This design competition takes place each year to recognize excellence in structural engineering.

The winners are announced at the Annual Awards Banquet each year. 

Awards are given in the categories listed below.  

 

2017 Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards

Jurors’ Favorite/Most Innovative Structure

JTI Headquarters
Geneva, Switzerland
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Image courtesy of Hufton + Crow

Judge Comments:

…A true marriage of dramatic architectural expression and structural engineering savvy, resulting in a striking and exciting piece of urban architectural 'sculpture'.    

...Just spectacular. The nested trusses and double-cantilever design are only two of the features that make this unusual marriage of bridge engineering and office construction an eye-catching success.

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Best Renovation/Retrofit Project

Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
Ruby+Associates, Inc.

Image courtesy of Hillsdale

Judge Comments:
… Impressively innovative and ambitious construction engineering achievement, in very short construction timeframe. 

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Best Bridge/Transportation Project
Kentucky Lake Bridge
Cadiz/Trigg Counties, Kentucky
Michael Baker International, Inc.


Image courtesy of Portal

 

Judge Comments:

… elegant bridge design, equally matched by the innovative construction methodology. 

 

 …The sequencing and seamless installation expertly complemented the stylish, basket-handle design and built-in seismic flexibility.

 

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Best Project – >$150 Million
River Point Tower
Chicago, Illinois, U.S
Magnusson Klemencic Associates

Image courtesy of MKA


Judge Comments:

…Impressive wielding of structural engineering prowess to tackle significant site constraints, yielding an elegant structural / architectural design.  

…Creating a new downtown landmark on a site that had scared off developers for decades.

 

 

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Best Project – $50 Million to $150 Million
Chicago Riverwalk
Chicago, IL
Alfred Benesch & Co.

Image courtesy of Kate Joyce

Judge Comments:

 ...Great reclamation of a long-ignored urban resource.

 

... Engineers famously reversed the Chicago River over a century ago. Now, they've shown they still have the power to shape it to serve citizens better.

 

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Best Project – $5 million to $50 Million
Wrightwood Art Gallery Renovation
Chicago, IL
Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.

Image courtesy of Tadao and Associates


Judge Comments:

…Steel bracing preserved the architecturally significant exposed concrete and helped to conquer yet another tight site

…Innovative brute-force structural engineering solution cleverly disguised in the finished architectural expression.  

 

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William and Alys Lavicka Award
Duke University Chapel
Durham, NC
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Image courtesy of WJE


Judge Comments:

… Impressive marriage of historic structural analysis methodology and state-of-the- art computer analysis

 

… A beautifully efficient project that ingeniously honored its budget as much as its historically significant canvass.   

 

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Awards of Merit

Hancher Auditorium Replacement Facility, The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.

Image courtesy of Thornton Tomasetti
 

Hanking Center Tower 
Shenzhen, China
WSP (formerly Halvorson & Partners) 

Image courtesy of Morphosis Architects

 

 

The Robey + Hollander
Chicago, IL
FOREFRONT Structural Engineers

Image courtesy of Convexity Development

 

South Air Traffic Control Tower
Chicago, IL
exp US Services, Inc.

Image courtesy of exp

Union Station Transit Center
Chicago, IL
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

Image courtesy of SGH

 

The Viceroy Hotel
Chicago, IL
FOREFRONT Structural Engineers, Inc.

Image courtesy of Goettsch Partners

 

 

Willis Towers Watson - Feature Stair
Chicago, IL
Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.

 

Image courtesy of Thornton Tomasetti