ENR Midwest Announces Best Projects for 2026

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