BD+C's 2013 40 Under 40 Frequently Asked Questions

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Neri Oxman, a 2012 BD+C 40 Under 40 winner. [2]

Neri Oxman, a 2012 BD+C 40 Under 40 winner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you want to be part of Building Design+Construction’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2013? Are you interested in nominating one of your colleagues?

Below are a series of Frequently Asked Questions regarding our 40 Under 40 program on topics ranging nomination eligibility to support materials required to materials due date. If you have a question that was not covered below, click here [3] and email us your question.

Who can be nominated?

Building Design+Construction’s “40 Under 40” competition is open to AEC professionals from around the world who are under 40 years old, born AFTER December 31, 1972. Nominees may come from the following fields:

Materials must be postmarked by February 6, 2013.

• Academia
• Architecture
• Building product inventor/developer
• Building product manufacturing
• Construction
• Construction management
• Design/build
• Engineering (M/E/P, structural, acoustic, etc.)
• Facility management
• Finance (related to construction)
• Government (federal, state, local)
• Interior design
• Marketing
• NGOs, membership, or trade association in the building field
• Nonprofit environmental or development organizations
• Project management
• Property ownership or management
• Real estate development

Note: Individuals whose work is exclusively related to single-family housing or civil engineering are not eligible. Individuals who were previously nominated for BD+C’s “40 Under 40” competition but not selected are eligible. Individuals previously nominated and who were selected as one of BD+C’s “40 Under 40” are not eligible.

Any questions? Contact Rob Cassidy: rcassidy@sgcmail.com [3].

Can I nominate myself?

Yes. Don’t be bashful. If you’re under 40 (IMPORTANT: Nominees must have been born AFTER December 31, 1972, to be eligible.) and believe you qualify, feel free to nominate yourself.

Can I nominate more than one person?

Yes. If you feel there are several individuals who truly deserve consideration, please submit their nominations. There is no limit to the number of submissions you can make, but please note that you’ll need to send supporting materials for all nominated individuals.

Is there a fee for making a nomination?

No. There is no fee associated with the “40 Under 40” recognition program.

How do I know if my nomination went through? Will I receive a confirmation?

Yes. After submitting your nomination(s), you should receive an e-mail confirming your nomination. If you have concerns that your nomination did not go through, please e-mail BD+C Editorial Director, Rob Cassidy at: rcassidy@sgcmail.com [4].

Will I be notified if the person I nominate is selected?

No. BD+C will only contact the 40 individuals we select for “40 Under 40” recognition, and not the individual who submitted their nomination.

What are the criteria for selecting a "40 Under 40" winner and how does the selection process work?

Nominations will be judged by the editors of BD+C, who will be looking for successful and well-rounded individuals under 40 years old (IMPORTANT: Nominees must have been born AFTER December 31, 1972, to be eligible). Some of the qualities and characteristics the editors will be looking for (in no particular order):

• Leadership skills
• Inventiveness
• Sustained career progress
• “People” skills
• Client relations
• Academic training
• Dedication
• Personal integrity
• Technical skills
• Community outreach

What materials do I need to send in support of my nomination(s)?

Supporting materials should make it easy for judges to see why your nominee is a standout in the AEC universe. We're looking for anecdotal information; a brief statement (1-2 pages, 500-1000 words) in support of your nominee that touches on some (or all) of the following topics:

• Leadership skills
• Inventiveness
• Sustained career progress
• "People" skills
• Client relations
• Academic training
• Dedication
• Personal integrity
• Technical skills
• Community outreach 

Additional supporting materials can/should include:

• Descriptions of the nominee's work or projects
• Reprints of articles about the nominee or the nominee's work
• Firm brochures in which the nominee is mentioned
• Newspaper or publication clippings about the nominee
• Testimonials from clients or others familiar with the nominee's work
• Awards received
• Presentation materials
• Nominee's résumé, if it is available. (not required, but very helpful).

When will the "40 Under 40" feature be published?

The “40 Under 40” feature is scheduled for publication in BD+C’s May 2013 issue.

When are support materials due?

Supporting materials must be postmarked by February 6, 2013. Supporting materials should be sent to: 

Rob Cassidy
Editorial Director
Building Design+Construction
3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
847-391-1040
Note: We cannot accept emailed supporting materials