Northwest's Best Projects Rise Above

Photo: courtesy of Vance Fox

Central Washington Hospital Patient Tower in Wenatchee, Wash., earned our first-ever Best Safety Project award.

A shining example of the roster of outstanding projects in the Pacific Northwest sits perched on a high hillside overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. The expansion and renovation of the Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, Wash., features a design that is both modernistic and respectful of the existing historic site, combining smart engineering and well-executed construction. Despite its unforgiving site conditions, it was delivered without a lost-time accident.

By displaying excellence in so many areas, the Maryhill Museum of Art earned ENR Northwest's 2012 Best Overall Project award.

Maryhill is one of 25 projects in 16 categories that were selected by an independent jury of professionals to be honored as ENR Northwest's 2012 Best Projects. Entries were judged on five main criteria: Teamwork and Overcoming Challenges, Safety, Innovation and Contribution, Construction Quality and Craftsmanship, and Function and Aesthetic Quality of the Design. The jury could select one Best Project and multiple Awards of Merit in each category. Jurors also picked an overall Project of the Year, representing the best work across all categories. Jurors abstained from voting on projects with which they are affiliated or have a conflict of interest.

This year, ENR Northwest selected its three projects to be honored for its first-ever Best Safety Project awards. "Safety has always been an important area of ENR's coverage because it is so important to our readers," said Janice L. Tuchman, ENR editor-in-chief, in a September announcement. "It has been one of the Best Projects competition's criteria from the beginning, but we think it deserves this special recognition."

The 2012 Best Projects jury included: Don Enslow, PSM/regulatory team leader, BP Exploration (Alaska); Dale Kuykendall, project manager, JR Merit Industrial Contractors; Mark Ludtka, chief business development officer, Callison; Jennifer Nye, associate, Otak; John Schaufelberger, interim dean of the College of Built Environments and chair of the Dept. of Construction Management at University of Washington.

Best Overall Project

Maryhill Museum of Art Expansion and Renovation Project, Goldendale, Wash.

Civil Works/Infrastructure

Best Project: Brightwater Treatment Plant, Woodinville, Wash.

Award of Merit: Clackamas County Service District No. 1/Tri-City Service District Capacity Management Program Tri-City Plant Expansion, Oregon City, Ore.

Cultural/Worship

Best Project: Maryhill Museum of Art Expansion and Renovation Project, Goldendale, Wash.

Government/Public Building

Best Project: Goose Creek Correctional Center, Wasilla, Ak.

Award of Merit: Consolidated Rental Car Facility, Seatac, Wash.

Health Care

Best Project: Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, Portland, Ore.