Two hundred fifty Construction professionals were present as the Cornhusker Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) held its Ninth Annual "Excellence in Construction" awards ceremony Feb. 17 at The Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Neb.

The awards competition is designed to publicly recognize the quality and distinction of merit shop construction projects built by Nebraska Contractors. Entries were evaluated by independent judges on craftsmanship, execution/coordination, budget and scheduling, owner satisfaction, difficult or unusual challenges, and safety. Winners are now eligible to enter ABC's National Excellence in Construction Awards Program.

The 2005 Merit Shop Project of the Year was awarded to Hampton Commercial Construction, Inc. of Lincoln for its work on The Grand Theatre in Lincoln in the Commercial Construction ($6 million to $10 million) category.

The 2005 INSPRO/EMC Project of the Year was awarded to Lund-Ross Constructors of Omaha for The Carnegie Library Restoration which houses the Union Pacific Railroad Museum Project in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in the Historical Restoration category.

Excellence In Construction awards were presented to member companies as follows.

• Falcon Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., Lincoln, for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Avery Hall project in the Renovation (Open) category.

• Lund-Ross Constructors, Inc. for the 1000 Dodge Building, Lincoln, Renovation ($2 million to $5 million) category.

• Progressive Electric, Inc., Lincoln, for the Rehabilitation of the Historic Whitcomb Conservatory, Doane College Campus, Crete, Electrical-Commercial (Under $500,000).

• Wolfe Electric Co., Inc., Lincoln, for the Legacy Estates, Lincoln, Electrical-Commercial ($500,000 to $2 million).

• Lund-Ross Constructors, Inc., Omaha, Carnegie Library Restoration Housing the Union Pacific Railroad Museum.

• General Excavating, Lincoln, Henry Doorly Zoo Hubbard Gorilla Valley Complex, Omaha, Infrastructure (Open).

• Omaha Electric Service, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska Orthopedic Hospital, Omaha, Electrical-Commercial (Over $2 million).

• Willmar Electric Service, Inc., Lincoln, Salt Valley Generating Station, Lincoln, Electrical Industrial (Over $2 million).

• Tufly Drywall, Inc., Omaha, St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Omaha, Specialty Interior Finish category.

• Lund-Ross Constructors, Morning Star Baptist Church, Omaha, Institutional (Under $2 million).

• Ayars & Ayars, Inc., Lincoln, B & J Partnership-Standard Meats Mall, Lincoln, Commercial ($1 million to $3 million).

• R. L. Fauss Builders, Inc., Fremont, Wyndam Place Senior Residence, Colorado Springs, Colo., Commercial Construction ($3 million to $6 million).

• Hampton Commercial Construction, Inc., Lincoln, The Grand Theatre, Lincoln.

• Kingery Construction Co., Lincoln, West Gate Bank Center, Lincoln, Commercial Construction ($10 million to $25 million).

The Cornhusker Chapter of ABC represents more than 240 merit shop contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, manufacturers, and associate members throughout the state. It is one of 79 ABC chapters nationally with more than 23,000 member companies advocating the merit shop philosophy, which stresses merit rewards for employee performance and promotes high-quality construction at competitive rates.