More than 25 percent of the ABC's award-winning projects are in Texas..

ABC National EIC Awards

Associated Builders and Contractors recently recognized the nation's top 2005 construction projects during its Excellence in Construction awards program at the 2006 ABC National Convention in Las Vegas.

"This year's winners were exceptional examples of outstanding construction expertise and once again demonstrate that ABC members are the driving force behind some of our nation's highest-profile projects," said Jack Darnall, 2006 ABC national chairman and a vice president/health-care division manager for Brasfield & Gorrie of Birmingham, Ala.

Winners were selected from more than 300 entries and judged on complexity, attractiveness, unusual challenges, completion time, workmanship safety and budget.

Of the 47 projects to receive awards, 12 are located in Texas and listed here by category. For a complete list of 2005 Award of Excellence winners and Award of Merit winners, log on to abc.org/eic.

Commercial - $10-$25 Million Contractor: White Construction Co. Project: Whole Foods Market Landmark Store & National Headquarters, Austin. Client/Owner: Whole Foods Market Inc. Architect/Engineer: CTA Group Inc., The Lauck Group.

Industrial - Under $2 Million Contractor: Ref-Chem LP. Project: Katy Terminal Expansion, Katy. Client/Owner: Cemex USA. Architect/Engineer: Owner- provided.

Institutional - $10-$25 Million Contractor: SpawGlass Contractors Inc. Project: Starr County Campus, South Texas College, Riorande City. Client/Owner: South Texas College c/o Broaddus & Associates. Architect/Engineer: Mata Villareal Garcia Design Group.

Institutional - $25-$99 Million Contractor: Gilbane. Project: Tarrant County Family Law Center & Parking Garage, Forth Worth. Client/Owner: Tarrant County. Architect/Engineer: Gideon Total & David M. Schwarz Architectural Services.

Public Works/Environmental Contractor: Cajun Constructors Inc. Project: Bachman Water Treatment Plant Hydraulic Improvements, Dallas. Client/Owner: City of Dallas/Water Utilities. Architect/Engineer: Chiang, Patel & Yerby Inc.

Renovation - Under $2 Million Contractor: Chamberlin Dallas Ltd. Project: North Lake College, Irving. Client/Owner: Dallas County Community College District. Architect/Engineer: ECI - Exterior Consulting Innovations Inc.

Other General Construction Contractor: Flintco Inc. Project: The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Pedestrian Bridge and Clark Clinic Lobby Bates Street Re-Alignment, Houston. Client/Owner: University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Architect/Engineer: Hensel Phelps/FKP Architects.

Exterior Finish Contractor: Triangle Plastering Systems Inc. Project: Firewheel Town Center, Garland. Client/Owner: Simon Property Group Inc. Architect/Engineer: David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services Inc.

Mechanical - Over $10 Million Contractor: TDIndustries. Project: Lakewood Church. Client/Owner: Tellepsen Builders. Architect/ Engineer: CHP & Associates, Consulting Engineers Inc.

Mechanical-Commercial - Under $2 Million Contractor: Don Burden & Associates Inc. Project: Tenant Finish North Central Surgery Center, The Carrell Clinic, Dallas. Client/Owner: The Cirrus Group. Architect/Engineer: GSR-Andrade Architects/DFW Consulting Group Inc.

Mechanical-Industrial - Under $2 Million Contractor: SKIHI Enterprises, Ltd. Project: PharmaFab Liquid Pharmaceutical Line, Grand Prairie. Client/Owner: PharmaFab Inc. Architect/Engineer: Purdy-McGuire Inc.

Other Specialty Construction Contractor: Browning Construction Co. Project: The Texas A&M Bonfire Memorial, College Station. Client/Owner: Texas A&M University. Architect/Engineer: Overland Partners.

San Antonio Firm Receives AGC's Aon Build America Award

The AGC of America recently presented the 2006 Aon Build America Awards, one of the highest and most sought-after honor within the construction industry. Eighteen projects were selected as winners and three were selected for merit awards at AGC's 87th >> Annual Convention in Palm Springs in March. Of those, one project is in Texas. Artistic Builders Inc. of San Antonio won an award in the Building New (Less than $5 Million) category, for the Stor Self Storage in Austin. The following description accompanied the award announcement:

"This project consisted of constructing a five-story building that totaled more than 80,000 sq. ft. With the challenge of fitting the building on the property to meet local codes and severe restrictions on cutting or filling of the land and stringent impervious coverage restrictions, more than seven acres were developed. The storage building consisted of 17,286 sq. ft. that includes a significant wine storage area. This project performed habitat studies for endangered species and installed a water quality pond to protect water quality."

The Build America Awards contribute directly to the AGC Education and Research Foundation.

AIA Grants Honorary Membership, Young Architect Award to Texans

In recognition of their outstanding contributions to the AIA and the profession of architecture, nine individuals have been named honorary members of the AIA. Honorary membership is one of the highest honors the AIA bestows on a non-architect.

The tenets of the AIA highlight the importance of communication and collaboration with allied professions and clients throughout the building and construction industry. Granting Honorary AIA status demonstrates the Institute's gratitude toward those who support and uplift architects and the profession by acknowledging them as part of the AIA family. One of the nine honorees is Texan Torrey Stanley Carleton, Hon. AIA, Hon. TSA. An AIA announcement include the following about Carleton:

"Under Carleton's 13 years of leadership as executive director, AIA San Antonio has grown in both size and revenue by more than 50 percent. Her innovative programming has included the chapter's popular annual Beaux Arts Ball, which has brought in more than $65,000 and allowed the chapter to establish an endowed scholarship at the University of Texas at San Antonio's College of Architecture and to fund the school's AIA San Antonio Lecture Series. Carleton also was instrumental in establishment of the chapter's annual Town & Country Homes Tour, now in its 10th year. She also has forged an innovative partnership with San Antonio Woman magazine (circulation, 25,000), that enabled the chapter to place a 16-page full-color insert about the tour.

"Carleton also has prepared more than 25 TSA Honor Award submittals and coordinated three Texas Society of Architects state conventions. She currently is serving as a member of the 2006 AIA National Convention Committee."

The AIA also announced the six recipients of the 2006 AIA Young Architects Award. One individual, Shannon Kraus, is based in Texas. Young Architects are defined as professionals who have been licensed 10 years or fewer regardless of their age. An AIA announcement include the following about Kraus:

"Kraus, an associate with HKS Inc., Dallas, specializes in health-care planning and design, but advocacy has always been at the core of his career. He recently served as AIA national vice president, AIA Students national vice president and chair of the AIA Knowledge Committee. He was awarded the 2005 Texas Society of Architects Award for Young Professional Achievement and participates in the ACE Mentor Program for high school students.

The Young Architects Awards and the nine honorary members will be presented formally next month at the AIA 2006 National Convention and Design Exposition in Los Angeles.