CATEGORIES FOR 2026:
This is the 70th year for the CBC Merit Awards! Check out these categories which acknowledge the construction industry’s ever-changing landscape.

• Education – Pre K through 12
• Education – Higher Education
• Healthcare
• Residential
• Hospitality
• Commercial Construction UNDER $50 Million
• Commercial Construction OVER $50 Million
• Renovation & Adaptive Reuse UNDER $20 Million
• Renovation & Adaptive Reuse OVER $20 Million
• Infrastructure or Industrial Construction
• Interior Build-Out
  
  
• CBC Equity Champion
  The CBC Equity Champion Award recognizes project teams that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. This award will recognize those project teams that implement programs that foster diversity and inclusion within the workplace, execute creative and effective strategies that help address and overcome barriers to equity, and incorporate community outreach and partnerships that promote inclusivity and support underrepresented groups. By celebrating these champions, the award not only acknowledges their achievements but also motivates the entire industry to strive for a more inclusive future.
  
  
• CBC Community Impact
  The CBC Community Impact Award recognizes outstanding projects that have significantly improved the quality of life in economically disadvantaged areas. This award will recognize those project teams that create job opportunities, support local businesses, stimulate growth in underserved areas, engage with local community planning and implementation processes; and reflect the diversity of the community served. This award highlights teams that support the transformative power of enriching developments in underserved Chicagoland communities.