The Southwestern U.S. has been recognized as a hotbed for innovation in the fields of construction and engineering since the post World War II building boom. As such it has continually attracted some of the best and brightest young talents in the industry.

With such a deep pool of talent, we at ENR Southwest are expecting quite a class to compete to be among those selected as this year’s Top 20 Under 40. The program will highlight the contributions that some of the younger people in the construction trade have made over the past year, and point them out as the “best of the best” in the field under the age of 40.

The criteria for nominees is that they are under the age of 40 as of Jan. 1 2015 and they work at any level of the design or construction industry. They will be judged on the impact they have had within in their respective industry, or within the individual company, which they work for. Entries will be open until Sept. 1, 2014 at midnight.

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Some highlights from the past week:

The Arizona Department of Transportation announced yesterday that it has selected a public-private partnership approach for the South Mountain Freeway, “in the event that the Final Environmental Impact Statement indicates a preferred alternative rather than the no-build option.” The Design-Build-Maintain delivery mechanism will include a long-term maintenance component but will not include a private finance option. According to the press release announcing the decision, the analysis included a, “Value for Money approach,” where, “ADOT and its partner agencies determined which approach would provide the best value for Arizona taxpayers, which would allow the agency to mitigate risk most effectively, and which would provide the most efficient delivery option.” The Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected in September and if it recommends a build alternative, ADOT will release a Request for Qualifications.

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The PENTA Building Group based out of Las Vegas, Nev., raised $120,000 with their 10th Annual Charity Golf Classic at the Revere Golf Club in Henderson, Nev., on July 29. The money is going to be donated to The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, The Women’s Development Center, and the Wounded Warrior Project. The money was raised through sponsorships and donations and this is the first year that the Wounded Warrior Project is receiving part of the proceeds. The WWP offers programs and services to help out injured veterans and other servicemen. The money received by WDC will towards getting furnished apartments, job development, and safety planning and crisis intervention programs for battered women. The donations to NCCF will provide emergency funding Aids and Resources for Kids. A.R.K. provides more than 400 critically ill children and their families with financial and psychological resources in Southern Nevada every year.

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Leading builders and developers Kitchell bought a 20-acre parcel of land in Phoenix Ariz., just south of Interstate 10 on the northeast corner of 28th and Elwood streets on July 29. The land is intended be used for industrial development by Kitchell and the Scottsdale Ariz. based Aspen Group who also has an ownership interest. John Werstler of CBRE will handle the joint venture, and he will also market the property. The development is planned to include two buildings at a combined 250,000 to 290,000 square feet.