Fort Worth, Texas — September 8, 2026 — The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) announced the winners of the 2026 Project Excellence Awards, which honor outstanding construction projects led by industry professionals committed to the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainable practices.  

This year's winners set new benchmarks for excellence, and demonstrated strong commitment to community by building a multi-purpose community center, developing innovative systems for a highway construction project, renovating a historic building into Class A office space, and building a mixed-use graduate student housing community for a university. 

An independent panel of industry professionals evaluated and judged all projects.

Innovation on the SH 195 median construction project was demonstrated through proactive field evaluation, real-time problem-solving, and effective coordination with TxDOT to address design conflicts uncovered during construction. The project required multiple field-driven modifications, including revisions to traffic control geometry, pavement markings, and safety devices. 

Additional innovations included:
– Identification and correction of omitted safety devices, including crash attenuation systems
– Resolution of drainage conflicts impacting roadway widening operations
– Correction of striping discrepancies to meet applicable standards
– Continuous refinement of traffic control staging to improve safety and mobility

 Nabholz OKC Office is a 10,000-square-foot historic renovation located within the former Walter E. Allen Plymouth dealership in Oklahoma City's Midtown district. The project transformed a former millwork and metal fabrication shop into modern Class A office space while preserving the character and history of one of Midtown's landmark buildings. 

The renovation combined newly constructed office space with an adjacent existing office area to create a cohesive environment designed for collaboration, client engagement, and future growth. Original elements, including a striking two-story showroom window and long-sealed windows, were restored to bring natural light back into the building. 

Modern systems were seamlessly integrated into the historic structure, including updated security and access controls, custom lighting systems, collaborative workspaces, and technology upgrades that support both employees and clients. 

The Resources Building Renovation transformed California's worst-performing state office building into a modern, resilient, and sustainable 17-story workplace serving more than 2,500 employees. The 657,000-square-foot rehabilitation included hazardous-material abatement, seismic strengthening, new building systems, reconstructed stair towers, advanced fire-life-safety systems, flexible workspaces, and a revitalized public plaza. 

Progressive Design-Build enabled early investigation, collaborative risk management, and establishment of a reliable Guaranteed Maximum Price within 140 days. Innovative solutions included 128 fluid viscous seismic dampers, top-down demolition followed by bottom-up reconstruction, laser scanning, virtual design and construction, weekly clash detection, and Dusty Robotics for precise field layout. 

Safety remained central, with more than 1.7 million work hours completed without a fatality and over 1.1 million consecutive hours without a lost-time injury. Sustainability efforts preserved the existing structure, reducing embodied carbon by approximately 61 percent. The project achieved LEED Platinum, exceeded Title 24 requirements by more than 20 percent, reduced energy use and water consumption, and supported future Net Zero Energy operations. 

Disciplined cost management generated major savings, returned approximately $10 million in unused contingency, and delivered occupancy 67 days early. The project also advanced mentorship, supplier diversity, community engagement, and women's leadership while supporting NAWIC's mission. 

The Native Village of Chitina (NVC) Multipurpose Building represents a lasting investment in the Ahtna people, their culture, and their future. Built for the Ahtna community by Ahtna Global, the project was delivered under a time-and-materials contract and was funded entirely through grants that Ahtna Global helped secure. 

The project exemplifies excellence in innovation, safety, sustainability, and value while addressing critical community needs. More importantly, it created a welcoming place where future generations can gather, celebrate their culture, access essential services, and strengthen community connections. Sustainability efforts focused not only on environmental stewardship but also on reducing long-term operating costs, minimizing waste, conserving resources, and improving resilience for the community. 

NVC Tribal Administrator, Dean Barlip said, "We provide many services to our people and what excites me about this new building is it gives us a chance to grow and to offer more services and do better, better take care of our elders and our tribal citizens."  

Hale Haukani is a landmark mixed-use graduate student housing community at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, developed to address a long-standing shortage of affordable housing for graduate students, junior faculty, and families. Delivered through an innovative public-private partnership (P3) between the University of Hawai'i, Greystar Development Services, LLC, and the Collegiate Housing Foundation, the project provides 316 residential units and 558 beds across two towers rising 18 and 12 stories. 

A central goal of the project was to deliver high-quality housing while maintaining affordability. The P3 financing structure, utilizing tax-exempt bonds, enabled the University to avoid upfront capital costs while committing to below-market rental rates over the long term. 

Achieving LEED® Silver certification, Hale Haukani reflects a commitment to sustainability, affordability, and community integration. The project not only expands much-needed housing capacity, but also enhances campus life and contributes to long-term environmental and economic resilience in Hawai'i. 

To be eligible for submission, projects must have been built in the 50 U.S. States, including Washington D.C. and U.S. Territories, between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.  

For more information about the projects, awards, or additional images, please visit nawic.org.  

About NAWIC: The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) continues the vision of its founding members by advocating for the value and impact of women builders, professionals, and tradeswomen in all aspects of the construction industry. With more than 130 chapters nationwide, and over 6,000 members, NAWIC offers opportunities for professional development, education, networking, and leadership training. To learn more, visit nawic.org.