[kerryfalk]

That's a bit misleading. Yes, new construction must at least meet the building code. But it's not like it's been designed to be just enough. There's a heavy safety factor in the codes. In some cases they work to reduce the code because it's too much.

[dghughes]

Isn't that the mantra of engineers to make something within budget that just barely doesn't collapse. Maybe it's an inside joke I didn't quite get.

[kerryfalk]

My experience within the North American precast concrete industry is its almost unanimously over-engineered. However, I am not a Structural Engineer.