ACI documents and industry practices. The Technical Activities Committee (TAC) Subcommittee on Productivity and Constructability identifies opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce barriers to successful project execution, while PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for Advancing Productivity serves as a key source of information and catalyst for improving concrete construction productivity throughout the industry.

ACI Committee 134 defines concrete constructability as:

“The effective and timely integration of concrete construction knowledge into the planning, design, and construction of a project to achieve the overall objectives with the goal of optimizing time, safety, and cost while maintaining the target level of quality.”

This definition reflects a principle that extends throughout ACI’s work. By bringing together perspectives from design, construction, materials, inspection, ownership, research, and education, ACI helps ensure that technical guidance can be successfully implemented in practice.

ACI documents, certifications, and educational programs influence concrete construction projects every day. They guide how engineers detail reinforcement, how contractors plan and execute work, how inspectors evaluate compliance, and how owners establish expectations. In doing so, they help translate industry knowledge into better decisions and better project outcomes.

In my professional life, our company strives to provide constructable solutions by working collaboratively with engineers, architects, and owners to achieve the best possible results for our clients. That same mindset is important for ACI. As our industry continues to evolve, we must remain focused on advancing innovation while ensuring that new ideas can be effectively applied in the field.

As our world becomes more complex, constructability becomes increasingly important. It is more than an engineering consideration. It reflects an understanding of how decisions made in design offices affect everyone involved in a project, including the individuals placing, finishing, inspecting, and maintaining concrete in real-world conditions. Practicality means developing standards and recommendations that help our industry achieve better outcomes without unnecessary complexity.

By maintaining this focus, we ensure that our work not only advances the state of knowledge, but also improves the quality, safety, efficiency, and durability of concrete construction. Our greatest accomplishments occur when sound engineering and practical experience come together. Constructability and practicality serve as the bridge between knowledge and results, and that commitment will continue to guide ACI as we address the opportunities ahead.