05/19/2026
It's a great day when the Flock gets to visit the field.
Last week, Golden Egg's Lindsey Mathieu, Amy Jagaczewski, P.E., and Dana Fluder joined e2 engineers and Sarah Patrie, P.E., Executive Director of PCI Northeast, for a presentation and tour of Blakeslee Prestress, Inc. Branford campus.
Following an in-depth discussion on the design, behavior, and applications of precast concrete; the value of precast in building and infrastructure projects; and the role of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Design-Assist collaboration in project delivery, the group had the opportunity to tour both the plant and the yard.
It’s impossible to pick the best part of the visit, but three moments stood out:
1️⃣ The scale of fabrication:
From observing concrete placement for a 500 foot-long double tee, to learning about the prestressing jack's 30 foot-deep anchorage system, it was impressive to see firsthand the size and complexity of the process.
2️⃣ The range of customization:
Blakeslee’s use of single-use and reusable liners, along with their dry-pigment system for customized colors and finishes, came to life in the yard through the variety of finished wall panels on display, including a curved panel fabricated as part of the PCI certification process.
3️⃣ The craftsmanship behind the process:
Seeing the sequence firsthand including formwork and liners, reinforcing placement and prestressing, batching, concrete placement, stripping, and handling, was a powerful reminder that even with advanced manufacturing systems and technology, precast concrete remains a highly skilled and deeply human craft.
Experiences like this are an important part of how Golden Egg continues to develop our AEC fluency, and we’re grateful to PCI Northeast and the Blakeslee Prestress team — including VP of Operations Rick Fitzgerald, CAD Manager Bryan Eastman, Engineering Manager Jim Braun, and Design-Assist Consultant Al Ignoto — for generously sharing their time and expertise throughout the morning.
To stay connected to what’s happening in the precast industry across the Northeast, follow PCI Northeast and Blakeslee Prestress. From manufacturing innovation and project delivery trends to workforce development and industry education, both organizations are doing important work to advance the built environment in our region.
Stay tuned for some additional highlights of our tour!
