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Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards

The Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards Competition takes place each year to recognize creative achievement in structural engineering via innovative structural designs and individual contributions that advance the profession. 


Purpose

To recognize creative achievement in structural engineering via innovative structural designs and individual contributions that advance the profession.


Eligibility

Projects completed since January 1, 2022 are eligible. Projects must be completed or under construction as of January 1, 2025. Incomplete projects must be sufficiently complete to clearly show the basic design of the structural system. For this awards program, “design” may refer to the overall structure or an element that performs a key function within the completed structure. Any type or size of project may be entered, including new projects, renovations, preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse projects. The project need not be located in Illinois, but at least one member of the design team, or a principal of the firm responsible for the entry, shall be a member of SEAOI. Submitting an application for membership with an entry will satisfy this requirement. For entries in the Best Neighboring State category, at least one member of the design team, or a principal of the firm responsible for the entry, shall be a member of a neighboring state Structural Engineers Association.


Categories of Awards

Awards will be presented for the following:

  • Juror’s Favorite/Most Innovative Structure
  • Best Bridge/Transportation Project
  • Best Industrial /Utility Project
  • Best Renovation/Retrofit/Preservation Project
  • Best Special Structure
  • Best Project – over $150 million
  • Best Project – $50 million up to $150 million
  • Best Project – $10 million up to $50 million
  • Best Project – up to $10 million
  • Lavicka Award – Small Firm (less than 10 FT employees)
  • Best Neighboring State Project – designer located in a state neighboring Illinois

Project categories apply to total construction costs. The bridge/transportation category applies to any size of bridge; however, entries can be also submitted in individual cost categories. The winner of the Jurors’ Favorite/Most Innovative will be selected from entries in all categories.

One project will be selected to receive the Juror’s Favorite/Most Innovative Structure award. A project selected in this category, however, will not simultaneously be selected in one of the Best Project categories. Similarly, projects awarded the Best Bridge/Transportation and Best Renovation/Retrofit/Preservation Projects will not simultaneously be selected in one of the categories classified by construction cost. Finalists will be selected to make presentations at the SEAOI dinner meeting in May. One finalist will be selected to win each category of award. Finalists not selected as Juror’s Favorite/Most Innovative Structure or Best Project will receive Awards of Merit.

SEAOI and the Judging Panel reserve the right to withhold an award in a particular category should no entry be deemed worthy.


Click here for all past years award winners.

Structural Engineering

Helen Torres, PE, SE
President and FounderHelen Torres & Associates



Academia

Shelley Finnigan
Associate Dean, Masters and Professional Education

Architecture

Jason Golub
Regional Director, Ware Malcomb
AIA Chicago President

Media

Edward Keegan
Architecture Columnist, Chicago Tribune

Government



Robert Fahlstrom
Manager of Regulatory Review, City of Chicago Department of Buildings



2025 Project Finalists


Hyde Park Labs - Ben Sexton, Thornton Tomasetti

NOLA Memoir - Jennifer Deem, Forefront

Edith & Peter O'Donnell Jr Athenaeum - Han Ding, Datum Engineers

Optiver at One Prudential Plaza - Chris Freisinger, Wiss, Janney & Elstner Associates

ORD Terminal 5 Expansion - Mark Hendel, HOK

Shedd Aquarium - Kathleen Strnad, Klein & Hoffman

Saint Clement Parish Dome Renovation - Emma Brown, Thornton Tomasetti

USACE Mobile District Headquarters - Lukasz Bukowski, Wight & Company

Rockford Public Library - Alyssa Fee, IMEG Corp.

Ramova Theatre - Eamonn Connolly, McHugh Engineering

Ironworkers Local 63 Training Facility - Shiv Agarwal, Nayyar & Nayyar

Old Joliet Prison Stabilization - Terry McDonald, Klein & Hoffman

1000M - David Fields, MKA

Pin Oak Community Center - Fernando Saz, The Structural Group

UIC - Harrison Street Parking Garage - Ken Nizamuddin, Rubinos & Mesia

Shedd Aquarium Entry & Ticketing Pavilions - Melissa Bayer, Thornton Tomasetti

Hemmes Cultural Center Addition - Viral C. Shah, SR + A

Glass City Metropark - John Rushing, SmithGroup

Baird Center - Jason Gross, GRAEF

The Ayer -  Cary Kopczynski, CKC

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals - Tim Winter, Pierce Engineers

Congratulations to the 2025 Winners!


Lavicka Award

Hemmens Cultural Center Addition
Elgin, IL
SR+A Structural Engineers



Best Project - up to $10 Million

Shedd Aquarium Entry and Ticketing Pavilions
Chicago, IL
Thornton Tomasetti


Best Renovation/Retrofit/Preservation Project

Ramova Theatre
Chicago, IL
McHugh Engineering Group

Best Special Structure

Shedd Aquarium
Chicago, IL
Klein & Hoffman

Best Industrial/Utility Project

Ironworkers Local 63 Training Facility – Glass House
Broadview, IL
Nayyar and Nayyar International, P.C.

Best Neighboring State Project

Baird Center
Milwaukee, WI
GRAEF


Best Project - $10 Million to $50 Million

Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr
Athenaeum Phase 1
Richardson, TX
Datum and Datum Rios

Best Bridge/Transportation Project

Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Terminal 5 Expansion
Chicago, IL
HOK Group, Inc.

Best Project - $50 Million to $150 Million


Hyde Park Labs
Chicago, IL
Thornton Tomasetti

Best Project - over $150 Million

1000M
Chicago, IL
Magnusson Klemencic Associates

Jurors' Favorite/Most Innovative Structure

Old Joliet Prison Stabilization
Joliet, IL
Klein & Hoffman




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Chicago, IL  60606




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