An energy-positive Kindergarten-through-12th-grade school in North Carolina; the Southeast's first project built to meet the International Living Future Institute's Living Building Challenge; and a Florida hotel built in the shape of a 36-story-tall guitar are the three finalists for ENR Southeast's 2020 Project Of The Year award. Determined after a vote by this year's independent panel of Best Projects judges, the finalists were chosen from amongst the top winners in 18 different project categories, as previously announced by ENR Southeast.

After determining the category winners, this year's jurors—comprised of two separate panels—next nominated a total of six projects to be considered as contenders for the top award. The judges then voted again, resulting in the three finalists named here. This year's judges—who volunteered their expertise and several hours of their time—included: Jamie Breme, business development, Fluor Corp.; Keith Douglas, executive vice president, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.; Cary Perkins, architect and associate principal, McMillan Pazdan Smith; Ray Riddle, vice president, Holder Construction; Bobby Teachey, project manager, Brownstone Construction Group; and Ron Whalen, vice president, Roger B. Kennedy Construction.

Listed here in alphabetical order are this year's Southeast Project of the Year finalists.

Jones New K-12 School, Trenton, N.C. — Submitted by Firstfloor Energy Positive

Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, Atlanta — Submitted by Skanska USA Building Inc.

Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Fla. — Submitted by Suffolk-Yates a Joint Venture

The winner of the Project of the Year award will be announced at this year's ENR Southeast Best Projects Awards cyber-celebration, scheduled for Nov. 4. Of course, all of this year's Best Projects award winners will be honored at that time as well. For more information about attending the ENR Southeast Best Projects event, please check here.