Honoring Innovation and Collaboration in the Design and Construction Industry

The Charles Pankow Award for Innovation was established in honor of Charles J. Pankow (1924-2004) to celebrate collaboration in innovative design, materials, or construction-related research and development transferred into practice in a sustainable manner. ASCE recognizes that the process of innovation takes many forms; therefore, applicants should illustrate the full implementation cycle from research to development, through application in the field.

The Charles Pankow Award for Innovation is presented during ASCE’s OPAL Awards Gala held each spring in the Washington, D.C. area.

All U.S. and international public, private, academic, or government organizations are eligible for nomination. In addition to demonstrating that collaboration was involved during any part of the cycle from development to application, the entry must also illustrate an innovative application as well as document its impact on overall construction industry performance.

CRITERIA FOR THE CHARLES PANKOW AWARD FOR INNOVATION

NOMINATIONS ARE DUE OCTOBER 1 AND MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

1. Innovative Technologies
Entries must demonstrate innovative design, materials, or construction-related research transferred into practice. All entries must be market-ready and/or commercially viable.
Entries are invited in, but not limited to, the following categories:

• Construction and Equipment
• Energy Efficiency
• Environment
• Information Technology Systems for Design and Project Management
• Materials and Systems
• Public Works
• Infrastructure Security and Resilience
• Sustainability
• Transportation

2. Collaborative Research and Implementation
Studies of advancements in the design and construction industry have demonstrated that collaborative efforts among academia, industry, and government are often essential to the implementation of research. Entries must therefore demonstrate that collaboration was involved during any part of the cycle from development to application.

3. Impact on Construction Industry Performance
The various sectors that comprise the diversified construction industry are focusing on ways to improve performance through the introduction of innovation into practice. Entries must demonstrate innovative approaches that have a positive impact on society by striving to achieve one or more of the following national Construction Technology Goals:

• 50% reduction in project delivery times
• 50% reduction in operations, maintenance, and energy costs
• 30% increase in occupant safety and comfort
• 50% less waste and pollution
• 50% reduction in construction work illnesses and injuries
• 50% fewer facility-related illnesses and injuries
• 50% greater durability and flexibility

>> Download the Official Nomination Form
>> All entries must be received by October 1.

SELECTION JURY
All entries will be reviewed and finalists and the winner will be selected by a jury of design and construction industry leaders from academic, corporate, and government communities, as well as associated media.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2009
Claremont Tunnel Seismic Upgrade Project

2008
Lightweight Modular Composite Firewall System
Composite Support & Solutions, Inc.
Southern California Edison
San Diego State University
University of Southern California

2007
Cable-Stayed Bridge Cradle System
FIGG Engineering Group in collaboration with:
Ohio Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Maine Department of Transportation
CTL Group
DSI America
University of Toledo, Department of Civil Engineering
Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel,
The University of Western Ontario
Lawrence Technological Institute
University of Maine, Civil Engineering Department

2006
The Shawnessy Light Rail Transit Station Thin-Shell Pre-Cast Platform Canopy System of Ductal® Fiber- Reinforced Concrete
Lafarge North America, Inc., City of Calgary,
University of Calgary, Stantex Architecture Ltd.,
Speco Engineering and Strudes Inc.; et al.

2005
Coupled Truss Walls with Damped Link Elements
WSP Cantor Seinuk, Enrique Martinez Romero,
S.A., Taylor Devices, Inc., and the State
University of New York at Buffalo

2004
Steel Plate/Composite Concrete Shear Wall System
Magnusson Klemencic Associates and
NBJ Design; et al.

2003
Tunnel Jacking Design for the Boston Central Artery Project
Hatch Mott MacDonald with
Mott MacDonald; et al.

2002
MMFX Microcomposite Steel Rebar
MMFX Technologies Corporation and the
Federal Highway Administration; et al.

2000
Economical Rehabilitation of a Steel Truss Bridge Using an FRP Deck
New York State Department of
Transportation, Hardcore Composites; et al.

1999
Composite Transmission Tower and Construction Technology
Ebert Composites Corporation and W. Brandt
Goldsworthy & Associates

1998
Ice BanTM Deicing Products
Ice Ban America, Inc., Archer Daniels Midland;
et al.
Smart-Leg Shockless Load Transfer System
ETPM International, the European Commission;
et al.
Knapp Street Laboratory and Environmental Information Center
Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., with the New York City
Department of Environmental Protection Engineering

1997
Simplified Monitoring System for Civil Structures
Strain Monitoring Systems; et al.
EclipseTM Shrinkage Reducing Admixture
Grace Construction Products and
ARCO Chemical Company
High Performance Steels for Highway
Bridge Applications
American Iron & Steel Institute,
Federal Highway Administration; et al.

1996
Development and Application of Aramid Tendons
Sumitomo Construction Co., Ltd.,
Japan Highway Corporation; et al.

The FIRPTM Glulams
Oregon State University and Wood Science &
Technology Institute
Carbon Shell Space Truss Bridge
University of California, San Diego, Division of
Structural Engineering