A homeland security center, mausoleum, and public park and harbor are among the projects a panel of industry professionals awarded top honors in ENR Midwest's Best Projects 2012 competition, an annual program recognizing outstanding design and construction in a variety of categories.

 

Panelists selected winning projects on the basis of design and construction quality, innovation, safety and the ability of their project teams to overcome unique challenges. In all, projects were honored in categories ranging from Civil, Government Buildings and Landscaping to Multifamily Residential, Transportation and Sports Facilities. All winning projects will compete against against winners from eight other regions in ENR's National Best of the Best Projects 2012 competition.


In addition to top honors, panelists also honored projects with Awards of Merit in several categories.


All projects will be honored at an awards breakfast at the Crowne Metro Chicago Plaza on Nov. 29. They also will be featured in the Nov. 26 edition of ENR Midwest, which will reveal the region's Grand Prize Winner: ENR Midwest's Project of the Year.


Following is a preview of this year's winners:


Best Civil/Infrastructure Project


Constructed Wetlands for Treatment of Combined Sewer Overflows, Washington, Ind. Submitted by: Bernardin Lochmueller & Associates


Award of Merit: North 4th Street Bridge Utilities Relocation, Tomahawk, Wis. Submitted by: Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.


Best Cultural/Worship Project


Lakewood Cemetary Garden Mausoleum, Minneapolis. Submitted by: Mortenson Construction


Award of Merit: Cranbrook Art Museum and Collections Building, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Submitted by: SmithGroupJJR


Best Government/Public Building Project


Hanover Park Police Headquarters, Hanover Park, Ill. Submitted by: Leopardo Companies Inc.


Award of Merit: Livingston County Law & Justice Center, Pontiac, Ill. Submitted by: Frederick Quinn Corp.


Best Green Building Project


Clock Shadow Building, Milwaukee, Wis. Submitted by: Continuum Architects + Planners SC


Award of Merit: Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, Ill. Submitted by: Pepper Construction Co.


Best Health Care Project


Rush University Medical Center – The Tower, Chicago. Submitted by: Jacobs


Award of Merit: Cleveland Clinic New Data Center, Brecksville, Ohio. Submitted by: Gensler


Best Higher Education/Research Project


Homeland Security Education Center, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Submitted by: Legat Architects Inc.


Award of Merit: University of Michigan Law School Addition, Ann Arbor, Mich. Submitted by: Walbridge


Interior Design/Tenant Improvement


Award of Merit: Local 17 – International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators, Tinley Park, Ill. Submitted by: Englewood Construction Inc.


Best K-12 Education Project


Early Learning Center, Des Plaines, Ill. Submitted by: Wight & Company


Award of Merit: Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis, Mo. Submitted by: Brinkmann Constructors


Best Landscape/Hardscape/Urban Development Project


31st Street Harbor, Chicago. Submitted by: AECOM


Award of Merit: Central Riverfront: The Banks, Cincinnati, Ohio. Submitted by: The Banks Public Partnership


Best Multifamily Residential/Hospitality Project


St. John's on the Lake: South Tower, Milwaukee, Wis. Submitted by: Perkins Eastman


Award of Merit: Ronald McDonald House, Chicago. Submitted by: Bulley & Andrews


Best Office Project


Delta Dental of Michigan Headquarters, Okemas, Mich. Submitted by: Walbridge


Award of Merit: Astellas Headquarters of the Americas, Glenview, Ill. Submitted by: Goettsch Partners


Best Renovation/Restoration Project


Calefee Law Offices, Cleveland, Ohio. Submitted by: Vocon


Award of Merit: Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity, Kansas City, Mo. Submitted by: JE Dunn Construction


Best Retail/Mixed Use Project


Maplewood Mall Renovation, St. Paul, Minn. Submitted by: Pepper Construction


Award of Merit: Chicago Sports Depot, Chicago. Submitted by: RGLA Solutions Inc.


Best Small Project


St. Louis Science Center, Boeing Hall, St. Louis, Mo. Submitted by: Alberici Constructors, Inc.


Best Specialty Contracting Project


CITGO Lemont Refinery Coker Turnaround, Lemont, Ill. Submitted by: Structural


Best Sports/Entertainment Project


Ford Center, Evansville, Ind. Submitted by: Hunt Construction Group


Award of Merit: Carver-Hawkeye Arena Addition & Renovation, Iowa City, Iowa. Submitted by: Knutson Construction


Best Transportation Project


South Bend Regional Airport Concourse A Expansion, South Bend, Ind. Submitted by: Ken Herceg & Associates Inc.


Award of Merit: Stearns Road Corridor, Kane County, Ill. Submitted by: Alfred Benesch & Co.


The competition's six-member panel of judges included:


  • Shawn Anderton, director, pre-construction services, Graycor

  • Abigail Clary, principal, HDR Architecture

  • Greg Douglas, vice president, design services, Miron Construction Co.

  • Paul Parry, principal, KJWW Engineering Consultants

  • Chris Schnurbusch, regional president, Crossland Construction

  • Jeff Riemer, executive vice president, Lend Lease


Thanks to all those who submitted entries, and congratulations to the winners!