CHICAGO - It takes a powerhouse jury to identify the most innovative projects in America—and the judges tasked with awarding the structural steel industry’s top design honors are up to the task.

The six trailblazers on the jury for the 2027 IDEAS Awards represent the best of the AEC industry, and they’re perfectly positioned to identify the structures that will define our skyline for generations to come.

The American Institute of Steel Construction is accepting entries through August 31, 2026. The jury will convene this winter to select the nation’s premier projects that exemplify the future of steel design and construction.

“We are entering an era where the boundaries between materials and disciplines are vanishing, and our jury selection reflects that spirit,” said Erin Conaway, PE, AISC’s senior director of building initiatives. “By assembling a team that mirrors the diverse, integrated nature of modern project teams, we’re ensuring that our winners don’t just demonstrate technical excellence—they represent the future of how we design and build together. These fresh perspectives will help us identify the projects that truly push the envelope of what is possible with structural steel.”

Across the nation, project teams are redefining the limits of structural steel, and the IDEAS Awards are here to put that innovation center stage. From adaptive reuse and breathtaking architecture to groundbreaking sustainable design and complex engineering, we are looking for the five extraordinary structures (and one great idea!) that stand as icons of excellence.

The excitement doesn’t stop with completed projects.

We are also seeking the bold visions of tomorrow with the IDEAS|next Award. This category is dedicated to the unbuilt concepts that are still "on the boards." If a project has a client and a site, it has the chance to win the industry’s top honor before the first beam is even placed.

The 2027 IDEAS Awards jury includes:

Blaine Brownell, FAIA, LEED AP, Professor and Director of the David R. Ravin School of Architecture, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; columnist, ARCHITECT
Blaine Brownell’s research centers on how emerging materials transform the performance, design potential, and environmental impact of the built environment. He has authored ten books on advanced and sustainable materials, including the Transmaterial series and the forthcoming Radical Green. Since 2009, he has written the “Mind & Matter” column for ARCHITECT, contributing over 800 articles. A former Fulbright scholar to Japan, Brownell has advised organizations such as the National Institute of Building Sciences and the Danish Architecture Center. He was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 2020, demonstrating his leadership and expertise in material innovation.

Parley Dixon, CEO, Patriot Erectors
Since starting his career when Patriot Erectors, LLC, was founded in 1991, Parley Dixon has held diverse roles—including craft worker, foreman, project manager, and estimator—before becoming president in 2000. Under his leadership, Patriot has evolved from an erection-only firm into a multi-division, turnkey fabrication/erection company with over 900 employees. Parley’s extensive industry experience is complemented by his commitment to workforce development and labor relations. He serves on numerous boards, including the AISC Workforce Development Committee and the Ironworkers IMPACT regional executive board, bringing deep practical knowledge of construction and structural steel execution to the jury.

Julia Hogroian, PE, SE, LEED Green Assoc., Senior Consulting Engineer, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
As a structural engineer in SGH’s Boston office, Julia Hogroian’s extensive design portfolio spans educational, institutional, and commercial projects. In addition to designing new buildings, she has worked on building renovations, wind and seismic resisting system upgrades, and historic façade preservation. She has also evaluated and investigated deteriorated structures. Julia is deeply committed to sustainability and industry advancement; she is a co-champion of SGH’s SE 2050 Working Group and serves on the Structural Engineering Institute’s SE 2050 Committee. Additionally, her role on the AISC Sustainability Committee highlights her dedication to forward-thinking structural solutions. Her blend of technical engineering expertise and active advocacy for sustainable design and construction practices makes her an invaluable member of the jury.

Jessica Jenness, Senior Project Manager, BNBuilders
With a career rooted in structural engineering, Jessica Jenness brings a unique perspective to construction management, having transitioned from design to jobsites. Her project experience includes residential, office, R&D labs, and educational facilities. Jessica is a dedicated leader in the structural engineering community, having served as President of the Structural Engineers Association of Washington (SEAW) Seattle Chapter. In 2025, she was recognized as SEAW’s Engineer of the Year. Her practical experience on the construction side, combined with her strong technical background and industry leadership, provides the jury with a balanced and insightful perspective on structural projects.

Elizabeth Galan Lapira, AIA, NOMA, Architecture Specialist, AISC Architecture Center
Elizabeth Galan Lapira leads strategic initiatives that foster collaboration between engineering and the broader design community, demonstrating how structural steel can enrich architectural design. With 14 years of experience as an architect, Elizabeth bridges the gap between structural capability and architectural intent. She currently serves on the AIA’s Board Knowledge Committee, where she supports knowledge sharing and professional advancement. Her work focuses on addressing the complex challenges of the modern built environment. Elizabeth’s deep understanding of the intersection between steel and architecture ensures that the jury will effectively evaluate projects based on both aesthetic and structural performance.

Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, Founder, Practice of Architecture; Host, Practice Disrupted
Evelyn Lee works on the business of architecture: how firms price their value, structure their operations, and build cultures that hold a life, not just billable hours. Through Practice of Architecture and the Practice Lab, she helps firms redesign their business models instead of tinkering at the edges. As host of the Practice Disrupted podcast, she reaches a global audience of more than 80,000 listeners on the future of the profession. She is an angel investor and a founding advisor to Women Defining AI. As 2025 President of the American Institute of Architects, she brings national leadership and firsthand practice experience to the jury, along with a conviction that the strongest projects pair technical excellence with resilient, intentional business practice.

To learn more about the 2026 award program and past winners, visit aisc.org/ideas.

For more information contact:

Dani Friedland

Director of Communications

773.636.8535

[email protected]

About the American Institute of Steel Construction

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), a not-for-profit technical institute supported by the steel industry, partners with the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) community to develop safe and efficient steel specifications and codes while driving innovation to make steel the most sustainable, economic, and resilient structural material. For more than a century, AISC has been a reliable resource for information and advice on the design and construction of domestically fabricated structural steel buildings and bridges.

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www.aisc.org