Photo courtesy Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute

1 King Street West in Toronto was the recipient of a 2008 Design Award in the Residential Buildings category as presented by the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI).

A trio of North American industry groups is searching for the continent's best projects. The Portland Cement Association (PCA), the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI), and the Steel Joist Institute (SJI) are all currently accepting entries in their respective design award programs.

PCA's 12^th biennial Bridge Awards Competition recognizes excellence in design and construction of all types of bridges—highway, railway, and pedestrian—in which concrete is the basic structural material. Entries are encouraged for cast-in-place or precast projects with short, medium, or long spans. Newly constructed, reconstructed, or widened structures qualify for the competition. Entries are due by September 4, with winners announced at the 2010 Concrete Bridge Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., next February. Visit www.cement.org/bridges.

CRSI's 2010 Design Awards program, now entering its 37^th year, acknowledges North American projects completed between January 1, 2006 and September 30, 2009. (Entries must be received by October 16.) Candidates are evaluated on esthetics, innovation, engineering achievement, functional excellence, and economy of construction. Categories range from residential buildings to cultural and entertainment facilities to, once again, bridges. Visit www.crsi.org/design-awards.

Finally, SJI is also accepting entries for its 2009 Design Awards, with winners to be announced in November 2009. Eligible projects are new buildings or major retrofits/expansions within the last three years, with joists and/or girders manufactured by an active SJI member. North American winners in three categories (industrial, non-industrial, and unique applications) will be presented with a $2000 US scholarship in its name to a school of its choice for an engineering student. Visit www.steeljoist.org/awards by July 24 for a complete list of rules.

Photo courtesy Ministry of Transportation, Ontario/Stantec Ltd./Precon Inc.

Moose Creek bridge (Timmons, Ont.) was a 2006 winner in the Portland Cement Association's (PCA's) Bridge Awards Competition. It is the first fully prefabricated integral abutment bridge in North America.