PHOENIX, AZ — Projects in Phoenix, Arizona, and Windsor, Colorado, have been named recipients in the annual Project of the Year awards by the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA). One winner was selected in each of four categories based on the dollar amount of the erection contract. Honorable Mention awards were also given out. Categories are Class I up to $500,000; Class II $500,000 to $1 million; Class III $1-2.5 million; and Class IV over $2.5 million.

Chosen by an independent panel of judges, the winning companies received their awards for projects that were topped out in either 2019 or 2020.

“Erectors often work in close collaboration with other teams and trades, and sometimes the customer. Challenges frequently deal with logistics, crane selection and rigging methods, and execution of complicated connection plans,” said Alan Sears, SEAA Awards Committee Chairman. “We congratulate these companies for excellent delivery of these unique structural steel construction projects.”

The 2021 Project of the Year winner in the Rocky Mountain Construction area was: FM Steel LLC, for Talking Stick Resort arena renovations in Phoenix, Arizona (Class II for $500,000 to $1 million).

This job is part of the $230-million Project 201 PHX Reimagined redevelopment to convert a small, dated arena into a new venue for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury basketball teams. “The 125 tons of steel that we stuffed in between the existing roof structure was designed to hold new visuals for fans,” said Michael Mulsow. This steel structure will hold a new a center-hung scoreboard that is six times larger than the previous videoboard, and two new LED ribbon boards. This project required multiple mobilizations in order to work around home games. In addition, limited headroom for the crane meant that some steel was transferred in mid-air from the crane using bull rigging techniques.

One project in the Rocky Mountain Construction area received Honorable Mention: High Plains Steel Services LLC, for Hunters Overlook Bridge in Windsor, Colorado (Class I).

A 168-foot clear span bridge over a private reservoir for a private residence was purchased from a bridge supplier, but the construction method proposed by the supplier was drastically over budget. High Plains Steel was brought into the project when the customer realized the initial plan was not feasible. High Plains Steel worked with the customer’s crane supplier to devise an alternative construction method that saved tens of thousands in costs.