By Mitch Bloomquist, Executive Director, Tilt-Up Concrete Association
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Teams from across North America came together in Nashville to showcase architectural mock-up panels that pushed the boundaries of tilt-up construction. Displayed on-site during the 2025 Tilt-Up Convention and Expo, the mock-ups reflected a range of creative approaches, technical solutions, and collaborative spirit. Attendees voted for their favorite entries.
CHAMPIONS: PATRIOTS
- Concrete Strategies (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Lamar Johnson Collaborative (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Clayco Design and Engineering (St. Louis, Missouri)
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RUNNERS-UP: CANUCKS EH TEAM
- Tilt Wall Ontario Inc. (Woodstock, Ontario)
- Powers Brown Architecture (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador)
- Krahn Engineering (Abbotsford, British Columbia)
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THIRD PLACE: TEAM LASER ROCKET
- HagerSmith Design PA (Raleigh, North Carolina)
- Schaefer (Cincinnati, Ohio)
- Frontline Concrete (North Salt Lake, Utah)
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For many, the Mock-Up Medley was more than a friendly competition—it was a demonstration of what happens when design, engineering, and construction teams truly collaborate.
“The Mock-Up Medley was a game changer for project collaboration,” said Katt Price, PE, operations leader and principal at Schaefer. “Each company had a seat at the table from conception to completion. It was inspiring to see suppliers discussing visual appeal, architects weighing in on crack control, engineers exploring on-site constructability, and contractors lifting it all together. It felt like we were one team with one vision, building it piece by piece.”
Len Overbeek of Tilt Wall Ontario Inc. shared a similar sentiment: “Participating in the Mock-Up Medley was more than a design challenge; it was a celebration of collaboration. It gave our team the chance to step outside the day-to-day and engage creatively across disciplines. We learned how powerful it is to trust each other’s instincts, communicate openly, and lean into our shared vision. The experience reminded us that when we build together, with purpose and respect, we don’t just create concrete structures, we build stronger partnerships. We’re proud to have contributed to an event that pushes the boundaries of what tilt-up can be.”
That sense of shared vision was echoed by Michael Frew (AIA, NCARB, and project architect with HagerSmith Design PA), whose team Laser Rocket brought home third place. “Everyone contributed—from early concept ideas that locked in on the Nashville vibe to unique details like guitar strings and microrecessed windows in the formliner,” he said. “Those ideas started as questions and quickly became challenges we were determined to pull off. The build was another team push—with members across multiple time zones jumping in to keep things moving, solve surprises, and bring the vision to life.”
For the championship team, The Patriots, the experience reinforced the power of respectful friction and shared ownership. “I believe everyone from our team brought a different perspective and expertise to the mock-up panel contest,” reflected Barclay Gebel, executive vice president of Concrete Strategies. “I learned it’s okay—and even best—to have a little friction between team members to get the best idea on the table. The team pushed and challenged each other to get the best ideas incorporated into our championship mock-up panel.”
His colleague Joe Schneider, who is the director of tilt-up operations at Concrete Strategies, shared a similar takeaway: “It brought people from the whole enterprise together, all the way down to the mechanics. Everyone brought great ideas and adapted to new challenges during the construction process. I learned that there’s more than one right way to do things—especially when you have so many great minds on a team.”
CAPTION AWARDS
Following the attendee vote that determined the top three teams, those winners were invited to extend the recognition to their peers by selecting the recipients of this year’s Caption Awards. Excluding their own panels, which were ineligible, they reviewed the remaining entries and identified the projects that best embodied innovation, design excellence, and craftsmanship. The approach carried forward the event’s spirit of community and respect, allowing the champions to celebrate outstanding work across the field.
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MOST INNOVATIVE CONCEPT: THE TILTONAUTS
- Encore Concrete Construction (Spring, Texas)
- Pinnacle Structural Engineers (Houston, Texas)
- Powers Brown Architecture (Houston, Texas)
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BEST ARCHITECTURAL: SLIGHTLY OFF TILT
- Seretta Construction (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- LJB Engineering (Garner, North Carolina)
- Powers Brown Architects (Falls Church, Virginia)
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BEST CRAFTSMANSHIP: MISSION: IN CONCRETE
- Guy Yocom Construction (Norco, California)
- HAS & Associates (Pasadena, California)
- Herdman Architecture + Design (Corona Del Mar, California)
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Together, these peer-selected honors rounded out the Mock-Up Medley, highlighting the creativity and technical achievement found across every entry. Beyond the awards themselves, the event was defined by the collective energy and generosity of its participants.
The Tilt-Up Concrete Association extends sincere thanks to all the teams who devoted time, talent, and imagination to this first-of-its-kind showcase.
Many TCA member suppliers played an essential role in bringing the Mock-Up Medley panels to life by donating materials, consulting on details, and lending technical expertise throughout the process.
EquipmentShare made a particularly impactful contribution by providing the equipment used to place the panels inside the Music City Center, helping transform the convention floor into a live demonstration of tilt-up innovation. Their collective involvement exemplified the collaborative spirit that defines the tilt-up community and underscored how innovation often emerges through shared resources and relationships.
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TILTED EARTH COLLECTIVE
- Vemac (El Paso, Texas)
- Root Architects (El Paso, Texas)
- Harder Structural Engineering (El Paso, Texas)
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TILT-UP TITANS
- LJB Engineering (Miamisburg, Ohio)
- Concrete Mystique (Antioch, Tennessee)
- Powers Brown Architecture
- Woodland (Jupiter, Florida)
- Turner Brothers (Middleboro, Massachusetts)
- Greek Design | Build (East Brunswick, New Jersey)
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TILT ME UP . . . EH!
- Ram Construction (Surrey, British Columbia)
- KCC Architecture (White Rock, British Columbia)
- Krahn Engineering (Vancouver, British Columbia)
- RiteTech Construction (Delta, British Columbia)
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THE TILT FACTOR
- Orion (Houston, Texas)
- Pinnacle Structural Engineers (Houston, Texas)
- Powers Brown Architecture (Houston, Texas)
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TEAM EQUALIZER
- Martin Concrete Construction (Kennesaw, Georgia)
- Macgregor Associates Architects (Atlanta, Georgia)
- Bennett & Pless Structural Engineers (Atlanta, Georgia)
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AIR TILT
- VMG Construction Inc. (Winter Garden, Florida)
- BBM Structural Engineers (Maitland, Florida)
- KMF Architects (Orlando, Florida)
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TCA Member Suppliers featured by this year’s teams included:
- Dayton Superior Corporation
- Glu Down Inc.
- Green Umbrella Systems
- Helix Steel
- Innovative Brick Systems LLC
- Leviat
- MST Rebar Inc.
- Nox-Crete Inc.
- Spec Formliners Inc.
- White Cap
In the end, the Mock-Up Medley proved that innovation thrives in environments that value dialogue and diversity of thought. By bringing together architects, engineers, and contractors in the spirit of shared experimentation, this new convention feature reminded attendees that the future of tilt-up will always be built on collaboration.
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