Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards

The Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards Competition takes place each year to recognize creative achievement in structural engineering via innovative structural designs and individual contributions that advance the profession. 

Purpose

To recognize creative achievement in structural engineering via innovative structural designs and individual contributions that advance the profession.

Eligibility

Projects completed since January 1, 2023 are eligible. Projects must be completed or under construction as of January 1, 2026. Incomplete projects must be sufficiently complete to clearly show the basic design of the structural system. For this awards program, “design” may refer to the overall structure or an element that performs a key function within the completed structure. Any type or size of project may be entered, including new projects, renovations, preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse projects. The project need not be located in Illinois, but at least one member of the design team, or a principal of the firm responsible for the entry, shall be a member of SEAOI. Submitting an application for membership with an entry will satisfy this requirement. For entries in the Best Neighboring State category, at least one member of the design team, or a principal of the firm responsible for the entry, shall be a member of a neighboring state Structural Engineers Association.

Categories of Awards

New Categories: thanks to your feedback, the Renovation/Retrofit/Preservation category has been updated to two new categories:

• Best Forensic/Retrofit/Rehabilitation Project
• Best Renovation/Adaptive Reuse Project

Awards will be presented for the following:

• Juror’s Favorite/Most Innovative Structure
• Best Bridge/Transportation Project
• Best Industrial /Utility Project
• Best Special Structure
• Best Project – over $150 million
• Best Project – $50 million up to $150 million
• Best Project – $10 million up to $50 million
• Best Project – up to $10 million
• Lavicka Award – Small Firm (less than 10 FT employees)
• Best Neighboring State Project – designer located in a state neighboring Illinois
  

Project categories apply to total construction costs. The bridge/transportation category applies to any size of bridge; however, entries can be also submitted in individual cost categories. The winner of the Jurors’ Favorite/Most Innovative will be selected from entries in all categories.

One project will be selected to receive the Juror’s Favorite/Most Innovative Structure award. A project selected in this category, however, will not simultaneously be selected in one of the Best Project categories. Similarly, projects awarded the Best Bridge/Transportation and Best Renovation/Retrofit/Preservation Projects will not simultaneously be selected in one of the categories classified by construction cost. Finalists will be selected to make presentations at the SEAOI dinner meeting in May. One finalist will be selected to win each category of award. Finalists not selected as Juror’s Favorite/Most Innovative Structure or Best Project will receive Awards of Merit.

SEAOI and the Judging Panel reserve the right to withhold an award in a particular category should no entry be deemed worthy.

Click here for all past years award winners.