Meet the Judges of ENR's Best of the Best Projects 2012 Competition

Twenty independent industry individuals examined 169 project entries to distinguish the "Best of the Best" in teamwork, success in overcoming challenges, innovation and quality. New this year, industry safety experts awarded the safest project award.

John James Audubon Bridge Sets New Standards for Lower Mississippi Crossings

Featuring a 1,583-ft-long main span, the 3,186-ft-long bridge is the only Mississippi River crossing along the 90-mile stretch from Natchez, Miss., to Baton Rouge, La.

Yellow River Water Reclamation Facility Improvements Project

The project came under siege in September 2009, when the Yellow River topped its banks and damaged the existing pump stations.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a 200,000-sq-ft museum and cultural center, features complex geometric forms, inspired by the local Arkansas landscape as well as suspension bridges of Bhutan.

Natural History Museum of Utah Blends With Its Rugged Landscape

The new museum sits on a 17-acre foothills site with sweeping views of the Salt Lake Valley.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation New Headquarters

The 50,000-sq-ft building is designed to achieve LEED-Platinum certification and net-zero energy use.

Palomar Medical Center

The $956-million Palomar Medical Center in North San Diego provides patients with a bright and sustainable healing environment.

University of Washington Molecular Engineering & Sciences Building

Situated within the central science core of the University of Washington's Seattle campus, the $59-million first phase of the master-planned Molecular Engineering & Sciences Building was designed to create a multidisciplinary research setting and strengthen existing science programs.

Boeing Company 787 Building Program

Design-builders had just 24 months to construct 11 separate structures that collectively measured more than 1 million sq ft.

El Paso Corporation Tower Renovation

Renovations to more than 1 million-sq-ft of El Paso Corp.'s state-of-the-art, LEED Gold high-rise were completed in 2011.

James M. Bennett High School

Completed 5% under budget and a year ahead of the original schedule, this $73.9-million high school in Salisbury, Md. provides a technology-rich learning environment for 1,496 students.

National September 11 Memorial

The simple, elegant design of the eight-acre memorial belies the complicated history of the redevelopment.

Omni Dallas Hotel

Despite numerous challenges, the project team was able to incorporate more than $10 million in project savings towards additional scope. The team also completed work 61 days ahead of schedule.

Delta Dental of Michigan Headquarters Expansion and Renovation

The renovations and additions to the Delta Dental of Michigan headquarters harmonize with not only the existing architecture but also the surrounding environment of Okemos, Mich.

Freedom Tower Restoration

The renovation of the national historic landmark in Miami included repair of the building's Baroque neo-classical cast-stone ornaments and stucco, and restoration of the tower's cupola and ballroom.

Pearl Brewery Development

Originally built in 1883, the Pearl Brewery is one of San Antonio's most visited landmarks.The historic conveyor was renovated, and many of the old brewery's original features were recycled and re-used.

Miami International Airport Automated People Mover

The MIA Mover project logged nearly 1.5 million man-hours and attained an Occupational Safety & Health Administration incidence rate of 0.27. In 2011, the project was awarded OSHA's top distinction for safety.

University of Texas at Dallas Visitor Center and University Bookstore

The $7.5-million project was designed to be an open and flexible space for events and a new front door to the campus. The ground-up, 33,000-sq-ft building was completed in less than seven months and under budget.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas features a facade that is made up of more than 700 unique precast-concrete panels that cover the museum's tower, atrium and plinth.

Marlins Park

Designers of the nation's first retractable-roof stadium engineered to withstand 146-mph winds achieved the feat with an innovative strategy: The roof was kept partially open.