What Makes a Design-Build Project Stand Out? 

DBIA’s Project/Team Awards Spotlight Excellence in Every Sector

With the May 30 deadline fast approaching, design-build teams across the country are gearing up to submit their best work to DBIA’s 2025 Project/Team Awards. If you’ve been on the fence, maybe wondering if your project fits neatly into a category or whether a smaller-scale success stands a chance, it’s time to take a closer look.

The DBIA Project/Team Awards go beyond size or scope; they’re about excellence in execution. From highways to healthcare facilities, DBIA recognizes teams that deliver projects collaboratively, efficiently and in full alignment with Design-Build Done Right® principles.

Explore the Submission Categories and Recent Winning Examples

Aviation

From terminals to air traffic control towers, Aviation entries show how complex systems come together under pressure.

Civic/Assembly

Community centers, performing arts venues and public safety facilities that serve the public belong here.

Commercial/Office Buildings

These projects balance form and function, often with fast-paced schedules and tenant coordination.

Educational Facilities

K-12 or higher ed, these buildings support learning while showcasing adaptability, sustainability and stakeholder collaboration.

Federal/State/County/Municipal

Government-funded infrastructure at every level, including courthouses, public works and multi-use complexes.

Healthcare Facilities

Projects that require precision, adaptability and intense coordination across disciplines and departments.

Industrial/Process/Research Facilities

Often technically complex, these projects may involve labs, data centers or heavy manufacturing infrastructure.

Rehabilitation/Renovation/Restoration

Honoring projects that breathe new life into existing structures, preserving history while delivering modern performance.

Transportation

From roads and rail to ports and bridges, this category showcases mobility and connectivity.

Water/Wastewater

Critical infrastructure that often flies under the radar but powers everything else quietly, reliably and often sustainably.

Optional Specialty Awards

This year, DBIA has streamlined the application process to make it easier for submitters to showcase standout achievements. Here’s how specialty awards work:

• All projects are automatically considered for Merit Awards and Excellence Awards in their corresponding categories as well as Best in Process, Best in Teaming and Best in Design Excellence based on the core submission.
• Projects that meet the threshold of a small project are also automatically considered for Small Project Recognition.
• One project will receive Project of the Year, chosen from among all projects. The winner of this award goes well beyond Design-Build Done Right® to demonstrate innovation in the face of challenge, develop a standout design, engage emerging technology and overall exceed expectations for project outcomes.
• The Chair’s Award is a discretionary honor chosen by the DBIA National Board Chair. While not always awarded, it recognizes a project that delivers exceptional triple-bottom line success that extends far beyond cost and schedule to include meaningful impact on communities and the people they serve.
• This year, DBIA has made it easier to opt into consideration for select specialty awards. These optional sections allow teams to showcase achievements that may not be fully captured in the core submission. To be considered, applicants must complete additional questions in the submission portal.
  • Best in Virtual Design & Construction (VDC): honoring exceptional use of digital tools and collaboration
  • Trailblazer in Inclusive Growth: recognizing strategic and impactful Underutilized Business Enterprise (UBE) engagement
  • Enlightened Owner: awarded to an experienced Owner who champions design-build
  • I.N.S.P.I.R.E.D. Owner: honoring first-time Owners who exemplify preparation and excellence

Learn more about these awards and get your application going now before it’s too late.

Deadline: May 30, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET
Extended Deadline: June 6, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET (with additional fee)

Whether you’re a first-time submitter or an award-winning veteran, this is your chance to share how your team exemplifies Design-Build Done Right®. We can’t wait to celebrate your success.