Skanska recently won the overall top prize in the Baldwin Group Build America Awards for the Lynnwood Link Extension L300 project near Seattle, Washington. Four other Washington projects also received 2025 Build America Awards at the annual convention of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) in Columbus, Ohio.

“This year’s award winners exemplify a remarkable fusion of ingenuity and project excellence, setting a new standard that propels the entire construction industry forward,” said Joe Charczenko, Partner and Construction Practice President for The Baldwin Group. “These thoughtfully executed projects do more than just transform blueprints into reality; they breathe new life into our cities, fortify our communities, and strengthen our nation’s infrastructure.”

For 43 years, the Build America Awards have recognized excellence in the construction industry. A panel of judges representing all areas of construction evaluated submissions for complexity, use of innovative construction techniques, client satisfaction, and other criteria.

In the Pacific Builder & Engineer area, the following projects received 2025 Build America Awards.

In addition to the top prize, Skanska’s work on the L300 project was honored in the Construction Management Civil category.

The project extended Sound Transit light rail service by 3.7 miles to the new Lynnwood Transit Center. The Skanska team built 2.3 miles of elevated guideway, 1.4 miles of at-grade guideway, two elevated stations, and a five-story parking structure.

Through the project’s general contractor/construction manager delivery process, Skanska was able to plan for access, environmental controls, and utility relocations that could have otherwise delayed completion. They also preserved 97 percent of the original wetlands of McAleer Creek by utilizing a temporary soldier pile wall with tiebacks.

With the guideway running alongside and crossing Interstate 5, Skanska reduced the number of planned highway closures from 16 to four by adjusting construction methods in both directions of traffic. They also hoisted over 200 precast girders without incident to workers or the traveling public.

“Working with Sound Transit has given us the opportunity to build a state-of-the-art public transit solution for the communities of the greater Puget Sound region,” said Ryan Clayton, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Skanska USA Civil. “The knowledge and expertise of everyone involved on the project allowed us, and our partners, to find collaborative solutions to get the job done safely, on time, and within budget.”

The second Sound Transit project, built by a joint venture of Stacy Witbeck and Kiewit, received the award for best new highway and transportation project valued over $100 million.

This 5-mile segment brought new light rail service north from Seattle into Snohomish County, Washington. The extension includes four aerial guideway bridge structures and 8 miles of walls. The team installed 10 miles of ballast and direct fixation track and constructed two stations with parking garages.

Throughout construction, the joint venture team coordinated with the project’s many different partners as they dealt with wildfires, the pandemic, and a five-month concrete strike. By strategically resequencing work and adding shifts, they completed the project on schedule and on budget.

This project by Hensel Phelps won the award for best highway and transportation renovation project valued over $100 million. The baggage optimization program aims to provide the airport with a single, integrated outbound baggage handling system that provides greater security and processing capacity.

In phase two of the program, Hensel Phelps removed and replaced 5 miles of conveyor and baggage handling systems throughout the basement, baggage, ramp, and ticketing levels of the airport. The project included a ticketing conveyor, expanded security system, and an upgraded sortation system for four gates, as well as relocation of airport vendor storage, a new conveyor maintenance shop, upgraded MEP systems, and structural retrofit.

Throughout construction, baggage conveyors needed to remain operational in the busy airport. To cope with the challenges, the team began strategizing nine months in advance to develop a heavily phased, collaborative work plan.

Orion Marine Group won the award for best environmental enhancement project. Their work restored habitat on Harbor Island and the Duwamish River ecosystem.

During both World Wars, the Vigor Shipyard supported commercial and naval shipbuilding, leaving the site polluted. In their work, Orion’s team removed more than 6,000 creosote-treated pilings, as well as contaminated soils and sediments, then created new intertidal and marsh habitats. They demolished several structures, reconstructed a new pier section, and installed a new stormwater system.

Crews operated around the clock to meet deadlines, completing nearly 24-hour shifts of dredging and placing armor rock to stay within the state-mandated window. The team also built an embankment using dredged materials, layering them with geogrid and rock. This method, the first of its kind for an urban area, saved the project more than $1 million in imported material costs.

Winner in the category for new highway and transportation project under $20 million, as well as the Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering and Collaboration Award for projects valued under $20 million, this terminal in Woodland, Washington, was built to offload calcium carbonate along the Columbia River.

The project presented engineering and logistical challenges that Advanced American Construction managed with careful coordination and engagement with the owner. For instance, the team found an innovative way to avoid offshore drilling, which saved money and enhanced the stability of the new structure.

During construction, the team installed two temporary H-piles to protect their work from the river’s strong currents and avoid disturbing the nearby public beach. They also installed a mechanized gangway on a mooring dolphin, which they assembled offsite. Throughout the 19,000 work hours required for the project, there were no reportable injuries or illnesses.