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Cover Story - December 2008

Midwest Construction’s Best of 2008 Awards

Enthusiasm for Construction
Abounds Despite Tough Times

by Craig Barner

Headlines are proliferating about tough times as the credit market collapses, turbulence on Wall Street dominates and the economy wheezes nationwide.

But chaos has not dimmed the gusto of construction professionals in the Midwest for their work.

The Midwest Construction’s Best of 2008 competition received 128 entries, the highest since the competition was introduced in 1998. It was the second year in a row of record participation. Entries were received from each state the magazine covers: Illinois, Indiana, eastern Missouri and Wisconsin.

As I wanted, the jury was skeptical but not hypercritical. Submissions were carefully evaluated, with the pros and cons being weighed, in judging that that fair, open and honest.

It was not easy to pick the winners because of their quality. Entries came from a broad mix of entities: public and private owners, general contractors, architects, specialty contractors and developers. Projects ranged from dramatic skyscrapers to small residential projects.

A jury of seven distinguished construction professionals was selected to judge the submissions and comprised the following:

• William Bast, vice president of Thornton-Tomasetti Group in Chicago.
• Bill Browne Jr., president of Ratio Architects Inc. in Indianapolis.
• David Cullen, president of J.P. Cullen and Sons Inc. in Janesville, Wis.
• Warren Hill, chairman of Hill Mechanical Group in Franklin Park, Ill.
• Michael Kaufman, partner of Goettsch Partners in Chicago.
• John Mick II, regional of Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers in Chicago.
• Ray Prokop, vice president of Wight & Co. in Darien, Ill.

Prior to judging, the jurors received the written descriptions that arrived at Midwest Construction’s office by Aug. 29. On Sept. 17, jury members donated their day and came to the magazine’s office in the Prudential Building in Chicago to discuss each project with their fellows. They also looked over late submissions.

Jury members read the project descriptions and viewed photographs taken during the entry’s various stages of construction. In weighing a project’s merit, consideration was given to the complexity and number of challenges faced, the teamwork displayed in completing the job, the aesthetic quality of the finished project and other factors that the jurors deemed fitting.

Once each juror had the opportunity to review submissions, discuss them with his fellows and view project images, the floor was opened for award nominations. If a juror was affiliated with a project, he abstained from voting. A project won if a majority of jurors found it worthy of distinction.

With these points in mind, the jury selected 36 projects in 16 categories. In some categories, project-of-the-year awards and awards of merit were given. In others, only the project of the year or only the award of merit was granted.

Brief descriptions of each winning entry are on the following pages. The winners will be honored at an awards luncheon on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile.

I appreciate the effort that every submitting organization made to this year’s competition. Please contact me if you have questions about this year’s competition or the 2009 competition. Good building!

Craig Barner
Editor

This Year’s Winners

Project of the Year Overall
Lucas Oil Stadium >>

Project of the Year, K-12 Education
Lemont High School >>

Award of Merit: K-12 Education
Brokaw Early Learning Center >>

Project of the Year: Health Care (Large)
Heart and Vascular Center Addition Loyola University Medical Center >>

Award of Merit: Health Care (Large Projects)
St. Louis Children’s Hospital East Expansion >>

Award of Merit: Health Care (Large)
Franciscan Point Health Complex >>

Award of Merit: Health Care (Small)
FHN Family Health Care Burchard >>

Award of Merit: Health Care (Small Projects)
Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice >>

Award of Merit: Health Care (Small Projects)
Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center Addition >>

Project of the Year: Higher Education/Research
Business Instructional Facility University of Illinois >>