The $7.5-million University of Texas at Dallas Visitor Center and University Bookstore was designed to be an open and flexible space for events and a new front door to the campus.

Demonstrating industry benchmarks for safe practices, this project for a 1.27-mile-long elevated rail system at Miami International Airport achieved "world-class results," according to the experts who judged ENR's first-ever "Best of the Best" award for project safety.

Related Links: See all of the Best of the Best Projects 2012 Winners Industry professionals from all across the U.S. donated their time and expertise to help ENR identify and honor the most outstanding construction efforts completed in the U.S. and Puerto Rico between July 2011 and June 2012. Nearly 1,000 project teams submitted their best work to ENR's regional "Best Projects" competitions. For each of the nine regions, our editors assembled an independent panel of industry judges to home in on the winners in 19 categories. The winners of the regional contests moved on to the national competition.A new

Designed for net-zero energy consumption and LEED Platinum certification, this $37.2-million, two-story building in Los Angeles features a green roof of low-water succulents.

Built with an integrated project delivery approach, Gwinnett County's new $245-million wastewater treatment plant replaces six aging facilities.

At approximately 270,000 sq ft, Ambler Johnston Hall is one of the largest residence halls on the East Coast.

With a commitment to allow all students to participate in sports and fitness activities equally without compromising their busy schedules, the St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Del., added 52,000 sq ft of space to its existing Sipprelle Field House.

The 235,000-sq-ft, $93-million replacement school in Washington, D.C. was designed to accommodate a curriculum based on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Lease Crutcher Lewis had to demolish an existing building and construct a six-story, 95,000-sq-ft student housing building in 10 months.The fast pace meant resolving issues in hours, not days.

The best work was done at night. On the K&L Gates tenant improvement project in Seattle, Turner Construction Co. overhauled six floors, not all of them connecting, within a fully occupied building.