The New Mexico AGC recognized 13 best buildings, outstanding industry choice winners, and public and private owners during their annual awards banquet in Albuquerque.

AGC Announces Best Buildings Winners

Thirteen commercial and public building projects were recognized at an awards banquet as winners in the 2007 Best Buildings contest, which is sponsored by the New Mexico Building Branch, Associated General Contractors. The 13 projects were selected in January by a panel of judges representing general contractors, specialty contractors, project owners, and architects in eight categories.

Criteria this year focused on excellence in project management, including use of value engineering and partnering by builders and design professionals, contractor's innovation in construction techniques and materials, project's sensitivity to the environment and surroundings, and excellence in client service. Seven of the winning projects were recognized in more than one category.

The Design/Build and Construction Management-at-Risk categories represent construction delivery systems which are becoming more common in both public and private procurement. They differ from traditional design-bid-build projects in that they allow for more up-front coordination between architects and contractors and are usually awarded through negotiated methods, based on qualifications of builders, rather than strictly through low bid.

From the first list, a second panel of judges selected Grand Winners in each category. Two of the Grand Winners, the PNM Data Center in Albuquerque, and the Loma Colorado Library in Rio Rancho, are LEED-certified. AGC also announced the names of companies which were selected through a vote of the membership in January as Outstanding Industry Choice winners for 2007. They were J.B. Henderson Construction Co., Four Suns Builders, Concrete Systems, CNA Surety, SMPC Architects, and Bridgers and Paxton Consulting Engineers.

Selected respectively as the outstanding public and private owners by the AGC membership for 2007 were the University of New Mexico and Sandia Resort and Casino. Criteria for the Industry Choice awards are "the company's ethical approach to doing business; its fair dealings with customers, clients, employees, and industry peers; and its quality performance with respect to products and/or services."

Building over $10 million
Santa Ana Star Center-Grand Winner

Buildings $5 million to $10 million
Cramer Hall Additions and
Renovations-Grand Winner
Computer Science Research Institute
Ktech Poly Flow High Tech and
Manufacturing Center

Building $2.5 million to $5 million
King Dragon Restaurant-Grand Winner

Buildings under $2.5 million
Pinnacle Bank Renovation-Grand Winner
Coldwell Banker-Cottonwood
JLM Office Building

Municipal and Utilities
Gallup Aquatic Center-Grand Winner
Alvarado Transportation Center-Phase II,
Fire Station No. 8
Loma Colorado Public Library

Design/Build
PNM Data Center-Grand Winner

Construction Management- at-Risk
Computer Science Research Institute
(CSRI)-Grand Winner
Ktech Poly Flow

Energy Conscious
Design/Construction
Loma Colorado Public Library-
Grand Winner
PNM Data Center

To submit New Mexico news announcements, please send information and color photographs to: Scott Blair, editor, at scott_blair@mcgraw-hill.com.

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