Delta Precast Sponsors the Next Generation of Civil Engineers

Daryl D. Burns, PE, Director of Specialty Precast Services

Besides being a politician and one of the founders of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was also a renown scientist, engineer, inventor, diplomat and writer.  He once wrote,

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and
I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

His statement is as true today as it was over 200 years ago. Delta Precast is always searching for opportunities to implement Franklin’s model, to get students involved and excited about precast concrete engineering careers. This year, Delta Precast was pleased to assist the NPCA Foundation by supporting the annual ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition, held June 6-8th at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL. The event is the America’s Cup of Civil Engineering.

Held for the past 32 years, this year’s competition brought civil engineering students together from 24 universities around the United States, Canada, as well as one international competitor. Teams competed against one another by racing student-designed canoes built entirely out of concrete. A nearby creek hosted the racers where they would compete on a 100m slalom and sprint course. The University of Florida Gators won first place and the coveted ‘Civil Engineering Cup’, along with a $5,000 scholarship.

Before racing the canoes, each team was required to present, defend and ‘test’ the worthiness of their design. In previous years, a tarp over a wooden frame filled with water was built for the test; but this year featured a precast concrete swamp tank for students to test their designs. The swamp tank served multiple purposes, besides being used as a canoe test chamber, it also served as a focal point for the competition and backdrop for team photos.

The tank, designed by Delta Precast and produced by Atlantic TNG, measured 25 feet long x 5 feet wide x 3.5 feet tall and weighed over 11 tons. IWI Concrete Equipment Group coordinated with Bold South Transportation to donate trucking services needed to get the tank from the producer to the competition site. At the conclusion of the festivities, it was shipped to Ponce de Leon, FL., sunk offshore to create an artificial reef and habitat for fish, shrimp and crabs.

Delta Precast congratulates the 2019 winners, we look forward to supporting next year’s competition and our future civil engineers.