GBCA 2025 Construction Excellence Awards

The GBCA Construction Excellence Awards is the premier construction awards program in the Philadelphia region, celebrating outstanding achievements by GBCA member companies across all facets of the industry.

What’s New This Year? Streamlined Categories with Pricing Tiers for Simpler Submissions

This year, we’ve restructured the GBCA Construction Excellence Awards to make the submission process more straightforward, inclusive, and easier to navigate.

The awards are now organized into five broader categories, each with clearly defined subcategories. These updated groupings allow for a wider variety of projects to be recognized while making it easier for applicants to determine the best fit for their submission.

Each project category will also be evaluated using project pricing tiers to ensure a fair comparison between large-scale, mid-sized, and smaller builds. This structure helps level the playing field and acknowledges that excellence happens at every scale.

Important Dates

  • 5.26: Construction Excellence Awards opens for submissions
  • 8.8 @ 5pm: Deadline for Award Submissions
  • 8.9: Entries Submitted to Judges:
    • Only finalists will be notified following judging.
  • November 18: Construction Excellence Awards Celebration
    • The post awards celebration will be open to all members.

Eligibility

  • Open to GBCA member companies in good standing.
  • The project’s General Contractor, Construction Manager, or Primary Contractor must be a signatory contractor.
  • Projects must be located in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, Southern New Jersey (including Princeton Township), or the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
  • Projects must be substantially completed after January 1, 2024.
SUBMIT

Payment

To complete your submission, please submit your payment HERE.

Tips for Construction Awards Submission 

Writing Tips

  • Clear, concise, and grammatically correct writing is essential. Bullet points are welcome, as long as the overall project story is clearly communicated.
  • Begin with a strong outline and expand with relevant details.
  • Lead with what makes your project stand out—complexity, innovation, craftsmanship, collaboration, or unique challenges overcome.
  • Describe your role and efforts that went beyond expectations to solve problems or satisfy clients.
  • Bring your project to life with specifics: dimensions, materials, techniques, and any other notable details.

Judging

The judging panel consists of industry professionals who are unaffiliated with the applicants.

Notes about the judging process:

  • The judging panel is made up of independent industry professionals with no affiliations to the applicants.
  • All categories are judged by the same panel of experts.
  • Judges score entries independently through an electronic system.
  • Projects are evaluated without in-person site visits, though judges may consider location when applicable.

If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Catrambone by clicking below:

CONTACT US

Award Categories & Descriptions

Project-based Awards

These awards recognize member companies that have demonstrated exceptional performance on a project—whether by overcoming unique challenges, showcasing outstanding craftsmanship, or delivering excellence in execution.

Excellence in Craftsmanship
Honoring the highest standard of construction craftsmanship across all project types. Submissions are evaluated by project size to ensure fairness across scopes of work.

Building Transformation & Preservation
Recognizing projects that give new life to existing structures while honoring their past, or other projects updating or upgrading current building and infrastructure.

New Construction
Celebrating ground-up construction projects that serve business, institutional, and community needs.

Trade-Specific Excellence
Spotlighting outstanding execution by contractors in specific trades, including: Concrete Construction, Demolition, Electrical, Mechanical, Masonry, and all unique trade work not listed above.

Program-Based Awards

Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
The Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion award recognizes a GBCA member company that goes beyond compliance to foster a truly diverse and inclusive workplace. The recipient demonstrates innovative strategies to broaden representation across gender, ethnicity, age, background, and experience—both within the company and through industry partnerships. This award celebrates forward-thinking inclusion efforts that create meaningful and lasting impact.

Excellence in Training and Professional Development
The Excellence in Training and Professional Development award recognizes a GBCA member company that prioritizes ongoing learning and employee growth. The honoree actively invests in education, upskilling, and leadership development, cultivating a knowledgeable and empowered workforce while supporting the next generation of industry leaders.

Excellence in Technological Advancement
The Excellence in Technological Advancement award recognizes a GBCA member company that effectively implements innovative technologies to enhance construction practices. Whether through improved planning, communication, or problem-solving, the honoree uses technology to increase efficiency, improve safety, and foster collaboration across all phases of a project.

Commitment to Community Excellence
The Commitment to Community Excellence award recognizes a member company making a positive, lasting impact beyond the jobsite. The recipient demonstrates a deep commitment to community service—donating time, resources, and expertise to improve quality of life throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The honoree exemplifies corporate social responsibility and civic leadership in action.

Excellence in Safety
The Safety Excellence Award is intended to recognize a general contractor or specialty contractor who holds the highest level of safety standards for their employees and others whom they work with. The recipient organization has been successful in promoting safety within the company and throughout the industry.

Additional Member Award

Affiliate of the Year
The Affiliate of the Year Award recognizes an Affiliate member who has played a vital role in the success of a construction project—helping contractors deliver work that is on time, on budget, and performed safely. This honoree goes above and beyond to support the construction process, embodying the true spirit of partnership, collaboration, and a shared commitment to industry excellence.

SUBMIT

Payment

To complete your submission, please submit your payment HERE.