In the world of precast construction, every element has a journey – from a simple line on the designer’s screen to a unit being lifted, positioned, and secured on-site. What often gets overlooked is the space between these two moments – the invisible journey where most coordination issues, lifting challenges, and communication gaps arise.
This is where the concept of storyboarding comes into play. At NEOS, storyboarding isn’t a design gimmick; it is a mindset that helps visualize the entire lifecycle of a precast element before it even exists physically. Every drawing becomes more than just a layout – it becomes a guided script that helps fabricators, transport teams, and site engineers understand exactly how each piece fits into the larger construction sequence.
The Thinking Behind Storyboarding
In traditional detailing, the focus often remains on geometric precision – the right dimensions, reinforcement layouts, and connection placements. While that’s essential, accuracy alone doesn’t always translate into constructability. A perfectly dimensioned piece can still lead to on-site confusion if its handling, transport, or installation process hasn’t been visualized in advance.
At NEOS, the detailing team realized this early through years of collaboration with global precast manufacturers. The team understood that every element needs a clear story — a visual journey that connects design intent to real-world execution. That realization shaped the idea of storyboarding, an approach where each precast element is imagined through its full cycle of casting, lifting, transport, and installation long before production begins.
Storyboarding in Practice
When NEOS prepares a precast drawing, the process doesn’t end at defining geometry or dimensions. The detailing team visualizes the practical aspects of construction — how concrete will flow in the mould, how lifters will engage, how the element will balance during lifting, and how it will align on-site during installation.
This process is supported by an internal storyboard checklist that covers four major stages of a precast element’s journey:
1. Casting
Every drawing begins with the question – can this element be fabricated smoothly? The team reviews the reinforcement cage layout to ensure that there are no clashes with lifters or embeds. Openings are positioned to promote proper concrete flow and compaction. Even small adjustments made at this stage can prevent larger issues during casting.
2. Handling and Lifting
Handling a precast unit safely is one of the most crucial stages. NEOS verifies whether lifting anchors are designed for balanced load distribution and checks for potential overlaps between reinforcement and lifting hardware. The goal is to ensure that when the element is lifted from the mould, it behaves exactly as intended without rotation or stress cracks.
3. Transport
Once an element leaves the plant, its size, weight, and shape must align with transportation limits. The storyboard process helps visualize trailer placement, support points, and orientation changes. This ensures that elements reach the site without damage or the need for reorientation that could complicate installation.
4. Installation
The final step is to visualize how the element will be installed on-site. Every drawing clearly indicates jointing sequences, leveling points, and grouting details. This helps site engineers and erectors understand the process instantly without needing further clarification.
Through these stages, NEOS transforms a drawing from a two-dimensional layout into a construction-ready instruction sheet — precise, clear, and execution-friendly.
How the Approach Evolved
The concept of storyboarding didn’t emerge overnight. It originated during a UK infrastructure project involving a large number of trench units. Though the design and modeling were technically sound, the site teams faced frequent lifting orientation issues. The drawings didn’t clearly communicate how each unit should be handled.
In response, the NEOS team began sketching quick visual sequences for atypical units, showing their journey from mould setup to final installation. These storyboards immediately reduced site confusion, prevented lifting revisions, and cut down coordination time. What started as an experiment soon became an integral part of the NEOS detailing philosophy.
Why Storyboards Matter in Modern Precast Workflows
Modern precast projects demand more than precision. They demand predictability. A single unclear note or missing orientation detail can delay an entire lift sequence or force rework. Storyboarding helps bridge this gap between design and delivery.
By integrating storyboard thinking into its Tekla-based detailing process, NEOS ensures that each drawing answers three critical questions:
- Can it be produced efficiently?
- Can it be lifted safely and accurately?
- Can it be installed without rework?
When these answers are built into the design itself, projects naturally progress with fewer queries and less downtime. Site teams gain confidence knowing that the drawings in their hands reflect real-world feasibility, not just design intent.
Smart Drawn Solutions in Action
For NEOS, Smart Drawn Solutions are not just about creating visually clean models – they are about creating drawings that anticipate the site’s next move. The storyboarding approach ensures that every detail has a reason and every view has a purpose.
By thinking through the lifecycle of each precast unit, the team can identify issues that traditional detailing often misses – impractical lifting angles, limited access during erection, or unclear joint sequences. This proactive mindset saves valuable time during construction and improves communication among all stakeholders.
The NEOS Philosophy – Drawings That Think Ahead
In precast construction, clarity is just as important as accuracy. The NEOS philosophy embraces both. Every drawing is created not just to show what an element looks like, but to communicate how it will be built, moved, and installed.
This approach ensures that each precast element, whether for a large infrastructure project in the Middle East or a housing development in North America, carries a consistent standard of constructability. The team’s focus on readability, logical arrangement, and visual communication has made NEOS drawings instantly recognizable in the industry.
A well-detailed drawing doesn’t simply inform; it enables construction teams to build confidently. That is what turns a good drawing into a Smart Drawn Solution one that delivers value beyond accuracy.
At NEOS, every precast element tells a story, a story of planning, precision, and performance. Because when every drawing communicates clearly, construction flows seamlessly from the drawing room to delivery.