ABOUT THE CHICAGO BUILDING CONGRESS MERIT AWARDS
There is no other association activity that more perfectly defines the mission of the Chicago Building Congress than its Merit Award Program. The Merit Awards have celebrated the building industry since 1956 by singling out the outstanding projects in greater Chicagoland built during the past three years.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the CBC Merit Awards on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Morgan Manufacturing.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2023 MERIT AWARDS WINNERS
Commercial Construction Over $50 Million
320 South Canal – Union Station — Clark Construction
Commercial Construction Under $50 Million
SOS Children’s Villages — JGMA
Education PK-12
Community High School District 99, Downers Grove North & South High Schools Additions & Renovations — Wight & Company
Higher Education
Illinois Institute of Technology Student Housing Program Phases I – III — Gilbane Building Company
Healthcare
UI Health Specialty Care Building — Pepper Construction
Infrastructure or Industrial Construction
Canal Street Plaza Reconstruction — F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates
Interior Build-Out
Ernst & Young Chicago Office Renovation — Clune Construction
Renovation & Adaptive Reuse Over $20 Million
Mount Prospect Police Headquarters — FGM Architects
Renovation & Adaptive Reuse Under $20 Million
Chicago Cultural Center Restoration of the Grand Army of the Republic Rooms — Berglund Construction
Residential/Hospitality
Cirrus, Cascade and Cascade Park —Lendlease
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who can enter the Merit Awards?
A: Anyone can enter the Merit Awards with a project that has been completed within three (3) years of submission.
Q: If my company is not a CBC member, can we still enter our project(s)?
A: Yes, if your company is not a CBC member, you can still enter as many projects as you like by selecting the non-member section of the form.
Q: What are the Merit Award Categories for 2023?
A: The 2023 Merit Award Categories reflect Chicagoland’s ever-changing construction landscape. Here are the categories:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Residential/Hospitality
- Commercial Construction UNDER $50 Million
- Commercial Construction OVER $50 Million
- Renovation & Adaptive Reuse UNDER $20 Million
- Renovation & Adaptive Reuse OVER $20 Million
- Infrastructure or Industrial Construction
- Interior Build-Out
Please remember that multiple projects can be submitted for multiple categories, however the same project cannot be entered into more than one category.
Q: Can I enter several projects?
A: Yes, you can enter as many projects as you like. Each project entered will require project details, contact information (including those key subs), and payment. However, you can enter several projects using one electronic form.
Q: Can we enter a project outside of Chicagoland or Illinois?
A: The primary purpose of the Merit Awards is to recognize outstanding projects in the Chicagoland area and surrounding counties. However, in the past some projects have been submitted built in Illinois and of course were seriously considered.
Q: What is the timeline for each phase of the Merit Awards?
A: Here is the timeline for each phase of the 2023 Merit Awards:
Merit Award SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 31, 2023
PROJECT FORM DEADLINE: December 31, 2022
Merit Award PROJECT DETAILS & PHOTOS DEADLINE: February 7, 2023
(Projects must be completed by December 31, 2012.)
Email Notification Sent to Finalists Scheduling In-Person Presentations: February 27, 2023
Finalists’ Presentations & Judging Dates to Determine Winners: March 21, 22, 29, & April 5, 2023
MERIT AWARDS GALA: May 2023
Q: When must a project be completed to be eligible for the Merit Awards?
A: Projects completed within the last three years, and by Dec., 31, 2022 are eligible for the Merit Awards.
Q: If we have entered a project in a previous Merit Awards Program, can we enter it again for this year’s Merit Awards?
A: Previously entered Merit Award projects can be re-entered, as long as they have been completed within the last three years, and were not selected as Merit Award winners.
Q: How do I enter projects for the Merit Awards?
A: Entering your projects is easy! Simply go here, enter contact information, your project title, and select a category. You can pay for your entry (or more than one) right online. If you have more than one project you are entering, you can do them all in the same registration.
Q: How much is it to enter a project?
A: Each project registered is $300 for CBC Members, and $600 for non-members.
Q: What if I enter a project, and the budget increased placing me into a different category, what should I do?
A: If you are close to the original project budget, keep the project in the same category. If however, the budget/expenditures has vastly exceeded your original estimates, please contact cbc@chicagobuildingcongress.org.
Q: How are the projects judged?
A: A panel of dedicated industry professionals volunteer to judge all presentations. This includes owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, and those in services to the construction industry. Judges select the top five entries in each category based on the criteria below. Remember to include these in your submission and (if selected as a finalist) in the finalist presentation:
- Distinctive, functional, or innovative design
- Quality of construction
- Impact of the project on the community and inclusion initiatives
- Safety record
Q: What is the process for judging?
A: The first meeting is to determine finalists from the Merit Award entries, and the second and third judging sessions select the winners in each category. These dates are tentatively scheduled to take place in late March. There is usually a backup date scheduled in April. The Merit Awards take place in May 2023.
Q: How can I get involved as a Merit Award judge? Are there certain criteria I need to meet?
A: Thanks for your interest in the Merit Award judging process. We have two criteria to be a Merit Award judge:
- Your company must be a CBC Member with dues paid up-to-date.
- Your expertise in the construction industry. As a CBC member serving the construction industry, your expertise is needed to help identify finalists and the winners of the Merit Awards.
Q: Interested in being a Merit Award judge?
A: A panel of dedicated CBC members volunteer to judge all the presentations. To be a Merit Award judge, you must be a CBC member, complete the availability form before judging starts (in February 2023), and have a passion for the built environment. Judges represent all areas of the construction market from owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, and those in the services to the construction industry. If you are interested in becoming a judge, please email us at cbc@chicagobuildingcongress.org.
Q: When are the winners announced?
A: Winners will be announced the night of the Merit Awards Gala.
Q: How can I get tickets, purchase a table, sponsor the event or buy an ad in the program book for the Merit Awards?
A: Registration for the Merit Awards Gala is now open. Click here for registration and sponsorship information.
VIEW OUR 2022 MERIT AWARDS RECAP VIDEO
PAST MERIT AWARD WINNERS
2022
- Sherlock Elementary School
- Advocate Aurora Illinois Masonic Medical Center- Physical Therapy & Sports Health Center
- Fifth Avenue Apartments
- Steppenwolf Theatre Campus Expansion
- Great Lakes Academy: Elementary & Middle School Expansion & Renovation
- The 1060 Project at Wrigley Field
- Abt Electronics
- Walgreens Chicago Office
2021
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Solution Center
- Lisle Elementary School
- KLEO Art Residences
- Midway Airport Passenger Security Checkpoint Expansion
- Pullman Artspace Lofts
- Old Cook County Hospital Renovation
- Esperanza Health Centers
- Robert Crown Community Center
- 110 North Wacker Drive
2020
- University of Chicago Keller Center
- VA Hines New Boiler Plant
- Northtown Affordable Apartments and Public Library
- Columbia College Chicago Student Center
- Argonne Materials Design Laboratory
- Lincoln Park Community Services
- The Old Chicago Post Office Renovation and Adaptive Reuse Project
- Riverview Bridge
- Knoll
2019
- Burbank School District 111 Luther Burbank Elementary School
- 41st Street Pedestrian Bridge over Lake Shore Drive
- DLA Piper
- 412 N. Wells
- Manufacturing Technology & Engineering Center at Richard J. Daley College
- Holtschneider Performance Center
- The Newberry Renovation
- Hotel Julian
2018
- Washington Wabash CTA Loop Elevated Station
- Joliet Junior College City Center
- Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep
- Frank Lloyd Wright Unity Temple
- IBEW Local 9, University Park Training Facility
- Hotel EMC2
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- Trumpf Smart Factory
2017
- Walter Payton College Preparatory High School
- Saia LTL Freight
- Navy Pier Centennial Wheel
- Zurich North America
- Abe and Ida Cooper Center
- Joliet Central High School Student Center Addition
- Albert Lane Tech High School Renovation
- River Point Tower
- Albert Lane Tech High School Renovation
2016
- NewCity
- Chinatown Branch, Chicago Public Library
- DuPage County Health Dept. Community Center
- Chicago Athletic Association
- Rosewood Beach Development
- Chicago Riverwalk Phase II
- Amazon Sortation & Fulfillment Center
- Confidential Technology Project
- Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center
2015
- BP Emergency Services Building
- Adler Planetarium Cosmology Gallery
- LaRabida Children’s Hospital Ambulatory Care Ctr.
- University of Chicago 58th St. East & West Revitalization
- University of Chicago Saieh Hall for Economics
- Northeastern Illinois University “El Centro Campus”Argonne National Laboratory Advanced Protein
- OneEleven
2014
- Adjustable Forms, Inc.
- Eataly
- Univ. of Chicago Quad Portal
- CTA Loop Track Renewal Project
- DePaul University Theatre School
- Argonne Energy Sciences Bldg.
- Genevieve & Wayne Gratz Center
- Back of Yards High School
- Instituto Health Sciences Academy
2013
- Univ of Chgo Reva & David Logan Ctr
- Ronald McDonald House 211 E Grand
- Monroe Building
- LaCasa Student Dormitory
- 31st Street Harbor
- Silver Cross Replacement Hospital
- Winpak Portion Packaging
- Baker & McKenzie
2012
- Ogden International School
- Astellas North American Hdqrtrs
- Camp Porter Barracks
- III Forks Steakhouse
- Hairpin Lofts & Arts Center
- Old Town School Of Folk Music
- S-K Hand Tool
- Teen Living Programs Belfort House
2011
- 300 East Randolph
- Chicago Botanic Garden
- Plant Conservation Science Center
- The Sullivan Center
- Cast Iron Façade Restoration
- PCC Wellness Austin Family Health
- Exelon Solar City
- NUPOC
2010
- Art Institute Of Chicago
- Modern Wing & Nichols Bridgeway
- Metea Valley High School
- Uno Veterans Memorial Campus
- Hidden Oaks Nature Center
- S & C Electric Co Advanced Tech Crt
- Village Of Oak Park
- Marion & Westgate St Improvements
2009
- Trump International Hotel
- Jewish Reconstructionist Synagogue
- Palmer House Hilton Hotel
- Holy Family Lutheran School
2008
- Klarchek Information Commons
- Ravinia New Dining Facility
- Orland Park Police Headquarters
- SOS Children’s Village
2007
- Gary Comer Youth Center
- Calamos Headquarters
- LaSalle Bank Theater
- Chicago Greenworks
2006
- Conservation Of The U-505 Sub
- Orland Park Public Library
- Domestic Violence Court House
- Rogers Park Montessori School
2005
- Lincoln Park Zoo Regenstein Center
- Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
- Kendall College Riverworks Camps
- Patty Turner Senior Center
2004
- Soldier Field
- Oak Park Public Library
- York High School
- Lookingglass Theatre
2003
- Homan Square Community Center
- Levy Senior Center
- Midwest Ctr For Green Technology
- La Rabida Children’s Hospital
2002
- UBS Tower
- Glenview Park Center
- 360 North Michigan Renovation
- Jubilee Family Resource Center
2001
- Pharmacia Life Sciences Building
- Bachelor Enlisted Quarter
- Shedd Aquarium/Amazon Rising
- North Shore Senior Center
2000
- Adler Planetarium/Sky Pavilion
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- Schaumburg Baseball Stadium
- Goldblatt’s Building Renovation
- Lake City Convention/Visitors Center
1999
- Living Coast/Brookfield Zoo
- Brooks Homes Modernization
- Barat College Library
- Elmhurst Art Museum
1998
- HCSC (Blue Cross Building)
- Chicago Terminal Radar Approach
- Carl Schurz High School Restoration
- Little Village Academy
1997
- McCormick Place Expansion
- Calumet Deep Tunnel/Reservoir
- CTA Green Line Renovation
1996
- Monadnock Building
- Children’s Memorial Medical Center
- Fourth Presbyterian Church
- Williams Science Center Addition
1995
- Cook County Juvenile Center
- Finkl Urban Manufacturing
- Chicago Commons Nia Family Center
1994
- Chavez Elementary School
- Sears Tower
- 2000 Wacker Drive Streetscape
1993
- Walsh Grand Headquarters
- Marshall Fields State Street
1992
- City Front Place
- Harpo Studios
1991
- Canal Center
- Hotel Inter-Continental Chicago
1990
- Riverway
- North Pier Chicago
1989 United Terminal
1988 Center For Professional Health
1987 Center For Professional Education
1986
- 190 South LaSalle
- Chicago Theatre
1985
- One Financial Place
- Chicago Hilton And Towers
1984 McDonald’s Office Campus
1983 333 West Wacker Drive
1982 Chicago Board Of Trade Addition
1981 Kroc Diagnostic Treatment Center
1980 New City YMCA
1979 Dearborn Park
1978 Academic Facility
1977 Cultural Center
1976 Water Tower Place
1975 Standard Oil (Amoco)
1974 One Montgomery Ward Plaza
1973 Sears Tower
1972 James Roscoe Miller Campus
1971 Woodfield Mall
1970 McCormick Place On The Lake
1969 One First National Bank
1968 Lake Point Tower
1967 Oak Brook Development
1966 Univ of Chicago At Chicago Circle
1965 Central District Filtration
1964 Continental Plaza
1963 United States Gypsum
1962 United Of America
1961 McCormick Place
1960 Michael Reese Hospital
1959 Illinois State Tollway
1958 Inland Steel
1957 Old Orchard Shopping Center
1956 Prudential