After careful deliberation, a panel of independent judges selected 38 winners for ENR’s 2012 ‘Best Projects’ in the Texas and Louisiana region.

Our annual ‘Best Projects’ contest recognizes the region’s best achievements in design and construction across 16 categories: Civil Works/Infrastructure, Cultural/Worship, Government/Public Building, Green, Health Care, Higher Education/Research, Industrial/Manufacturing, Interiors, K-12, Office, Renovation/Restoration, Residential/Hospitality, Retail/Mixed-Use, Small Project, Specialty Contracting, Sports/Entertainment and Transportation.

We’ll honor the projects, the firms who submitted them and all key team members involved in a special edition of ENR Texas & Louisiana in December and during an awards ceremony Dec. 13, 2012, in Dallas.

Our panel of judges represented architects, engineers and general contractors and are all active members of the local building community. They abstained from voting on any projects with which they are affiliated or have a conflict of interest.

The projects recognized this year overcame significant challenges; adopted innovative approaches; executed exceptional design and craftsmanship; and maintained safe sites.

Each of our category winners will advance into the national judging of ENR’s Best Projects competition. National award winners will be announced later this year and featured in a future edition of ENR.

On top of our category winners, our judges also selected an overall Best Project in the Texas and Louisiana region, to be announced at the awards ceremony in Dallas as well as the December issue of ENR Texas & Louisiana.

Congratulations to our category and merit award winners for 2012, listed below!

Best Civil Works/Infrastructure Project

Best Project: Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) West Closure Complex, New Orleans – Submitted by Arcadis/Kiewit Infrastructure South Co.

Award of Merit: Levee Improvements to the Chalmette Loop Levee, Bayou Dupree to Hwy 46, Reach LPV 146, St. Bernard Parish, La. – Submitted by URS Corp.

Award of Merit: Seabrook Gate Project, New Orleans – Submitted by Alberici Constructors, Inc.

Best Cultural/Worship Project

Best Project: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark. – Submitted by Buro Happold

Best Government/Public Buildings Project

Best Project: Marine Corps Support Facility, New Orleans – Submitted by Woodward Design+Build

Award of Merit: Rockwall County Courthouse, Rockwall, Texas – Submitted by Manhattan Construction Co.

Best Green Project

Best Project: University of North Texas Apogee Stadium, Denton, Texas – Submitted by Manhattan Construction Co.

Award of Merit: University of Texas Marine Science Institute Reserve Headquarters and Lab Expansion, Port Aransas, Texas – Submitted by SpawGlass Contractors, Inc.

Best Health Care Project

Best Project: San Antonio Military Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas – Submitted by Clark Construction Group

Award of Merit: University Medical Center of El Paso, El Paso, Texas – Submitted by MMC Corp./Robins & Morton

Award of Merit: Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women, Houston – Submitted by FKP Architects

Best Higher Education/Research Project

Best Project: Memorial Student Center Renovation and Addition, College Station, Texas – Submitted by Perkins+Will

Best Industrial/Manufacturing Project

Best Project: Crane Worldwide, Houston – Submitted by Metzger Construction Co. and Harry Gendel Architects

Award of Merit: South Central Utility Plant at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas – Submitted by MEDCO Construction LLC

Best Interior Design/Tenant Improvement Project

Best Project: El Paso Corporation Tower Renovation, Houston – Submitted by Gilbane

Award of Merit: Fulbright & Jaworski, Austin, Texas – Submitted by Balfour Beatty Construction

Best K-12 Education Project

Best Project: Ann Richards Middle School, Dallas, Texas – Submitted by Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.

Award of Merit: Lady Bird Johnson Middle School, Irving, Texas – Submitted by Balfour Beatty Construction

Best Landscape Hardscape Urban Development Project

Best Project: North Boulevard Town Square Project, Phase 1, Baton Rouge, La. – Submitted by Arrighi Construction, LLC

Best Office Project

Best Project: MD Anderson Cancer Center Mid Campus Building and Garage, Houston – Submitted by Vaughn Construction

Award of Merit: Hess Tower, Houston – Submitted by Trammell Crow Co.

Best Renovation/Restoration Project

Best Project: Lafayette General Medical Center Tower Renovations, Lafayette, La. – Submitted by The Lemoine Co., LLC

Award of Merit: 1910 Courthouse Historic Restoration, Houston – Submitted by PGAL/Vaughn Construction

Award of Merit: University of Texas at Austin School of Law Jesse H. Jones Hall, Austin, Texas – Submitted by Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.

Award of Merit: Vertical Expansion at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, Plano, Texas – Submitted by MEDCO Construction, LLC

Best Residential/Hospitality Project

Best Project: Omni Dallas Hotel, Dallas, Texas – Submitted by Balfour Beatty Construction

Award of Merit: Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans – Submitted by Landis Construction Co., LLC

Best Retail/Mixed-Use Developments Project

Best Project: Pearl Brewery Development, San Antonio, Texas – Submitted by Joeris General Contractors

Best Small Project Under 10 Million Project

Best Project: University of Texas at Dallas Visitor Center and University Bookstore, Richardson, Texas – Submitted by Page Southerland Page

Award of Merit: Star of Hope Children's Building, Houston – Submitted by Fretz Construction Co.

Best Specialty Contracting Project

Best Project: Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas, Texas – Submitted by Gate Precast Co.

Award of Merit: Harris County 1910 Courthouse Restoration, Houston – Submitted by Camarata Masonry Systems, Ltd.

Best Sports/Entertainment Project

Best Project: BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston – Submitted by Manhattan Construction Co.

Award of Merit: NOLA Motorsports, Avondale, La. – Submitted by Barriere Construction

Best Transportation Project

Best Project: John James Audubon Bridge, Pointe Coupee Parish, La. – Submitted by Flatiron/Louisiana TIMED Managers

Award of Merit: Oklahoma City Skydance Bridge, Project No. BC-0180, Oklahoma City – Submitted by Manhattan Road & Bridge Co.

Award of Merit: Houma to Freeport Bridge Relocation, Houma, La., and Freeport, Texas – Submitted by Modjeski and Masters, Inc.

Award of Merit: LA 1 Improvements, Phase 1A Bridge Construction, Fourchon/Leeville, La. – Submitted by James Construction Group, LLC