BD+C's 2023 40 Under 40 Frequently Asked Questions

Do you want to be part of Building Design+Construction’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023? 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. 

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 as of August 31, 2023. Nominees may come from the following fields:

• 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
• Law (AEC oriented)
• 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.

Can I nominate myself?

Yes. Don’t be bashful. If you’re under 40 (IMPORTANT: Nominees must be under the age of 40 as of August 31, 2023, 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 entry information (via the online entry form), you should see a confirmation page (note: you will not receive an email confirmation, just a web page on BDCnetwork.com that confirms we received your entry). If you have concerns that your nomination did not go through, please e-mail BD+C's Quinn Purcell: qpurcell@sgcmail.com.

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 be under the age of 40 as of August 31, 2023, 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/volunteer work

For more tips on how to win, see our "How to Win Tips Sheet"

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

A personal statement, plus a résumé or CV, plus supporting materials that make it easy for judges to see why your nominee is a standout in the AEC universe. The brief personal statement (1-2 pages, 500-1000 words) should touch 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
• Service to the profession
• Community outreach/volunteer work
• Off-the-clock hobbies and other interesting information that give us a picture of the whole person

For more tips on how to create a good personal statement, see our "How to Win Tips Sheet"

Additional supporting materials can/should include:

• Nominee's résumé or CV. This is a REQUIRED element.
• 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
• For more tips on how to win, see our "How to Win Tips Sheet"

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

The “40 Under 40” feature is scheduled for publication in BD+C’s September/October 2023 issue.

How will the winners be honored?

In addition to coverage in the September/October 2023 issue of BD+C, the winners will be published on BDCnetwork.com and promoted via the BD+C Daily 5 newsletter and social media channels.  

When are materials due?

Your personal statement and supporting materials must be sent VIA EMAIL to qpurcell@sgcmail.com and dbarista@sgcmail.com by May 19, 2023.