ENR Regional Best Projects 2026

Welcome to ENR's Regional Best Projects Awards program! We are seeking entries for our annual awards program, which is dedicated to honoring the best construction projects and the companies that designed and built them in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Projects compete in 18 specialized categories, ranging from airport/transit to sports/entertainment. Entries with exemplary safety or sustainability programs can also be submitted for two special awards: Excellence in Sustainability and Excellence in Safety.

Independent juries of industry leaders in design and construction from each of ENR's five regional editions will judge the projects using five criteria, including safety, innovation and teamwork. The winners will be honored at an awards ceremony later in the year and will be featured in the regional editions of ENR. Projects deemed best in category will automatically compete in the Best of the Best Projects, a national juried competition appearing in ENR.

Entries may be submitted by any of the firms working on the project, but the most successful entries are joint entries incorporating input from multiple key team members, such as the design firm, contractor and owner.

 

ELIGIBILITY

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1. The project must be built in any of the 50 U.S. states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
2. The project must be or will be completed between May 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026.
3. A project with a construction-related fatality, regardless of contractor or trade, is not eligible.
4. There is no limit to the number of projects each firm or person can submit. However, each project can only be submitted into a single category, so pick the category that highlights your project’s strengths the best.
5. Phased projects can be submitted as long as the phases were bid and built as separate contracts.

 

JUDGING CRITERIA

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Eligible projects are reviewed by a panel of judges, which will award projects based on the following criteria:

1. Overcoming Challenges & Teamwork
2. Safety
3. Innovation & Contribution to the Industry/Community
4. Design & Construction Quality

 

CATEGORIES

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1. Airport/Transit (ports, rail, terminals, runways)
2. Cultural/Worship (theaters, museums, libraries, churches)
3. Energy/Industrial (power plants, refineries, renewables)
4. Government/Public Building (courthouses, bases, law enforcement)
5. Health Care
6. Higher Education/Research
7. Highway/Bridge (roads, tunnels, bridges, interstates)
8. Interior/Tenant Improvement
9. K-12 Education
10. Landscape/Urban Development (parks, streetscapes, plazas, site development)
11. Manufacturing (warehouses, manufacturing, data centers)
12. Office/Retail/Mixed-Use
13. Renovation/Restoration (before and after photos required)
14. Residential/Hospitality (hotels, apartments, housing)
15. Small Project (under $10 million)
16. Specialty Construction (specialized trade or engineering - concrete, mechanical, steel, etc.)
17. Sports/Entertainment (stadiums, arenas, recreation centers)
18. Water/Environment (treatment plants, drainage, remediation, flood control, dams)

 

SPECIAL AWARDS

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In addition to submitting into one of the 18 categories listed above, entrants can also select to be considered for ENR’s special awards. Only projects with exemplary safety and/or sustainability programs that go above and beyond industry norms should apply.

1. Excellence in Safety Award
2. Excellence in Sustainability Award

 

PHOTOGRAPHS

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Submit up to 12 representative photographs in high-resolution digital images (a minimum of 300 dpi at 4" x 6" or larger is preferred) plus one optional supplementary item such as a floor plan or testimonial letter. Photos must not include any text or framing. Please provide the photographer's name for each of the photographs. Applicants should ensure they have permission to copy and send photos to ENR for use without limitations. Any liability for copyright violations shall be borne solely by the applicant.

 

ENTRY FEE

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Early-bird entry fee is $90 through April 13, 2026. Regular entry fee is $120 through May 29. Late entries received after May 29 are $150 each. ENR UNLIMITED members should contact their regional editor listed below for more information.

 

BEST OF THE BEST PROJECTS

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Top category-winning projects will automatically be entered into the national competition and will be judged against the winners from all regions by a jury comprised of construction industry professionals from across the country. The winners of the Best of the Best Projects Awards will be recognized in a special editorial feature in Engineering News-Record, reaching over 150,000 design and construction professionals. One project will be highlighted as Editors’ Choice, selected by the editorial staff of ENR.

 

ENR REGIONAL EDITIONS

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If you have specific questions about a regional issue, please contact your regional editor:

ENR West Calif., Hawaii, Alaska, Ore., Wash. — C.J. Schexnayder, schexnayderc@enr.com
ENR East Conn., Del., D.C., Maine, Md., Mass., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Pa., R.I., Vt., Va., W. Va. — Justin Rice, ricej@enr.com
ENR Midwest Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Ky., Mich., Minn., Mo., Neb., N.D., Ohio, S.D., Wis. — Annemarie Mannion, manniona@enr.com
ENR Mountain States & Southwest Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Mont., N.M., Nev., Utah, Wyo. —  Jen Seward, sewardj@enr.com
ENR Texas & Southeast Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., Okla., P.R., S.C., Tenn., Texas — Vince Kong, kongv@enr.com

 

Questions? Please contact the appropriate regional editor above

 

SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT HERE

• Final Extended Deadline, MidAtlantic Region Only: June 5, 2026
• Final Extended Deadline, California, Texas & Southeast: June 19, 2026
• Final Extended Deadline, All Other Regions: June 30, 2026

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Download 2026 Forms

Regional Best Projects PDF

Regional Best Projects Word Docx