SAN DIEGO, CA - Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) February 4 recognized the nation's top 2009 construction projects during its Excellence in Construction and National Safety Excellence awards celebration at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel and Convention Center in San Diego, Calif.

"ABC is pleased to present these industry-leading construction projects with our Excellence in Construction awards," said Kirk Pickerel, ABC president and CEO. "This year's winners were exceptional examples of the outstanding craftsmanship and professionalism that embody merit shop construction. ABC members continue to be the driving force behind some of the nation's highest-profile projects."

The Excellence in Construction awards program is the industry's leading competition, developed to honor innovative and high-quality merit shop construction projects and safety programs. The award honors all construction team members, including the contractor, owner, architect and engineer. The winning projects, selected from entries submitted from across the nation, were judged on complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, workmanship, innovation, safety and cost.

A panel of industry experts served as the competition's judges. This year's panel included representatives from the Design-Build Institute of America, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Surety & Fidelity Association of America, The American Institute of Architects and representatives from higher education, among others.

2009 Award of Excellence Winners:

Specialty Contractor Categories

Electrical - Commercial - Less than $2 Million
Contractor: Duro Electric Company
Project: Northrop Grumman
Client/Owner: Northrop Grumman
Architect/Engineer: Oz Architecture

Electrical - Commercial - $2-$10 million
Contractor: Adams Electric Company
Project: Inspiration Network "City of Light"
Client/Owner: Inspiration Network
Architect/Engineer: Little Diversified Architectural Consultants

Electrical - Industrial - Less than $2 million
Contractor: MKD Electric
Project: Wells Manufacturing Melt Furnace Upgrade
Client/Owner: Wells Manufacturing

Electrical - Industrial - $2 - $10 million
Contractor: ISC
Project: ExxonMobil U.S. Non-Road Diesel Underground Project
Client/Owner: ExxonMobil Corporation
Architect/Engineer: Jacobs Field Services of North America

Electrical - More than $10 million
Contractor: Denier Electric Co., Inc.
Project: West Chester Medical Center
Client/Owner: The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati
Architect/Engineer: RTKL Associates / Fosdick & Hilmer, Inc.

Exteriors - Masonry, Precast, Stone
Contractor: Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing
Project: TWU Weatherproofing
Client/Owner: Texas Women's University

Interiors - Acoustical, Drywall, Millwork, Plaster
Contractor: Lasco Acoustics & Drywall, Inc.
Project: Union Station Renovation
Client/Owner: City of Dallas/Woodbine Development Corp.
Architect/Engineer: McCall Design Group / EDG

Mechanical - Commercial - Less than $2 million
Contractor: WAT-KEM Mechanical, Inc.
Project: University of Dayton Stuart Hall Phase I
Client/Owner: University of Dayton
Architect/Engineer: Heapy Engineering

Mechanical - Commercial - $2 - $10 million
Contractor: Brockway Mechanical & Roofing Company, Inc.
Project: Jefferson County Health Center
Client/Owner: Jefferson County Health Center
Architect/Engineer: Hammel & Green Architects & Engineers

Mechanical - Industrial - Less than $2 million
Contractor: Excel Contractors
Project: IMTT VGO Six Oil Piping and Thermal Heat Boiler Replacement
Client/Owner: IMTT
Architect/Engineer: Wink Companies, LLC

Mechanical - Industrial - $2-$10 million
Contractor: MSI Mechanical Systems, Inc.
Project: 2008 Lab Upgrade
Client/Owner: EMC Corporation
Architect/Engineer: WSP Flack+Kurtz

Mechanical - More than $10 million
Contractor: Dynaten Corporation
Project: One Arts Plaza
Client/Owner: Billingsley Company
Architect/Engineer: Corgan Associates, Inc. / Blum Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Other Specialty Construction - More than $1 million
Contractor: Haley-Greer, Inc.
Project: BP Project Rodeo
Client/Owner: Bovis Lend Lease Inc. / British Petroleum
Architect/Engineer: Gensler

Sitework/Landscape
Contractor: Saiia Construction, LLC
Project: The Grove
Client/Owner: Kimco Realty
Architect/Engineer: Gonzalez-Strength & Associates, Inc.

General Contractor / Construction Management Categories

Commercial - $2-$5 million
Contractor: Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
Project: Southeast District Office
Client/Owner: Hensel Phelps Construction, Co.
Architect/Engineer: Baker Barrios Architects, Inc.