Ahead of Memorial Day on May 25, the new National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, stands as both a tribute to military service and a remarkable feat of structural design.

The Museum, opened in March 2025, honors those who have been awarded for military valor. The building won this year’s PCI Design Award for the Custom Solution category.

Created by a team that included Rafael Viñoly Architects, Schlaich Bergermann Partner, and Wells, the museum’s exhibit hall appears to hover 12.1 m (40 ft) above ground. Supporting the 61 x 61 m (200 × 200 ft) elevated structure are five inverted precast concrete columns that serve as both the building’s primary structural system and vertical utility distribution. The columns also represent each branch of the U.S. military.

Each column consists of seven tapered, 1.8 m (6 ft)-tall ring segments, reinforced with No. 11 bars and connected by grouted splice sleeves. This formed a continuous system capable of carrying axial loads up to 2000 tons while resisting wind and seismic forces.

“Precast concrete was selected for the mega-columns because of its dimensional precision, high-quality finishes, and its ability to accelerate the construction schedule,” says Bassam Komati, partner at Rafael Viñoly Architects.

Precast concrete also supported sustainability goals by improving material efficiency, reducing construction waste, and improving durability.

Once the column segments were completed, the general contractor, Linbeck Group, installed them in less than four weeks. The columns serve as the building’s sole vertical structural system and integrate key mechanical systems within their hollow cores. This enabled the museum to attain its signature floating form without additional internal columns or core walls.