Awards
ENR Midwest Announces Best Projects for 2026
Judging has concluded and ENR Midwest is thrilled to announce its 2026 Best Projects Awardees.
Three panels of expert judges selected 30 winners in 19 categories: projects that represent outstanding quality of work, spurred innovative ideas and overcame intriguing challenges.
Of the 108 submissions, 19 earned Best Project designations and 16 received Awards of Merit.
This year’s ENR Midwest judges included: Danielle Dy Buncio, founder and CEO of VIATechnik; Zane Hyrkas, project manager, OHM Advisors; Melanie Jefferies, COO of Production and Delivery, Milhouse Engineering and Construction; Brandon Maurisak, transit and rail project manager, HNTB; Sam Mishelow, director of client development, Meyer Najem; Vivek Prasad VK, lead estimator-Americas, Microsoft; Deana Ruud, director, External Communications, Marketing and Communications, Terracon; Ben Szela, principal and Texas Engineering practice leader, DLR Group; Laura Young, CEO, Griskelis Young Harrell and Steven Zimmerman, JTC director, associate principal, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
In addition, the judge for the Safety category was Sam Mishelow, director of client development, Meyer Najem. The judges for the Sustainability category were Jill Katic, senior director, knowledge management and learning, Barton Malow Holdings, and Julianne Laue, National Sustainability director, DLR Group.
Judges did not vote on any projects 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 2026 ENR Midwest Best Projects are profiled in the Nov. 9 print edition. Also, watch for previews of the big event, an awards breakfast set for Friday, Nov. 19 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!
Airport/Transit
Best Project: Kansas City Streetcar Main Street Extension
Kansas City, Mo,
Submitted by Herzog Contracting
Cultural/Worship
Best Project: Cleveland Ohio Temple
Cleveland, Ohio
Submitted by: The Haskell Company
Award of Merit: Jack C. Taylor Music Center at Powell Hall
St. Louis, Mo.
Submitted by: BST Constructors
Energy/Industrial
Best Project: Tilden Solar
Tilden Township, Mich.
Submitted by: McCarthy Building Companies
Award of Merit: Power Generation Station Phase IV
Williston, N.D.
Submitted By: Burns & McDonnell
Government/Public Building
Best Project: Minnesota State Emergency Operations Center
Mankato, Minn.
Submitted by: JE Dunn Construction
Healthcare
Best Project: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center University Hospital
Columbus, Ohio
Submitted by: Walsh/Turner Joint Venture
Award of Merit: Trinity Health Livingston Hospital Expansion and Renovation
Brighton, Mich.
Submitted by: Granger Construction Company
Higher Education
Best Project: Chemistry Building Renovation and Expansion
Cincinnati, Ohio
Submitted by: Skanska USA Building
Award of Merit: St. Louis Community College-Meramec
Kirkwood, Mo.
Submitted by: S. M. Wilson & Co.
Highway/Bridge
Best Project: The Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
Detroit, Mich./Windsor, Ontario
Submitted by: AECOM
Award of Merit: I-70 Rocheport Bridge Replacement Design-Build
Rocheport, Mo
Submitted by: Parsons
Award of Merit: Reimagine Pleasant Street Project
Noblesville, Ind.
Submitted by: American Structurepoint
Interior Tenant
Best Project: JE Dunn Construction Headquarters Renovation
Kansas City, Mo.
Submitted by: JE Dunn Construction
K–12 Education
Best Project: KRESA Career Connect Campus
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Submitted by: CSM Group
Award of Merit:
Hillside Elementary School
Omaha, Neb.
Submitted by: Boyd Jones
Manufacturing
Best Project: Buffalo Trace Distillery: Riverbank Stabilization & Flood Protection
Frankfort, Ky.
Submitted by: GeoSpecialties
Award of Merit: A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing Co. Foundry
Dickeyville, Wis.
Submitted by: Russell
Office/Retail/Mixed Use
Best Project: Lawrence University/Trout Museum of Art
Appleton, Wis.
Submitted by: The Boldt Company
Renovations/Restoration
Best Project: The Hand and The Eye
Chicago
Submitted by: Bulley & Andrews
Award of Merit: Jackson YMCA Expansion
Jackson, Mich.
Submitted by: Granger Construction
Residential/Hospitality
Best Project: Jesse Owens State Park Cabins
McConnelsville, Ohio
Submitted by: Robertson Construction
Small Project
Best Project: Chapel of the Risen Christ
St. Louis, Mo.
Submitted by: BSI Constructors
Award of Merit: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Pritzker Department Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (IPU) Expansion
Chicago
Submitted by: Mortenson
Specialty Construction
Best Project: Acrisure Amphitheater Structural Concrete
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Submitted by: Granger Construction
Award of Merit: Zinkpower
Terre Haute, Ind.
Submitted by: Weddle Bros. Building Group
Sports/Entertainment
Best Project: University of St. Thomas – Lee and Penny Anderson Arena
St. Paul, Minn.
Submitted by: Ryan Companies US
Award of Merit: Wawyé Oasis at Gun Lake Resort
Wayland, Mich.
Submitted by: HBG Design
Water/Environment
Best Project: Blue River Wastewater Treatment Plant Biosolids Facility Improvements
Kansas City, Mo.
Submitted by: Black & Veatch
Award of Merit: Maumee River Islands Restoration Project
Toledo, Ohio
Submitted by: Verdantas
Sustainability
Best Project:
Amazon DII5 Net Zero Delivery Station
Elkhart, Ind.
Submitted by Graycor
Award of Merit:
D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Submitted by Barton Malow
Award of Merit:
North Shore School District 112 Ravinia Elementary School Additions and Renovations
Highland Park, Ill.
Submitted by: Gilbane
Safety:
Best Project: Polaris Forge I
Ellendale, N.D.
Submitted by: Applied Digital
Award of Merit: Buffalo Trace Distillery: Riverbank Stabilization & Flood Protection
Frankfort, Ky.
Submitted by: GeoSpecialties