Ten structural steel building projects have earned national recognition in the 2016 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel awards program (IDEAS²).

Conducted annually by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the IDEAS² awards recognize exceptional structural steel projects across the country. The award is the highest honor bestowed on building projects by the structural steel industry in the U.S.

“The 2016 IDEAS² winners demonstrate that innovation and creativity can be found on building projects of every size and description,” Roger E. Ferch, P.E., president of AISC, said in a statement. “Steel continues to provide excellent solutions for the entire design and construction team, from architects, engineers and developers to general contractors, fabricators and erectors.”

Categories are listed below. Each project was judged on its use of structural steel from both an architectural and structural engineering perspective, with an emphasis on:

• Creative solutions to the project’s program requirements
• Applications of innovative design approaches in areas such as connections, gravity systems, lateral load resisting systems, fire protection and blast
• Aesthetic and visual impact of the project
• Innovative use of architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS)
• Technical or architectural advances in the use of the steel
• The use of innovative design and construction methods.

The 10 IDEAS² winners were chosen from nearly 100 submissions received from architectural, engineering and construction firms throughout the U.S.

The program also recognizes the importance of teamwork, coordination and collaboration in fostering successful construction projects. Awards for each winning project are presented to the project team members involved in the design and construction of the structural framing system, including the owner, architect, structural engineer, general contractor, and the steel detailer, fabricator, and erector.

The awards are presented to the team members at ceremonies held at each of the winning projects during the year. Here are the 2016 award-winning projects:

Projects Less Than $15 Million

Photo: David Sundberg-Esto. Click to enlarge.

National Award: American Physical Society, Ridge, N.Y.

Architect: Marvel Architects, New York

Structural Engineer: Gilsanz Murray Steficek, New York

General Contractor: T.G. Nickel & Associates, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

Read more about the American Physical Society building here.

Photo: Juan Miró. Click to enlarge.

National Award: Vertical House, Dallas

Architect: Miró Rivera Architects, Austin, Texas

Structural Engineer: Datum Engineers, Austin, Texas

General Contractor: Withheld at Owner’s Request

Read more about the Vertical House here.

Photo: Timothy Hursley. Click to enlarge.

Merit Award: The Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library and Learning Center, Little Rock, Ark.

Architect: Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects, Little Rock, Ark.

Structural Engineer: Engineering Consultants, Inc., Little Rock, Ark.

General Contractor: East Harding Construction, Little Rock, Ark.

Read more about the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library and Learning Center here.

Photo: Paul Crosby. Click to enlarge.

Merit Award: Principal Riverwalk Pavilion, Des Moines, Iowa

Architect: Substance, Des Moines, Iowa

Structural Engineer: Charles Saul Engineering, Des Moines, Iowa

General Contractor: Covenant Construction Services, Waukee, Iowa

Read more about the Principal Riverwalk Pavilion here.

Projects $15 Million to $75 Million

Photo: Nic Lehoux. Click to enlarge.

National Award: Nu Skin Innovation Center, Provo, Utah

Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Structural Engineer: Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Seattle

General Contractor: Okland Construction, Salt Lake City, Utah

Read more about the Nu Skin Innovation Center here.

Photo: TEN Arquitectos. Click to enlarge.

National Award: Rutgers University School of Business, Piscataway, N.J.

Design Architect: TEN Arquitectos, New York

Executive Architect: Richard Bienenfeld AIA, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Structural Engineer: WSP, New York

General Contractor: Century 21 Construction, River Edge, N.J.

Read more about the Rutgers University School of Business here.

Projects Greater than $75 Million

Photo: Arup. Click to enlarge.

National Award: National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion, New York

Architect: Snøhetta, New York

Architect: Adamson Associates International, New York

Structural Engineer: BuroHappold Engineering, New York

General Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease, New York

Read more about the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion here.

Photo: Bill Timmerman. Click to enlarge.

Merit Award: Mariposa Land Port of Entry, Nogales, Ariz.

Architect: Jones Studio, Phoenix

Structural Engineer: Bakkum Noelke Consulting, Phoenix

General Contractor: Hensel Phelps, Phoenix

Read more about the Mariposa Land Port of Entry here.

Presidential Award of Excellence in Engineering

Photo: Elizabeth Daniels. Click to enlarge.

Emerson College Los Angeles, Los Angeles

Architect: Morphosis, Culver City, Calif.

Structural Engineer: John A. Martin & Associates, Inc., Los Angeles

General Contractor: Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co., Los Angeles

Read more about the Emerson College Los Angeles here.

Jury Recognition — Sculpture/Art Installation Category

Photo: Patrick Winn. Click to enlarge.

The Gourd, San Antonio, Texas

Architect: Overland Partners, San Antonio

Structural Engineer: Datum Engineers, San Antonio

General Contractor: Overland Workshop, San Antonio

Read more about The Gourd here.