# Site retaining walls (precast vs block)
**URL:** https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/site-retaining-walls-precast-vs-block/9034
**Category:** Materials
**Tags:** concrete, cmu, precast-concrete
**Created:** [July 17, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/site-retaining-walls-precast-vs-block/9034 "2025-07-17T19:02:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aaron.vaden-youmans](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/aaron.vaden-youmans)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/site-retaining-walls-precast-vs-block/9034/1 "2025-07-17T19:02:03Z")
Hello Team - Quick Question: A project in Las Vegas requires a number of very long retaining walls integrated into the site. Will we be more successful reducing embodied carbon with a block wall than a precast wall (given progress in the block decarb market and low embodied carbon grouting options, etc.)? That is our current assumption, but we are interested in any advice the CLF community can share. Thank you!
---
### Author:  [@Kjell\_Anderson](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/Kjell_Anderson)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/site-retaining-walls-precast-vs-block/9034/2 "2025-07-17T23:07:31Z")
I don’t know, but have you looked at a gabion wall?
**Kjell Anderson** FAIA, LEED Fellow
Principal, Director of Sustainable Design
**LMN**
[lmnarchitects.com](https://lmnarchitects.com/)
**M** 206 812 6546
**O** 206 682 3460
**S** [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lmn-architects/) | [X](https://twitter.com/LMNArchitects?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lmnarchitects/?hl=en)
---
### Author:  [@aaron.vaden-youmans](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/aaron.vaden-youmans)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/site-retaining-walls-precast-vs-block/9034/3 "2025-07-17T23:35:15Z")
Thanks. My team tells me we need solutions with more load bearing capacity at these locations. We have been offered precast mechanically stabilized earth systems and/or CMU systems.
---
### Author:  [@aaron.vaden-youmans](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/aaron.vaden-youmans)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2025, 11:54pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/site-retaining-walls-precast-vs-block/9034/4 "2025-07-17T23:54:18Z")
Your suggestion got us thinking about similar options.
We are now looking at TerraTrel® Wire Mesh MSE Retaining Walls.
Note that it is a MSE system but without the precast: For permanent solutions, a column of crushed stone is placed between the wire mesh and geotextile to protect the geotextile from UV light: [TerraTrel® - Geoquest USA](https://www.geoquest-group.us/reinforced-earth/terratrel/)
---
### Author:  [@fpsstructures123](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/fpsstructures123)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/site-retaining-walls-precast-vs-block/9034/5 "2026-06-24T17:55:19Z")
Interesting discussion. For projects requiring high load-bearing capacity, it’s worth evaluating the full lifecycle impacts of each retaining wall option, including materials, transportation, installation, and long-term maintenance. The TerraTrel® wire mesh MSE system seems like a promising alternative, especially where reducing concrete use is a priority.
Comparing embodied carbon across [precast concrete retaining wall](https://fpsstructures.com/), CMU, and MSE systems can often reveal opportunities for both sustainability and structural performance improvements. It would be interesting to see a detailed carbon assessment between precast concrete and block wall solutions for this project.