ENR Midwest Best Projects 2012

A homeland security center, a mausoleum, a public park and a harbor are among the developments that captured top honors in this year's ENR Midwest Best Projects competition, an annual program recognizing outstanding design and construction in a variety of categories.

Photo courtesy of Paul Crosby

The intricate Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum in Minneapolis was honored in the cultural/worship category.

From a field of 130 entries, a panel of industry professionals selected winning projects based on quality, innovation, safety and the ability of project teams to overcome unique challenges. In all, projects were honored in categories ranging from civil, government buildings and urban development to multifamily residential, transportation and sports facilities.

For the first time, panelists also evaluated entries solely on the basis of safety, awarding top honors to Settlers Trail Wind Farm, a 20,000-acre installation in Watseka, Ill., and an award of merit to a project involving upgrades to a ConocoPhillips refinery in Wood River, Ill.

All the winning projects will compete against winners from eight other regions in ENR's national Best of the Best Projects 2012 competition.

ENR Midwest is grateful to panelists who not only generously gave their time to review each entry but engaged in lively discourse as a jury to select the winning projects. Congratulations to this year's winners!

Best Civil/Infrastructure Project
Constructed Wetlands for Treatment of Combined Sewer Overflows, Washington, Ind.
Award of Merit: North 4th Street Bridge Utilities Relocation, Tomahawk, Wis.

Best Cultural/Worship Project
Lakewood Cemetary Garden Mausoleum, Minneapolis
Award of Merit: Cranbrook Art Museum and Collections Building, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Best Government/Public Building Project
Hanover Park Police Headquarters, Hanover Park, Ill.
Award of Merit: Livingston County Law & Justice Center, Pontiac, Ill.

Best Green Building Project
Clock Shadow Building, Milwaukee, Wis.
Award of Merit: Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, Ill.

Best Health Care Project
Rush University Medical Center – The Tower, Chicago
Award of Merit: Cleveland Clinic New Data Center, Brecksville, Ohio

Best Higher Education/Research Project
Homeland Security Education Center, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Award of Merit: University of Michigan Law School Addition, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Interior Design/Tenant Improvement
Award of Merit: Local 17 – International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators, Tinley Park, Ill.

Best K-12 Education Project
Early Learning Center, Des Plaines, Ill.
Award of Merit: Westminster Christian Academy, Town & Country, Mo.

Best Landscape/Hardscape/Urban Development Project
31st Street Harbor, Chicago
Award of Merit: Central Riverfront: The Banks, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Best Multifamily Residential/Hospitality Project
St. John's on the Lake: South Tower, Milwaukee, Wis.
Award of Merit: Ronald McDonald House, Chicago.

Best Office Project
Delta Dental of Michigan Headquarters, Okemas, Mich.
Award of Merit: Astellas Headquarters of the Americas, Glenview, Ill.

Best Renovation/Restoration Project
Calefee Law Offices, Cleveland, Ohio.
Award of Merit: Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity, Kansas City, Mo.

Best Retail/Mixed Use Project
Maplewood Mall Renovation, St. Paul, Minn.
Award of Merit: Chicago Sports Depot, Chicago.

Best Small Project
St. Louis Science Center, Boeing Hall, St. Louis, Mo.

Best Specialty Contracting Project
CITGO Lemont Refinery Coker Turnaround, Lemont, Ill.