When all economic factors are considered, precast prestressed concrete is increasingly the choice of today’s designers. Industrial manufacturing techniques permit cost savings which cannot be achieved in step by step field construction methods. Plant fabrication permits expensive field formwork and shoring to be eliminated and the use of standard or "system" products can reduce formwork to a minimal or negligible cost item.

The advantages listed below all translate into cost savings when initial expense, operational cost, and maintenance are considered.

High tensile steel and high compressive strength concrete are combined in prestressed concrete products to form components which frequently could not be achieved within the same size limitations using other modes of construction. For example, the lower depth to span ratio for prestressed beams may permit increased head room, lower overall structure height, and lower overall structure weight.

Inherent in concrete construction are fire resistance, immunity to corrosion, resistance to organic attack, and weathering resistance. These characteristics result in lower insurance, lower maintenance, lower operation cost, and increased life span of structure.

Precast concrete construction permits fabrication of project superstructures concurrent with installation of foundation and substructures resulting in substantial savings in overall construction time.

Plant controls, especially heat curing of products, permits a minimum of lost time due to inclement weather.

Industrial manufacturing and inspection methods permits a degree of quality control for plant cast concrete which is normally unattainable for field fabricated work. Precast concrete affords the designer the opportunity of preinstallation inspection and approval.

Only concrete construction provides the designer with the flexibility of size, shape and texture necessary to satisfy a wide variety of design criteria. Precast concrete and prestressed concrete widen the scope of the field of concrete construction.