Judging has concluded and ENR Midwest is thrilled to announce its 2023 Best Projects Awardees. 

Two panels of expert judges selected 29 winners in 18 categories: projects that represent outstanding quality of work, spurred innovative ideas and overcame intriguing challenges. 

Of the 63 submittals, 15 earned Best Project designations and 14 received Awards of Merit. 

This year’s ENR Midwest judges included: 

• Angelo Arzano, senior principal, HOK, St. Louis 
• Danielle Dy Buncio, founder and CEO of VIATechnik 
• Marc Hanson, senior director, construction operations, CRB Group
• Lynda Leigh, development manager, CedarSt Companies
• Brandon Maurisak, transit and rail project manager, HNTB
• Steven Zimmerman, JTC director, associate principal, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. 

Judges did not vote in any categories in which their firms had an entry or had any involvement with a project submitted.

Judges also named two nominees for ENR Midwest Project of the Year, which will be announced when the 2023 ENR Midwest Best Projects are profiled in the Nov. 13 print edition. Also, watch for previews of the big event, an awards breakfast set for Tuesday, Nov. 28 in Chicago, where winners of ENR Midwest's Legacy Award, Specialty Contractor of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Owner of the Year, and Design Firm of the Year, will also be honored. 

Congratulations to this year’s Best Project winners! 

Award of Merit, Airport/Transit 

Kansas City International Airport, Kansas City, Mo.
Submitted by Clark Construction 

Best Project, Cultural/Worship 

Pritzker Center, Somers, Wisc.
Submitted by Pepper Construction 

Best Project, Energy/Industrial 

Swift Prepared Foods, Columbia, Mo.
Submitted by Stellar 

Award of Merit, Energy/Industrial

Ultium Cells Battery Manufacturing Plant, Warren, Ohio
Submitted by Barton Malow 

Best Project, Highway/Bridge 

Merchants Bridge, St. Louis
Submitted by TranSystems

Award of Merit, Highway/Bridge

Canal Street Plaza Reconstruction, Chicago
Submitted by F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates 

Award of Merit, Highway/Bridge

Hennepin Avenue DT Reconstruction, Minneapolis
Submitted by Kimley-Horn and Associates

Best Project, K-12 Education 

Against the Current Career Academy, Macy, Neb.
Submitted by Boyd Jones

Award of Merit, K-12 Education

Dover Hill-Joplin New Elementary School, Joplin, Mo.
Submitted by DLR Group

Best Project, Government/Public Building 

National Bio and Agro Defense Facility, Manhattan, Kan.
Submitted by McCarthy Building Cos.

Award of Merit, Government/Public Building

Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Center, Chicago
Submitted by AECOM Hunt 

Best Project, Healthcare 

UI Health Specialty Care Building, Chicago
Submitted by Pepper Construction

Award of Merit, Healthcare

North Central Kansas Medical Center, Concordia, Kan.
Submitted by TREANORHL 

Best Project, Higher Education 

Fermilab Integrated Engineering Research Center, Batavia, Ill.
Submitted by Mortenson

Award of Merit, Higher Education

University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, Iowa City, Iowa
Submitted by Russell 

Best Project, Interior/Tenant Improvement

Confidential Financial Services Office Renovation, Chicago
Submitted by Clune Construction

Best Project, Manufacturing 

Komatsu South Harbor Campus, Milwaukee
Submitted by Hunzinger Construction Co.

Award of Merit, Manufacturing

HARIBO Project Great Lakes Pleasant Prairie Production Facility, Pleasant Prairie, Wisc.
Submitted by Gilbane Building Co.

Award of Merit, Manufacturing

VEGA Americas Advanced Manufacturing Facility, Cincinnati
Submitted by Messer Construction Co. 

Best Project, Office/Retail/Mixed Use

Chicago Park District Administrative Headquarters and Fieldhouse, Chicago
Submitted by F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates 

Best Project, Renovation/Restoration 

Book Depository, Detroit
Submitted by IMEG

Award of Merit, Renovation/Restoration

The Belden-Stratford, Chicago
Submitted by Bulley & Andrews

Best Project, Residential/Hospitality 

Illinois Institute of Technology Student Housing Program Phases 1-3, Chicago
Submitted by Gilbane Buidling Co.

Award of Merit, Residential/Hospitality

Exchange Residential Tower, Detroit
Submitted by Barton Malow

Best Project, Small Project

Riverview Drive Retaining Wall Stabilization, Alton, Ill.
Submitted by Geostabilzation International 

Award of Merit, Small Project

Kids Can Community Center, Omaha
Submitted by Boyd Jones

Best Project, Sports/Entertainment

Gainbridge Fieldhouse of the Future Modernization, Indianapolis
Submitted by Shiel Sexton Co.

Best Project, Water/Environment 

Johnson County Tomahawk Creek Waster Treatment Facility Improvements, Leawood, Kan.
Submitted by McCarthy Building Cos.

Award of Merit, Water/Environment

Euclid Water Pollution Control Center Improvements, Euclid, Ohio
Submitted by Kokosing Industrial Inc.