Charles Pankow Foundation
The Charles Pankow Foundation is a nonprofit research foundation that funds and disseminates non-proprietary, collaborative research to advance building design and construction practices for the AEC industry. It serves structural engineers, building owners, contractors, and standards bodies with free, publicly available reports and tools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersHaymarket, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Charles Pankow Foundation does
The Charles Pankow Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2004 in Haymarket, Virginia, that funds and disseminates collaborative, non-proprietary research for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Operating with 1-10 employees and led by Executive Director Anne M. Ellis since October 2018, the Foundation acts as a catalyst for industry innovation by providing its own funding to attract co-funding, assembling teams of researchers and practitioners, facilitating laboratory and field testing, and delivering publicly available research outputs at no cost.
Its core research portfolio includes five flagship programs: SpeedCore (concrete-filled composite plate shear walls for high-rise cores), FastFloor (modular steel plate floor system supporting AISC's Need for Speed initiative), a high-strength reinforcement (Grade 80/100) program informing ACI 318 adoption, performance-based structural fire and wind design research informing ASCE 7 provisions, and the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3), an open-source tool developed in partnership with the Carbon Leadership Forum. The Foundation has produced more than 130 research reports, publications, and tools and partners with leading research universities (Purdue, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford, UT Austin, SUNY Buffalo, University of Cincinnati) and industry organizations (ACI, AISC, ASCE SEI, CRSI, DBIA, ATC).
The Foundation's business model is grant-funded and non-commercial: revenue consists of foundation grants, donations, and co-funding from industry partners, while research outputs are distributed free of charge for collective industry benefit. Endorsing users include Microsoft, Hines, Wright Runstad & Company, Clark Construction, and Sutter Health, but none pay for outputs; the Foundation's competitive position derives from convening power, codes-and-standards influence, and an accumulated body of public-domain research.
Charles Pankow Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Charles Pankow Foundation
- Legal name
- Charles Pankow Foundation
- Website
- https://pankowfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Charles Pankow Foundation is a nonprofit research foundation that funds and disseminates non-proprietary, collaborative research to advance building design and construction practices for the AEC industry. It serves structural engineers, building owners, contractors, and standards bodies with free, publicly available reports and tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Charles Pankow Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Research and Innovation
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
Keywords
Where Charles Pankow Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Haymarket
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Charles Pankow Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Foundation Funding and Grants: The Charles Pankow Foundation operates as a catalyst for industry innovation by providing funding to attract other funding for pooled purpose and high-impact research. The foundation funds research grants and facilitates collaboration between industry experts, researchers, and funders to advance the AEC industry.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Charles Pankow Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Charles Pankow Foundation funds and facilitates collaborative, non-proprietary research to address practical challenges in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. It provides research grants to leading universities, assembles expert teams, supports laboratory and field testing, and publishes over 130 research reports, publications, and tools — all shared publicly for free to inform building codes and industry practice.
Product overview
The Charles Pankow Foundation serves as a catalyst for industry innovation in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry through a comprehensive portfolio of research products and resources. The Foundation funds and facilitates non-proprietary research across multiple domains including SpeedCore (concrete-filled composite plate shear walls), FastFloor modular steel floor systems, high-strength reinforcement specifications, performance-based design methodologies, and the open-source EC3 tool for embodied carbon assessment. With over 130 research reports, publications, and tools disseminated, the Foundation's offerings include research grants, publications, case studies, and practical guides that provide immediate utility to the industry. The Foundation operates a collaborative model assembling experts from research universities and industry to develop scalable solutions for practical construction challenges.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Research Reports and Publications A library of more than 130 research reports, publications, and tools completed and disseminated by the Foundation, covering structural engineering, concrete, steel, seismic design, wind design, and construction innovation for the AEC industry. Made publicly available for free download.
- SpeedCore / Concrete-Filled Composite Plate Shear Walls (CF-CPSW) A rapidly-constructable core-wall system utilizing steel-concrete composite construction with concrete-filled composite plate shear walls to optimize high-rise building design and shorten construction schedules by avoiding time-consuming climbing forms.
- FastFloor Modular Steel Plate Floor Assembly A new modular steel floor framing and diaphragm system for commercial building structures that increases speed of construction by eliminating the pouring of a concrete deck, supporting the AISC Need for Speed initiative.
- Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) An open-source tool developed in partnership with the Carbon Leadership Forum that enables architects, engineers, owners, contractors, and policymakers to compare and reduce embodied carbon emissions from construction materials.
- Performance-Based Design Research Research covering performance-based structural fire design, wind design, and seismic design approaches including the ASCE/SEI Prestandard for Performance-Based Wind Design.
- High-Strength Reinforcement Research Program Comprehensive coordinated research program addressing high-strength reinforcement (Grade 80 and Grade 100) in concrete construction, including development lengths, splice lengths, bar bending, coupling beams, and structural elements to enable adoption into ACI 318 Building Code.
- Onsite Non-Potable Water Reuse Practice Guide A practice guide for building design practitioners on integrating onsite water reuse functionality into the building design process.
- Schedule Performance Measure (Schedule Beta) An industry-wide schedule performance measure for construction contractors applicable to any project and level of detail, enabling transparency of project productivity.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces building embodied carbon emissions by up to 30 percent through use of EC3 tool
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Charles Pankow Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Charles Pankow Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Charles Pankow Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Steel Institute of New York (SINY)majorIndustry partner co-funding Composite Floor-to-SpeedCore Wall Systems performance-based fire resistance research along with AISC and MKA Foundation.
- American Society of Civil Engineers Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE SEI)corePartnership with ASCE SEI on Performance-Based Structural Fire Design publication analyzing four regionally diverse buildings by design teams from SGH, MKA, Thornton Tomasetti, and Walter P Moore, with academic advisors from multiple institutions.
- Carbon Leadership ForumcorePartnership with Carbon Leadership Forum as lead sponsor and grant manager for development of the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool. Foundation leads coalition of 30+ industry leaders including Microsoft, Skanska, Autodesk, and others.
- Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)coreActive industry partner contributing advisors and expertise to multiple research projects including SpeedCore development, R-Factors studies, and performance-based fire design. SGH served as design firm for Performance-Based Structural Fire Design exemplar building.
- Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA)coreKey industry partner providing advisors, co-funding through MKA Foundation, and design expertise. Ron Klemencic serves as Foundation Director. Contributed to SpeedCore, high-strength reinforcement research, EC3 tool development, and wind tunnel testing.
- University of CincinnatimajorPartnership with University of Cincinnati on Normal and High-Strength Continuously Wound Ties research (Grant #02-19, $234,147) led by Professor Bahram Shahrooz, examining CWTs for improved construction speed and reduced rebar congestion.
- Hensel PhelpsmajorIndustry partner with Greg Gidez serving on Foundation Board of Directors. Contributes expertise in Virtual Design and Construction technology, design-build project delivery, and BIM implementation.
- Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE SEI)corePartnership with ASCE SEI on Pre-Standard for Performance-Based Design for Wind research (Grant #01-18) led by Don Scott, developing performance-based wind design provisions for ASCE 7-22.
- University of ColoradomajorPartnership with University of Colorado on Revisiting Project Delivery Performance research (Grant #02-18) led by Professor Keith Molenaar to compare cost, schedule and quality performance of different delivery methods.
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)majorPartnership with UCLA on FEMA P695 Study for Enhanced Ductility RC Coupled Wall Systems (Grant #06-17, $85,000) led by Professor John W. Wallace to develop design coefficients for ductile coupled walls.
- University at BuffalocorePartnership with SUNY Buffalo on R-Factors for Coupled Composite Plate Shear Walls-Concrete Filled research (Grant #05-17, $165,805) led by Professor Michel Bruneau, co-funded by AISC.
- American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)coreCo-funder and strategic partner with AISC on SpeedCore research including R-Factors study, fire engineering research, and composite floor systems. AISC provides financial support and industry expertise for steel-concrete composite structural systems.
- University of Texas at AustinmajorPartnership with UT Austin on Development and Splice Lengths for High-Strength Reinforcement research ($260,000) led by Robert Frosch and Santiago Pujol, with Jack Moehle and Dominic Kelly as industry advisors.
- Purdue UniversitycoreOngoing partnership with Purdue University led by Principal Investigator Amit Varma for SpeedCore and composite wall research. Multiple research grants totaling over $1 million including Seismic and Wind Behavior and Design of Coupled CF-CPSW Core Walls ($1,089,398) and Composite Floor-to-SpeedCore Wall Systems research.
- University of Texas at San AntoniomajorPartnership with UT San Antonio on Acceptable Elongations and Low-Cycle Fatigue Performance for High-Strength Reinforcing Bars research ($248,083) led by Professor Wassim Ghannoum.
- University of KansascorePartnership with University of Kansas on High-Strength Steel Bars in Reinforced Concrete Walls research (Grant #06-14, $112,000) led by Professor Andres Lepage. Part of larger ATC 115 project on high-strength reinforcement roadmap.
- University of California, BerkeleycorePartnership with UC Berkeley on Performance Characterization of Beams with High-Strength Reinforcement (Grant #04-14, $428,869) led by Professor Jack Moehle. Key research for adoption of high-strength reinforcement in seismic applications.
- American Concrete Institute Foundation (ACIF)coreOngoing strategic partnership with ACI Foundation supporting multiple research projects including high-strength reinforcement studies, development length research, and continuously wound ties. Primary co-funder of high-strength reinforcement research program.
- Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI)coreStrategic partnership with CRSI and CRSI Foundation supporting development of high-strength reinforcing bar specifications and research including tentatve specification development, yield stress measurement, and bar bending requirements.
- Applied Technology Council (ATC)corePartnership with ATC on Development of Roadmap for Use of High-Strength Reinforcement in Reinforced Concrete Design (Grant #05-13, $191,530), structured project led by Jon Heinz to coordinate industry-wide research on high-strength reinforcement.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Charles Pankow Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA): DBIA is a broader industry association that funded Pankow's Integrated Project Delivery research and continues to drive project delivery innovation in AEC. It is an incumbent in design-build advocacy rather than direct research grantmaking.
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation: The Sloan Foundation is a large nonprofit that funds scientific research across multiple domains including materials science and engineering. It is comparable to Pankow as a mission-driven grantmaking nonprofit but operates at vastly greater scale and scope.
- National Science Foundation (NSF): NSF is the largest U.S. public funder of fundamental engineering research including structural and materials research at the same universities where the Foundation funds applied projects. It operates at vastly greater scale and breadth.
Direct peers
- American Concrete Institute Foundation: ACIF is the grantmaking arm of the American Concrete Institute and the Foundation's primary co-funder on high-strength reinforcement research. It directly parallels Pankow's role of funding collaborative concrete-related research and is jointly responsible for the ACI 318 high-strength rebar roadmap.
- MKA Foundation: MKA Foundation is the grantmaking arm of Magnusson Klemencic Associates and co-funds SpeedCore, fire design, and embodied carbon research with the Foundation. Ron Klemencic sits on both boards, making it the closest single-firm peer in AEC research grantmaking.
- Applied Technology Council (ATC): ATC is a nonprofit R&D organization serving the structural engineering profession through applied research projects, and is a direct Pankow partner on the high-strength reinforcement roadmap (Grant #05-13). Its mission of coordinating industry-wide structural engineering research closely mirrors Pankow's.
- Carbon Leadership Forum: The Carbon Leadership Forum is the Foundation's lead partner for the EC3 embodied carbon calculator and is hosted at the University of Washington. It is a direct peer in AEC decarbonization research and pooled coalition management.
- Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) Foundation: CRSI Foundation is a strategic co-funder of the Foundation's high-strength rebar specifications and development research. It operates in the same niche of concrete reinforcement research grantmaking.
- American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC): AISC co-funds SpeedCore, R-Factors, and fire-engineering research with the Foundation and operates its own Need for Speed and research programs. It is both a peer funder and a key standards-writing organization shaping how Foundation research is codified.
- Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE SEI): ASCE SEI partners with the Foundation on performance-based structural fire design and wind prestandards research (Grant #01-18). As the standards-setting body for ASCE 7, it is the most direct counterpart to Pankow's code-influencing research.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Charles Pankow Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceCharles Pankow Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Charles Pankow Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Charles Pankow Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Charles Pankow Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Charles Pankow Foundation
What does Charles Pankow Foundation do?
The Charles Pankow Foundation funds and facilitates collaborative, non-proprietary research to address practical challenges in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. It provides research grants to leading universities, assembles expert teams, supports laboratory and field testing, and publishes over 130 research reports, publications, and tools — all shared publicly for free to inform building codes and industry practice.
Is Charles Pankow Foundation a public or private company?
Charles Pankow Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Charles Pankow Foundation founded?
Charles Pankow Foundation was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Charles Pankow Foundation based?
Charles Pankow Foundation is headquartered in Haymarket, United States, in the North America region.
How does Charles Pankow Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation Funding and Grants.
Who are Charles Pankow Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and National Science Foundation (NSF). Direct peers are American Concrete Institute Foundation, MKA Foundation, Applied Technology Council (ATC), Carbon Leadership Forum, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) Foundation, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE SEI).
Does Charles Pankow Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Charles Pankow Foundation.
What industry is Charles Pankow Foundation in?
Charles Pankow Foundation's product category is Construction Research and Innovation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAI, Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8700.