Every year, AWCI honors some of the top projects in the wall and ceiling industry with the Excellence in Construction Quality Awards. These prestigious awards are presented each spring at BUILD: AWCI’s Convention + Expo and recognize exceptional construction quality achieved through complex and challenging projects, awarded to a team of AWCI members. This year, we celebrated eight outstanding projects and the many contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers who contributed to their success.
In addition, we present the Excellence in Construction Innovation Award, which highlights products, services, materials, technologies or systems that advance methods in the wall and ceiling industry. Typically, just one submission is chosen to showcase the latest industry innovations.
With safety and health being our top priority, we are proud to present the Excellence in Construction Safety Awards each year. These awards acknowledge members who successfully manage effective safety programs. This year, three AWCI members were recognized for their dedication to safeguarding the health and well-being of everyone on the jobsite. Learn more about the 2025 award recipients.
How are these awards judged? They are assessed anonymously based on strict criteria by the devoted members of the AWCI Industry Awards Committee, led by Jerry Reicks Jr., Tri-State Drywall LLC, and coordinated by Janie Hakim, AWCI’s membership manager.
More than once, I’ve heard members say, “The same companies win every year” or “The winners are always from the same region” or “The same company wins multiple Construction Quality Awards.” After listening carefully, my usual response is: “Did your company submit anything for the awards?” Often, the answer is “no.” As the saying goes, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”
I’m convinced that nearly every AWCI member has a project, innovation or safety record worthy of an award application. Yet, some refrain from submitting for reasons such as “there’s no time to prepare a submission,” modesty or doubt that their project or safety program could win a national award. Others simply believe, “We don’t need a trophy to recognize the quality of our work.”
That’s understandable. But participating in recognition programs like AWCI’s offers numerous advantages for your company. If your company wins, it brings exceptional, free national publicity and highlights your achievements through an independent, respected source. Recognition doesn’t just go to the company and its leadership, but also to the skilled tradespeople, forepersons, superintendents and project managers who put in hard work daily, as well as the stakeholders who provide vital products and services on the jobsite. And, of course, there’s the bonus of having an impressive award on display in your lobby to showcase for all who visit.
As we celebrate the recent award-winning companies and projects, we encourage you to consider applying for one of these national honors in the coming months. You could be recognized at BUILD26: AWCI’s Convention + Expo, March 15–18, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
For more information about AWCI’s awards programs, visit www.awci.org/about/awards.
Mike Stark, CAE, is the chief executive officer of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry.
