Best of 2009 Recognizes Outstanding Projects

This year the judges were faced with some projects that will never be replicated, such as the Hood Canal Bridge Retrofit and the Brightwater Marine Outfall.

By Lucy Bodilly

Photo Courtesy of ZGF Architects

Despite a down construction year, the 2009 Best of received a record number of entries, 85. This was also the first year the entire contest was run digitally. Contestants entered the contest online and the judges reviewed the submissions online.

The judges looked at 23 categories, but had the leeway to recognize worthy projects as they saw fit. This year we have awards for Best Contemporary Renovation and Best Historic Renovation, for example, even though there is only one Renovation category.

Winners of the major categories went on to the Best of the Best, a national contest sponsored by ENR. Projects from around the country vied for recognition, with judges looking at 273 entries.

Two Northwest projects won there. The MutliCare Utility Plant won Best Industrial and the Brightwater Outfall won Best Civil.

The local judges leaned toward sustainable projects, even if it wasn’t the Green Category. Counting sustainability as a contribution to the community, judges considered whether a project was LEED rated or had sustainable features. That was a deciding factor in many cases.

Special thanks to our local judges, Dale Kuykendall, Business Development and Project Manager at Emerick Construction, Portland; Steve Stroming, Project Manager, Rafn Co.; and Dipika Kohli, The Design Kompany.

To enter the contest next year, look at northwest.construction.com. Our entry forms will be posted there. The site is also where you’ll find the forms to participate in our Top Lists and Top Projects.