Winners of the Tenth

Annual ACI Excellence in

Concrete Construction
Awards
T
his year, ACI celebrated a decade of honoring online nominations. Projects were judged in the following
outstanding achievements in the industry at the ACI eight categories:
Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards. Over the • Low-Rise Structures (up to three stories);
past 10 years, we have had the privilege of recognizing • Mid-Rise Structures (four to 15 stories);
individuals and organizations that have set new benchmarks • High-Rise Structures (more than 15 stories);
for excellence, innovation, and leadership. Now more than • Bridges;
ever, concrete design and construction must integrate creative • Decorative Concrete;
techniques and technologies to keep up with ever-evolving • Flatwork;
economic, environmental, and aesthetic demands. The ACI • Infrastructure; and
Excellence Awards continues to provide the perfect platform • Repair and Restoration.
to recognize these exceptional concrete projects from around The competitiveness of this year’s nominations required a
the world. judging panel of 35 industry experts (32 category and three
Nominations were submitted by members of ACI’s overall judges). The panel adjudicated projects based on
network of chapters and international partners, as well as by architectural and engineering merit; creativity; innovative

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construction techniques, solutions, or innovative use of Repair and Restoration, Second Place
materials; ingenuity; sustainability and resilience; and One Wall Street, New York, NY, USA
functionality. Owner: Macklowe Properties
The winning projects were announced at the 2024 ACI Architectural Firm: SLCE Architects
Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards Gala during the Engineering Firm: DeSimone Consulting Engineering
ACI Concrete Convention on November 4, 2024, in General Contractor: J.T. Magen & Company Inc.
Philadelphia, PA, USA. The winning projects were: Concrete Contractor: Broad Construction
Concrete Supplier: U.S. Concrete, Inc. New York
Overall Excellence and Repair and Other: Broad Construction; Domani Inspection Services, Inc.;
Restoration, First Place and Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
TSX Broadway – Palace Theater, New York, NY,
USA
Nominator: ACI Concrete Industry Board of New York City
Chapter
Owner: L&L Holding Company
Architectural Firms: Mancini Duffy and PBDW Architects
(Platt Byard Dovell White Architects LLP) (Preservation)
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; and Langan The One Wall Street project, the largest office-to-
condominium conversion in New York, 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
TSX Broadway, a 48-story complex in New York City’s lightweight concrete, and providing much-needed housing in a
Times Square, involved the transformation of an existing commercial area.
building and the integration of advanced concrete methods to
support its elevated structure and historic elements. The Low-Rise Structures, First Place
project used high-performance concrete, including a 14,000 psi Casa Olalé San Agustinillo, Santa María Tonameca,
(96.5 MPa) mixture and extensive use of slag cement, to Oaxaca, Mexico
minimize environmental impact and enhance durability. Nominator: ACI Southeast Mexico Chapter
Sustainable practices were central to the redevelopment, Owners: Jean Paul and Dominique Rigaud
including energy-efficient systems, high-performance curtain Architectural Firm: Jean Paul Rigaud and Arturo Gaytan-
walls, and significant reuse of existing materials, contributing Covarrubias
to a reduced carbon footprint and minimizing construction Engineering Firm: Esteban Astudillo
waste. The redevelopment preserved 25% of the original General Contractor and Concrete Contractor: Leonel
structure, minimized waste, and incorporated sustainable Silva Mendez
features like energy-efficient systems and high-recycled-content Concrete Contractor: Leonel Silva Mendez
materials, significantly reducing its environmental impact. Concrete Supplier: Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V.

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 all the buildings is a folded plate element with varying clear
spans across facilities, such as the fitness center, sub-arena,
cultural center, 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.

Low-Rise Structures, Honorable Mention

This beautiful, large white house is located in the family- F1 Grand Prix Pit Building, Las Vegas, NV, USA
friendly, quiet fishing village of San Agustinillo, on the Owner: Liberty Media Corporation
spectacular coast of Oaxaca, on the Mexican Pacific. Casa Owner’s Rep: Miller Project Management, LLC
Olalé San Agustinillo derives its name from the famous Architectural Firm: Klai Juba Wald Architecture + Interiors
French expression “ooh lá lá.” The house demonstrates Engineering Firm: John A. Martin & Associates, Inc. (JAMA)
concrete as a resilient solution in hurricane zones and General Contractor: The PENTA Building Group
incorporates innovative construction materials to minimize Concrete Contractor: All 5’s Construction
environmental impact, including low-carbon cement, Concrete Supplier: Nevada Ready Mix
photoluminescent concrete, and translucent concrete. Other: CMC Rebar, Doka USA Ltd., and Merli Concrete
Designed sustainably, it features natural ventilation, double- Pumping of Nevada, Inc.
height rooms, rainwater collection, a biodigester for
wastewater treatment, and energy-efficient appliances, aiming
for EDGE certification.

Low-Rise Structures, Second Place

Sports and Cultural Complex, Sangareddy,
Telangana, India
Nominator: Indian Concrete Institute (ICI)
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 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
The Sports and Cultural Complex is Phase 2 of the campus cores in the structure allowed for an open floor plan on each
development, spanning 27 acres (11 ha). It consists of a main floor, spanning 1000 lineal ft (305 m). This project
arena, sub-arena, fitness center, cultural center, swimming contributes to Las Vegas’s emergence as a major sports
pool, amphitheater, football/cricket field, and a running track, capital and showcases advanced construction techniques like
which is on par with international standards. The roof slab of self-consolidating concrete and reusable materials.

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Mid-Rise Structures, First Place
Cal Poly William and Linda Frost Center, San Luis
Obispo, CA, USA
Nominator: ACI Southern California Chapter
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
Other: San-Mar Construction and Largo Concrete, Inc.
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
This center features 126,417 ft2 (11,744 m2) of faculty requirements. This project, the largest photocatalytic structure
offices, classrooms, labs, and lecture halls designed to foster in the United States, showcases resilience and sustainability,
interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Concrete is a contributing to its anticipated LEED Gold certification.
key architectural element, with 2000 yd3 (1530 m3) of
self-consolidating concrete used for vertical elements and Mid-Rise Structures, Honorable Mention
93,802 ft2 (8710 m2) of elevated decks formed with the Titan Hélène Desmarais Building Pavilion, HEC Montréal,
HV Shoring system. Designed for a full liquid head placement Montréal, QC, Canada
rate, the walls were constructed with fifteen 21 ft (6.4 m) tall Owner: HEC Montréal
gang panels using EFCO super stud strongbacks and sheeted Architectural Firm: Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes
with Swanson Multipour HDO plywood. All vertical elements Inc. (Provencher_Roy)
were cast using Nox-Crete Bio-Nox form-release agent and Engineering Firm: SDK et associés inc.
featured 90-degree corners. There are more than 24,000 ft2 General Contractor: Magil Construction
(2230 m2) of polished concrete floors. All of these elements Concrete and Concrete Contractor: Demix Béton (CRH
contribute to the building’s LEED Gold certification and Canada)
seamless integration of academic spaces. Other: WSP Canada Inc.

Mid-Rise Structures, Second Place

Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal
Building, Nashville, TN, USA
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, and Michael Graves & Associates, Inc./
TMPartners, PLLC

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 The Helene-Desmarais Pavilion at HEC Montréal, in cost savings. It was a challenge to fit the planned 41 stories
Montréal, QC, opened in August 2023. It is a flagship project within Honolulu’s strict 400 ft (123 m) height limit. To meet
featuring reinforced concrete and advanced architectural the height limit, while providing generous ceiling heights
design to offer top-tier learning and study spaces across within the typical residential units, a slab depth of only 7 in.
32,500 m2 (350,000 ft2). The reinforced concrete building is (178 mm) was designed with post-tensioning for spans of up
divided into four distinct sections. It has three wings, with an to 34 ft (10 m). The building, part of the LEED Platinum
eight-story main wing, comprising learning and study spaces Ward Village, incorporates sustainable practices, including
that meet the highest standards: quality premises, user reduced material use and a concrete façade that lowers energy
comfort, cutting-edge technological services, and flexible requirements, aiming for LEED Silver certification.
spaces. The structure’s unique design, including large glass
façades angled for modernity, functionality, and sustainability, High-Rise Structures, Second Place
required innovative concrete mixture and formwork Piramal Aranya Arav Tower, Byculla East, Mumbai,
techniques to achieve high quality and durability. Aiming for Maharashtra, India
LEED Gold certification, the pavilion incorporates sustainable Nominator: ACI India Chapter
elements, such as geothermal wells, efficient exterior Owner: Glider Buildcon Realtors Private Limited
envelopes, and green roofs, contributing to a reduction in Architectural Firm: Sandeep Shikre & Associates (SSA
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and urban heat islands. Architects)
Engineering Firm: Buro Happold
High-Rise Structures, First Place General and Concrete Contractor: Larsen & Toubro
Kō‘ula, Honolulu, HI, USA Limited
Owner: Ward Village/Howard Hughes Concrete Supplier: Larsen & Toubro Limited
Architectural Firm: Studio Gang Other: Innovators Facade Systems Limited
Engineering Firm: BASE
General and Concrete Contractor: Hawaiian Dredging
Construction Company, Inc.
Concrete Supplier: HC&D LLC

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
Kō‘ula is a 41-story mixed-use development in Honolulu, beams. The central core behaves as a flanged section in
HI, inspired by red sugar cane and featuring a distinctive combination with coupling beams and shear walls. Such a
undulating sculpted concrete exoskeleton. The structure system was enough to cater to the lateral loads in both
consists of post-tensioned concrete floor plates, reinforced directions. The design integrates a variety of amenities, such
concrete columns, and shear walls, with an innovative central as jogging tracks and landscaped areas, enhancing the
core design, allowing for efficient modular construction and residents’ quality of life.

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Bridges, First Place The Mumbai Trans Harbor Link in Mumbai, India, is the
105 m Span Ultra-High-Performance Concrete longest sea bridge, spanning 21.8 km (13.5 miles) and
Composite Bridge, Kuala Langat District, Selangor, including a 10.38 km (6.45 miles) segment featuring both
Malaysia post-tensioned concrete viaducts and India’s first orthotropic
Nominator: ACI Malaysia Chapter steel deck spans. With 600,000 m3 (785,000 yd3) of concrete
Owner: Bonus Essential Sdn. Bhd. used, the project faced unique logistical challenges due to its
Engineering Firm: VED Engineers Sdn. Bhd. marine setting, requiring floating barges for concrete batching
General Contractor: Dura Construction Sdn. Bhd. and extensive planning for durability and quality control.
Concrete Contractor and Supplier: DURA Technology Sdn. Undertaking a project in the midst of the sea presents unique
Bhd. 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.

Decorative Concrete, First Place

Archives Départementales de l’Isère, Saint-Martin-
d’Hères, Isère, France
The 105 m (335 ft) Span Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Nominator: ACI Paris Chapter
(UHPC) Composite Bridge crosses the Langat River in Owner: Archives Départementales de l’Isère
Selangor, Malaysia. It uses UHPC for its precast/prestressed Architectural Firms: Arche 5 CR&ON and D3 Architects
U-girders, which are topped by a standard reinforced concrete Engineering Firm: Artelia
deck and an asphalt surface. UHPC was chosen for its cost General and Concrete Contractor: Cuynat Construction
efficiency, reduced weight, and long-term durability, offering Concrete Supplier: Vicat
significant sustainability benefits with embodied energy and Other: Solétanche Bachy and Studio Erick Saillet
carbon reductions of 65.6 and 58.6%, respectively, compared
to structural steel alternatives.

Bridges, Second Place

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) Package 1,
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nominator: ACI India Chapter
Owner: Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development
Authority (MMRDA)
General and Concrete Contractor: L&T Construction
Concrete Supplier: L&T Construction

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

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materials and sustainable practices such as efficient energy
use and reduced environmental impact.

Decorative Concrete, Second Place

SB Residence, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Architectural Firm: Tate Studio Architects
Engineering Firm: VerteX Consulting Structural Engineers
General Contractor: Build, Inc. Design + Build
Concrete Contractor: Sullivan Builders

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
The SB Residence, located in the Sonoran Desert in buildings. This 200,000 ft2 (18,580 m2) office, 600 apartment,
Scottsdale, AZ, is a 4471 ft2 (415 m2) split-level home and 90,000 ft2 (8360 m2) retail development integrates
emphasizing a harmonious integration with its natural meticulously crafted architectural concrete, including complex
surroundings and a design intended for generational longevity. planter walls, decorative paving, and custom finishes. The
Changes in elevation, coupled with a high expectation of a project required detailed planning and collaboration to address
consistent finish appearance, required the specialty concrete challenges, such as constructing over a garage structure and
features to be phased over an extended period of time. achieving consistent finishes across diverse concrete elements.
Environmental and weather factors causing variations in Foam fill was used to meet finish elevations of the plaza.
concrete appearance from one placement to another was one Multiple concrete finishes and mixture designs added to the
of the most difficult challenges to navigate. Close “artistic” design intent of using special seeded aggregates and
collaboration and excellent communication were the key to cement colors in the alternating patterns. Maintaining saw-cut
keeping the project moving forward and overcoming alignment was of utmost importance, especially between
obstacles. Constructed with 467 yd3 (357 m3) of concrete, the finishes. Specialty mixtures, including limestone cement,
residence features cast-in-place, snap-tie monolithic walls and were used to enhance aesthetics and reduce carbon emissions,
cantilevered steps, with meticulous attention to detail required contributing to the plaza’s role as a vibrant, creative
to overcome challenges related to weather and elevation community space.
changes during construction, ensuring a consistent and
high-quality finish. Flatwork, Second Place
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle Integration Facilities,
Flatwork, First Place Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India
West Edge, Los Angeles, CA, USA Nominator: ACI India Chapter
Nominator: ACI Southern California Chapter Owner: Government of India, Department of Space, Indian
Owner: Hines Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Architectural Firm: Gensler Architectural Firm: Vista Architectural Solutions
Engineering Firm: Labib Funk + Associates Engineering Firm: Tata Consulting Engineers Limited,
General Contractor: W.E. O’Neil Construction Chennai
Concrete Contractor: Trademark Concrete Systems, Inc. General and Concrete Contractor: Shapoorji Pallonji and
Concrete Supplier: Catalina Pacific Concrete Company Private Limited
Other: Trademark Concrete Systems, Inc., and Rios Clementi Concrete Supplier: Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private
Hale Studios Limited

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 concrete batching plants. Key ecological efforts included
relocating live corals and recycling waste concrete, with the
project recognized for its environmental achievements.

Infrastructure, Second Place

Réseau Express Métropolitain, Montréal, QC,
Canada
Nominator: ACI Québec and Eastern Ontario Chapter
Owner: CDPQ Infra
Architectural Firm: Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes
Inc. (Provencher_Roy)
Engineering Firm: AECOM/AtkinsRéalis
General Contractor: NouvLR
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Integration Concrete Supplier: Unibéton and Béton Provincial Ltée
Facilities project in Sriharikota, India, involves extensive Other: Béton Préfabriqué du Lac (BPDL) Inc., Lemay,
concrete works for a mobile launch pad, a rocket assembly Solmatech, and Rizzani de Eccher S.p.A.
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.

Infrastructure, First Place

Mumbai Coastal Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nominator: ACI India Chapter Réseau Express Métropolitain rail network, spanning over
Owner: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) 67 km (42 miles), connects major regions in Greater Montréal,
Engineering Firm: Larsen & Toubro Limited QC, and includes elevated and underground segments with
General and Concrete Contractor: Larsen & Toubro Limited 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.

Submit an Entry
The Mumbai Coastal Road project in South Mumbai, If you are interested in nominating a project for the 2025
India, faced multiple challenges, including environmental ACI Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards, the
sensitivity in marine ecosystems, technical complexity with deadline for entries is April 29, 2025. ACI chapters and
unique span designs and construction methods, and regulatory international partners may nominate one project in each of the
hurdles requiring 19 clearances. Solutions involved adopting eight award categories. Owners and project team members
monopile technology, using advanced construction may also nominate for a nominal fee. Sponsorship
methodologies, such as precast and hybrid erection opportunities are available. Visit www.ACIExcellence.org for
techniques, and establishing environmentally controlled more information.

34 NOVEMBER 2024 | Ci | www.concreteinternational.com