Judging has concluded and ENR Midwest is thrilled to announce its 2024 Best Projects Awardees. 

Four panels of expert judges selected 33 winners in 16 categories: projects that represent outstanding quality of work, spurred innovative ideas and overcame intriguing challenges. The winners in the Safety and Sustainability categories will be announced by Aug. 22.  

Of the 87 submissions, 17 earned Best Project designations and 16 received Awards of Merit. 

This year’s ENR Midwest judges included: 

  • Angelo Arzano, senior principal, HOK, St. Louis 
  • Laura Drescher, sustainability technical service leader, Burns & McDonnell 
  • Danielle Dy Buncio, founder and CEO of VIATechnik 
  • Marc Hanson, senior director, construction operations, Clayco
  • Jill Katic, senior director, knowledge management and learning, Barton Malow Holdings
  • Lynda Leigh, development manager, CedarSt Companies
  • Brandon Maurisak, transit and rail project manager, HNTB
  • Sam Mishelow, director of client development, Meyer Najem
  • Vivek Prasad VK, lead estimator-Americas, Microsoft
  • Steven Zimmerman, JTC director, associate principal, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. 

Judges did not vote in any categories in which their firms had an entry or had any involvement with a project submitted.

Judges also named three nominees for ENR Midwest Project of the Year, which will be announced when the 2023 ENR Midwest Best Projects are profiled in the Nov. 11 print edition. Also, watch for previews of the big event, an awards breakfast set for Friday, Nov. 15 in Chicago, where winners of ENR Midwest's Legacy Award, Specialty Contractor of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Owner of the Year, and Design Firm of the Year, will also be honored. 

Congratulations to this year’s Best Project winners! 

ENR Midwest's 2024 Regional Best Projects Winners

Best Project, Airport/Transit
Jason Hargrove Transit Center
Detroit, Mich.
Submitted by Ideal Contracting

Best Project, Cultural/Worship
Missouri Botanical Garden Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center
St. Louis, Mo.
Submitted by IMEG

Best Project, Energy/Industrial
Alliant Energy Solar Program
Nine sites in Wisconsin
Submitted by Burns & McDonnell

Award of Merit, Energy/Industrial
Carlson Creek Switchyard
Monon, Ind.
Submitted by Michels Power, Inc.

Best Project, Government/Public Building
Franklin County Corrections Center
Columbus, Ohio
Submitted by Gilbane Building Company

Award of Merit, Government/Public Building
City of Columbus Community Building
Columbus, Neb.
Submitted by Boyd Jones

Best Project, Highway/Bridge
Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) over 87th Street/Roberts Road
Hickory Hills, Justice and Bridgeview, Ill.
Submitted by Illinois Tollway

Award of Merit, Highway/Bridge
Third Avenue Bridge CMGC
Minneapolis, Minn.
Submitted by Ames Construction, Inc.

Best Project, K-12 Education
Niles North Addition and Renovations
Skokie, Ill.
Submitted by F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates LLC

Best Project, Healthcare
Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center
Duluth, Minn.
Submitted by EwingCole

Award of Merit, Healthcare
Children's Wisconsin Skywalk Building
Milwaukee, Wisc.
Submitted by Boldt

Award of Merit, Healthcare
Caro Psychiatric Hospital
Caro, Mich.
Submitted by Granger Construction Company

Best Project, Higher Education/Research
Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building
St. Louis, Mo.
Submitted by McCarthy Building Companies

Award of Merit, Higher Education/Research 
Western Michigan University Student Center and Dining Facilities
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Submitted by Walbridge

Award of Merit, Higher Education/Research
Des Moines University Medical & Health Sciences Campus
West Des Moines, Iowa
Submitted by RDG Planning & Design

Best Project, Interior/Tenant Improvement
Barstool Sports, Inc.
Chicago
Submitted by Clune Construction

Best Project, Landscape/Urban Development
Omaha RiverFront Revitalization
Omaha, Neb.
Submitted by HDR

Award of Merit, Landscape/Urban Development
Bicentennial Unity Plaza
Indianapolis, Ind.
Submitted by Shiel Sexton Company, Inc. and Weddle Bros. Building Group, LLC

Best Project, Manufacturing
KC3 Nuuly Raymore C.C. Expansion Raymore, Mo.
Submitted by Brinkmann Constructors

Award of Merit, Manufacturing
Hill's Pet Nutrition - Wet Pet Food Manufacturing Facility
Tonganoxie, Kans.
Submitted by Gray

Award of Merit, Manufacturing
Nucor Gallatin Automatic Racking System
Ghent, Ky.
Submitted by JGM Fabricators & Constructors, LLC

Best Project, Renovation/Restoration
21c Museum Hotel St. Louis
St. Louis, Mo.
Submitted by Russell

Award of Merit, Renovation/Restoration
American Swedish Institute Turnblad Mansion and Carriage House Restoration
Minneapolis, Minn.
Submitted by JE Dunn Construction

Best Project, Residential/Hospitality
The Bell - 45 Erieview Plaza
Cleveland, Ohio
Submitted by Leopardo Construction

Award of Merit, Residential/Hospitality
The Standard at Bloomington
Bloomington, Ind.
Submitted by Landmark Properties

Best Project, Small Project
Spellacy Bridge Reconstruction Project
Holmes County, Ohio
Submitted by Kokosing Construction Company, Inc.

Award of Merit, Small Project
National WWI Museum and Memorial Bergman Family Gallery and Open Storage Center
Kansas City, Mo.
Submitted by JE Dunn Construction Company

Best Project, Specialty Construction
Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail
Apple Valley, Minn.
Submitted by PCL Construction

Best Project, Sports/Entertainment
The New Paddock Experience at Churchill Downs
Louisville, Ky.
Submitted by Calhoun Construction Services

Award of Merit, Sports/Entertainment
Baird Center Expansion
Milwaukee, Wisc.
Submitted by Gilbane Building Company

Award of Merit, Sports/Entertainment
Kansas City Current CPKC Stadium
Kansas City, Mo.
Submitted by JE Dunn Construction

Best Project, Water/Environment
Great Lakes Water Supply Program
Waukesha, Wisc.
Submitted by Black & Veatch

Award of Merit, Water/Environment
Ohio Landfills Desulphurization Projects
Fostoria and New Lexington, Ohio
Submitted by ET DESIGN BUILD