Recent Winners
Winners of the 2024 Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards
ACI recognized 18 winners at the 2024 ACI Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards during the ACI Concrete Convention on November 4, 2024.
Overall “Excellence” Award Winner
Repair and Restoration – First Place
TSX Broadway – Palace Theater, New York City, NY, USA. TSX Broadway, a 48-story complex in New York City’s Times Square, involved the transformation of an existing building and the integration of advanced concrete methods to support its elevated structure and historic elements. The project used high-performance concrete, including a 14,000 psi (96.5 MPa) mixture and extensive use of slag cement, to minimize environmental impact and enhance durability. Sustainable practices were central to the redevelopment, including energy-efficient systems, high-performance curtain walls, and significant reuse of existing materials, contributing to a reduced carbon footprint and minimizing construction waste. The redevelopment preserved 25% of the original structure, minimized waste, and incorporated sustainable features like energy-efficient systems and high-recycled-content materials, significantly reducing its environmental impact.
Project Team Members: Owner: L&L Holding Company; Architectural Firms: BG&E Pty Ltd, ADG Engineers Pty Ltd, Kasina Consultants Pty Ltd; Engineering Firm: Severud Associates Consulting Engineers P.C.; General Contractor: Pavarini McGovern, LLC (Construction Manager); Concrete Contractor: Sorbara Construction Corp. (Superstructure); Concrete Supplier: Tec-Crete Transit-Mix Corp.; Other: Urban Foundation/Engineering, LLC; Perkins Eastman; Cosentini Associates; Langan Engineering and Environmental Services
Nominator: ACI Concrete Industry Board of New York City Chapter
Repair and Restoration – Second Place
One Wall Street, New York City, NY, USA. The One Wall Street project, the largest office-to-condominium conversion in New York City, NY, transformed a historic office building into 566 residential units and a retail space, incorporating six additional floors atop the original structure. This adaptive reuse involved integrating new concrete construction with the existing steel frame, using voided concrete slabs to reduce weight and support new additions while preserving the building’s historic aesthetic. The approach minimized the thickness of the supporting transfer slab at the 30th floor, reduced the need to reinforce existing columns, achieved the desired residential floor-to-floor heights, and helped meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver sustainability goals. The project demonstrated sustainable practices by minimizing demolition waste, reducing the carbon footprint with lightweight concrete, and providing much-needed housing in a commercial area.
Project Team Members: Owner: Macklowe Properties; Architectural Firm: SLCE Architects; Engineering Firm: DeSimone Consulting Engineering; General Contractor: J.T. Magen & Company Inc.; Concrete Contractor: Broad Construction; Concrete Supplier: U.S. Concrete, Inc. New York; Other: Broad Construction, Domani Inspection Services, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
Low-Rise Structures (Up to 3 Stories) – First Place
Casa Olalé San Agustinillo, Santa María Tonameca, Oaxaca, Mexico. This beautiful, large white house is located in the family-friendly, quiet fishing village of San Agustinillo, on the spectacular coast of Oaxaca, on the Mexican Pacific. Casa Olalé San Agustinillo derives its name from the famous French expression “ooh lá lá.” The house demonstrates concrete as a resilient solution in hurricane zones and incorporates innovative construction materials to minimize environmental impact, including low-carbon cement, photoluminescent concrete, and translucent concrete. Designed sustainably, it features natural ventilation, double-height rooms, rainwater collection, a biodigester for wastewater treatment, and energy-efficient appliances, aiming for EDGE certification.
Project Team Members: Owners: Jean Paul & Dominique Rigaud; Architectural Firm: Jean Paul Rigaud & Arturo Gaytan-Covarrubias; Architectural Firm: Jean Paul Rigaud & Arturo Gaytan-Covarrubias; Engineering Firm: Esteban Astudillo; Concrete Contractor: Leonel Silva Mendez; Concrete Supplier: Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V.
Nominator: ACI Southeast Mexico Chapter
Low-Rise Structures (Up to 3 Stories) – Second Place
Sports and Cultural Complex, Sangareddy, Telangana, India. The Sports and Cultural Complex is Phase 2 of the campus development, spanning 27 acres (11 ha). It consists of a main arena, sub-arena, fitness centre, cultural centre, swimming pool, amphitheatre, football/cricket field, and a running track, which is on par with international standards. The roof slab of all the buildings is a folded plate element with varying clear spans across facilities, such as the fitness centre and sub-arena, cultural centre, and main arena. The self-consolidating concrete (SCC) folded plate elements have a unique three-dimensional (3-D) curvature with a continuously changing angle along the entire length. This innovative complex used M40 grade (40 MPa [5800 psi]) SCC with fly ash to reduce embodied carbon and incorporated sustainable practices, such as energy-efficient designs, renewable energy sources, and water conservation systems. Despite challenges, the project emphasizes sustainability, community engagement, and high indoor environmental quality.
Project Team Members: Owner: Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad; Architectural Firm: HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd.; General and Concrete Contractor: Larsen & Toubro Limited - Buildings & Factories; Concrete Supplier: Larsen & Toubro Limited - Buildings & Factories
Nominator: Indian Concrete Institute (ICI)
Low-Rise Structures (Up to 3 Stories) – Honorable Mention
F1 Grand Prix Pit Building, Las Vegas, NV, USA. All 5’s Construction served as the concrete contractor for the 273,000 ft² (25,400 m²) pit building at the 2023 Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix, a logistically complex project that offers state-of-the-art facilities for fans and race teams. The three-floor structure, featuring pit crew garages, hospitality spaces, and a rooftop viewing area, consumed 20,344 yd³ (15,554 m³) of concrete and was completed in just 3.5 months through efficient collaboration and innovative concrete design. The pit building used a moment framed concrete structure, which included structural concrete columns and structural concrete decks and beams. The absence of shear walls or concrete cores in the structure allowed for an open floor plan on each floor, spanning 1000 lineal ft (305 m). This project contributes to Las Vegas’s emergence as a major sports capital and showcases advanced construction techniques like self-consolidating concrete and reusable materials.
Project Team Members: Owner: Liberty Media Corporation / Owner’s Rep: Miller Project Management, LLC; Architectural Firm: Klai Juba Wald Architecture + Interiors; Engineering Firm: John A. Martin & Associates, Inc. (JAMA); Concrete Contractor: All 5’s Construction; General Contractor: The PENTA Building Group; Concrete Contractor: All 5’s Construction; Concrete Supplier: Nevada Ready Mix; Other: CMC Rebar, Doka USA Ltd., Merli Concrete Pumping of Nevada, Inc.
Mid-Rise Structures (4-15 Stories) – First Place
Cal Poly William and Linda Frost Center, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA. This center features 126,417 ft² (11,744 m²) of faculty offices, classrooms, labs, and lecture halls designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Concrete is a key architectural element, with 2000 yd³ (1530 m³) of self-consolidating concrete used for vertical elements and 93,802 ft² (8710 m²) of elevated decks formed with the Titan HV Shoring system. Designed for a full liquid head placement rate, the walls were constructed with fifteen 21 ft (6.4 m) tall gang panels using EFCO super stud strongbacks and sheeted with Swanson Multipour HDO plywood. All vertical elements were cast using Nox-Crete Bio-Nox form release agent and featured 90-degree corners. There are more than 24,000 ft² (2230 m²) of polished concrete floors. All of these elements contribute to the building’s LEED Gold certification and seamless integration of academic spaces.
Project Team Members: Owner: California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo; Architectural Firm: ZGF Architects LLP; Engineering Firm: John A. Martin & Associates, Inc. (JAMA); General Contractor: Gilbane, Inc.; Concrete Contractor: Largo Concrete, Inc.; Concrete Supplier: CalPortland
Nominator: ACI Southern California Chapter
Mid-Rise Structures (4-15 Stories) – Second Place
Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, Nashville, TN, USA. The Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building features 280,000 ft² (26,000 m²) housing eight courtrooms, 11 judges’ chambers, and a basement parking level. The design blends classical and contemporary elements, employing cast-in-place and precast concrete, including photocatalytic cement for the façade panels, which provides self-cleaning and smog abatement benefits. Because blast loads are much greater than typical lateral loads, the project team developed customized connections for the precast concrete façade panels—connections that would also accommodate floor deflections and other types of loading. As a result, there are more than 700 different types of connections between the façade panels. The precast supplier, GATE Precast Company, ensured that each connection location, as well as reinforcement at each location, was optimized to maximize the aesthetics and retain the structural requirements. This project, the largest photocatalytic structure in the United States, showcases resilience and sustainability, contributing to its anticipated LEED Gold certification.
Project Team Members: Owner: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA); Architectural Firm: Fentress Architects (Design/Build AOR); Engineering Firm: Thornton Tomasetti; General Contractor: Hensel Phelps Construction Co.; Concrete Contractor: InfraStructure, LLC; Concrete Supplier: GATE Precast Company; Other: Precision Stone Setting Company, Heidelberg Materials, Michael Graves & Associates, Inc./TMPartners, PLLC
Mid-Rise Structures (4-15 Stories) – Honorable Mention Place
Hélène Desmarais Building Pavilion, HEC Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada. The Helene-Desmarais Pavilion at HEC Montréal, in Montréal, QC, opened in August 2023. It is a flagship project featuring reinforced concrete and advanced architectural design to offer top tier learning and study spaces across 32,500 m² (350,000 ft²). The reinforced concrete building is divided into four distinct sections. It has three wings, with an eight-story main wing, comprising learning and study spaces that meet the highest standards: quality premises, user comfort, cutting-edge technological services, and flexible spaces. The structure’s unique design, including large glass façades angled for modernity, functionality, and sustainability, required innovative concrete mixture and formwork techniques to achieve high quality and durability. Aiming for LEED Gold certification, the pavilion incorporates sustainable elements, such as geothermal wells, efficient exterior envelopes, and green roofs, contributing to a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and urban heat islands.
Project Team Members: Owner: HEC Montréal; Architectural Firm: Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes Inc. (Provencher_Roy); Engineering Firm: SDK et associés inc.; General Contractor: Magil Construction; Concrete Contractor: Demix Béton (CRH Canada); Other: WSP Canada Inc.
High-Rise Structures (Over 15 Stories) – First Place
Kō‘ula, Honolulu, HI, USA. Kō‘ula is a 41-story mixed-use development in Honolulu, HI, inspired by red sugar cane and featuring a distinctive undulating sculpted concrete exoskeleton. The structure consists of post-tensioned concrete floor plates, reinforced concrete columns, and shear walls, with an innovative central core design, allowing for efficient modular construction and cost savings. It was a challenge to fit the planned 41 stories within Honolulu’s strict 400 ft (123 m) height limit. To meet the height limit, while providing generous ceiling heights within the typical residential units, a slab depth of only 7 in. (178 mm) was designed with post-tensioning for spans of up to 34 ft (10 m). The building, part of the LEED Platinum Ward Village, incorporates sustainable practices, including reduced material use and a concrete façade that lowers energy requirements, aiming for LEED Silver certification.
Project Team Members: Owner: Ward Village/Howard Hughes; Architectural Firm: Studio Gang; Engineering Firm: BASE General; Concrete Contractor: Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc.; Concrete Supplier: HC&D LLC
High-Rise Structures (Over 15 Stories) – Second Place
Piramal Aranya Project - Arav Tower, Byculla East, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Piramal Aranya, located in Mumbai, India, is a luxury multi-tower development project featuring the 282 m (86 ft) tall Arav Tower, offering panoramic views of the Botanical Gardens and Arabian Sea. The project employs advanced concrete technologies, including high-strength mixtures and temperature-controlled methods, while incorporating sustainable practices like water conservation and reduced cement content to lower carbon emissions. Arav Tower consists of ductile shear walls linked together by coupling beams. The central core behaves as a flanged section in combination with coupling beams and shear walls. Such a system was enough to cater to the lateral loads in both directions. The design integrates a variety of amenities such as jogging tracks and landscaped areas, enhancing the residents’ quality of life.
Project Team Members: Owner: Glider Buildcon Realtors Private Limited; Architectural Firm: Sandeep Shikre & Associates (SSA Architects); Engineering Firm: Buro Happold; General and Concrete Contractor: Larsen & Toubro Limited; Concrete Supplier: Larsen & Toubro Limited; Other: Innovator Facades Systems Limited
Nominator: ACI India Chapter
Bridges – First Place
105 m Span Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) Composite Bridge, Kuala Langat District, Selangor, Malaysia. The 105 m (335 ft) span ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) composite bridge crosses the Langat River in Selangor, Malaysia. It uses UHPC for its precast/prestressed U-girders, which are topped by a standard reinforced concrete deck and an asphalt surface. UHPC was chosen for its cost efficiency, reduced weight, and long-term durability, offering significant sustainability benefits with embodied energy and carbon reductions of 65.6 and 58.6%, respectively, compared to structural steel alternatives.
Project Team Members: Owner: Bonus Essential Sdn. Bhd.; Engineering Firm: VED Engineers Sdn. Bhd.; General Contractor: Dura Construction Sdn. Bhd.; Concrete Contractor and Supplier: DURA Technology Sdn. Bhd.
Nominator: ACI Malaysia Chapter
Bridges – Second Place
Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) Package 1, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The Mumbai Trans Harbor Link in Mumbai, India, is the longest sea bridge, spanning 21.8 km (13.5 miles) and including a 10.38 km (6.45 miles) segment featuring both post-tensioned concrete viaducts and India’s first orthotropic steel deck spans. With 600,000 m³ (785,000 yd³) of concrete used, the project faced unique logistical challenges due to its marine setting, requiring floating barges for concrete batching and extensive planning for durability and quality control. Undertaking a project in the midst of the sea presents unique logistical challenges, particularly when it comes to the transportation and handling of concrete materials. This involves the intricate process of ferrying all necessary ingredients for concrete production to the remote marine site amidst the dynamic nature of the marine environment. Advanced concrete techniques were employed, including high-performance mixtures with slag cement for reduced CO₂ emissions and increased durability, while innovative construction methods ensured the successful placement of underwater piles and precast segments despite challenging conditions.
Project Team Members: Owner: Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA); General and Concrete Contractor: L&T Construction; Concrete Supplier: L&T Construction
Nominator: ACI India Chapter
Decorative Concrete – First Place
Archives Départementales de l’Isère, Saint-Martin-d’Hères, Isère, France. The Archives Départementales de l’Isère, located near the Université Grenoble Alpes campus in Isère, France, is a 25 m (82 ft) tall building designed to house up to 70 km (43 miles) of archival documents. The building is also a cultural venue dedicated to research and knowledge that welcomes the public and aims to contribute to the development of the local community. The structure features a distinctive combination of monolithic concrete blocks and extensive glazing, with high-performance concrete ensuring durability, fire resistance, and thermal stability, while its design integrates local materials and sustainable practices such as efficient energy use and reduced environmental impact.
Project Team Members: Owner: Département de l’Isère; Architectural Firm: Arche 5 CR&ON, D3 architectes; Engineering Firm: Artelia General; Concrete Contractor: Cuynat Construction; Concrete Supplier: Vicat; Other: Solétanche Bachy, Studio Erick Saillet
Nominator: ACI Paris Chapter
Decorative Concrete – Second Place
SB Residence, Scottsdale, AZ, USA. The SB Residence, located in the Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, AZ, is a 4471 ft² (415 m²) split-level home emphasizing a harmonious integration with its natural surroundings and a design intended for generational longevity. Changes in elevation, coupled with a high expectation of a consistent finish appearance required the specialty concrete features to be phased over an extended period of time. Environmental and weather factors causing variations in concrete appearance from one placement to another was one of the most difficult challenges to navigate. Close collaboration and excellent communication were the key to keeping the project moving forward and overcoming obstacles. Constructed with 467 yd³ (357 m³) of concrete, the residence features cast-in-place, snap-tie monolithic walls and cantilevered steps, with meticulous attention to detail required to overcome challenges related to weather and elevation changes during construction, ensuring a consistent and high-quality finish.
Project Team Members: Architectural Firm: Tate Studio Architects; Engineering Firm: VerteX Consulting Structural Engineers; General Contractor: Build, Inc. Design + Build; Concrete Contractor: Sullivan Builders
Flatwork – First Place
West Edge, Los Angeles, CA, USA. The West Edge plaza, located at the intersection of Olympic and Bundy in Santa Monica, CA, is a new hub featuring unique concrete elements designed to create an inviting space for the surrounding retail, residential, and office buildings. This 200,000 ft² (18,580 m²) office, 600 apartment, and 90,000 ft² (8360 m²) retail development integrates meticulously crafted architectural concrete, including complex planter walls, decorative paving, and custom finishes. The project required detailed planning and collaboration to address challenges, such as constructing over a garage structure and achieving consistent finishes across diverse concrete elements. Foam fill was used to meet finish elevations of the plaza. Multiple concrete finishes and mixture designs added to the “artistic” design intent of using special seeded aggregates and cement colors in the alternating patterns. Maintaining saw-cut alignment was of utmost importance, especially between finishes. Specialty mixtures, including limestone cement, were used to enhance aesthetics and reduce carbon emissions, contributing to the plaza’s role as a vibrant, creative community space.
Project Team Members: Owner: Hines; Architectural Firm: Gensler; Engineering Firm: Labib Funk + Associates; General Contractor: W.E. O’Neil Construction; Concrete Contractor: Trademark Concrete Systems, Inc.; Concrete Supplier: Catalina Pacific Concrete; Other: Trademark Concrete Systems, Inc., and Rios Clementi Hale Studios
Nominator: ACI Southern California Chapter
Flatwork – Second Place
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Integration Facilities, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Integration Facilities project in Sriharikota, India, involves extensive concrete works for a mobile launch pad, a rocket assembly building, and modifications to an existing launch pad. Key features include a 1.5 km (0.9 miles) roller-compacted concrete (RCC) shear wall track with precision placement of bolts and sole plates, a 15-story RCC framed structure, and specialized concrete mixtures to withstand coastal conditions and high temperatures. Sustainability measures include the use of portland pozzolanic cement for improved durability, high-range water-reducing admixtures, and bipolar corrosion inhibitors to enhance concrete performance and reduce environmental impact.
Project Team Members: Owner: Government of India, Department of Space, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); Architectural Firm: Vista Architectural Solutions; Engineering Firm: Tata Consulting Engineers Limited, Chennai; General and Concrete Contractor: Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited; Concrete Supplier: Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited
Nominator: ACI India Chapter
Infrastructure – First Place
Mumbai Coastal Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The Mumbai Coastal Road project in South Mumbai, India, faced multiple challenges, including environmental sensitivity in marine ecosystems, technical complexity with unique span designs and construction methods, and regulatory hurdles requiring 19 clearances. Solutions involved adopting monopile technology, using advanced construction methodologies, such as precast and hybrid erection techniques, and establishing environmentally controlled concrete batching plants. Key ecological efforts included relocating live corals and recycling waste concrete, with the project recognized for its environmental achievements.
Project Team Members: Owner: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC); Engineering Firm: Larsen & Toubro Limited; General and Concrete Contractor: Larsen & Toubro Limited
Nominator: ACI India Chapter
Infrastructure – Second Place
Réseau Express Métropolitain, Montréal, QC, Canada. Réseau Express Métropolitain rail network, spanning over 67 km (42 miles), connects major regions in Greater Montreal, QC, and includes elevated and underground segments with various concrete structures. The project required extensive durability planning to ensure a 100-year service life, using a range of concrete mixtures with high supplementary cementitious materials content to reduce heat release and carbon footprint. Two categories of concrete, including seven mixtures and several variants intended for cast-in-place and precast elements, were designed through an extensive laboratory experimental program to meet normative durability requirements based on actual exposure conditions throughout the network route. Advanced design and construction techniques, coupled with close collaboration among engineers and continuous client communication, facilitated the successful realization of this major infrastructure project.
Project Team Members: Owner: CDPQ Infra; Architectural Firm: Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes Inc. (Provencher_Roy); Engineering Firm: AECOM/AtkinsRéalis; General Contractor: NouvLR; Concrete Supplier: Unibéton, Béton Provincial Ltée; Other: Béton Préfabriqué du Lac (BPDL) Inc., Lemay, Solmatech, Rizzani de Eccher S.p.A.
Nominator: ACI Québec and Eastern Ontario Chapter