The 2019 NECA Project Excellence Awards were presented on September 16 at the annual NECA Trade Show and Convention. The awards recognize electrical contractors that demonstrate professionalism and a commitment in their work on projects completed in 2018. Contractors worked on a wide variety of projects ranging broadly in size, including universities, sports arenas, hotels and transportation infrastructure.

“Once again, this year’s entries display the depth, breadth and expertise NECA contractors bring to electrical construction projects throughout the country,” said Mir Mustafa, NECA executive director of business development. “NECA members, and the men and women who work for them, provide the critical services that customers depend and rely upon to get their projects done on time and under budget.”

Eighteen projects received the honor. Below is a condensed list of winners, highlighting just a few of the 2019 awardees. A full list is available here.  

Streetlighting/Traffic Signs Under $1M – Carr & Duff Inc.

Carr & Duff performed a total renovation on the 100-year-old “Trenton Makes the World Takes” sign installed on the Lower Trenton Toll Bridge. The company meticulously deconstructed the old neon tubing and replaced the wiring and conduits. The neon lights of the 25 9-by-6-ft. sign letters were replaced with LEDs lower in operation and maintenance costs. Before construction began, crews spent time preplanning and measuring to allow for easier installs. The project was completed on time and under budget on May 11th after testing, programming and training of the new sign system. 

Residential - Anderson Electric Inc.

The Illinois governor’s mansion was completed in 1955, but after decades of neglect it had fallen into disrepair.A part of a $15 M renovation project, Anderson Electricwas contracted for all the electrical and low-voltage work. Additional interior and exterior lighting was added to highlight the features of the mansion and all of the existing light features were replaced with LEDs, helping the building earn a LEED Silver status. Anderson Electric alsointroduced other new technology to the 160-year-old building, including lighting controls, data and security systems. While updating the mansions technology, the company worked to maintain the charms, like ornate plaster moldings, of the nineteenth-century building.

Commercial/Institutional Over $1M - Rosendin Electric and Redwood Electric Group

Rosendin Electric and Redwood Electric Group performedall the electrical work on the main building, restaurant, medium-voltage feeders, the parking structures and the design-build campus-wide fire alarm system on the 176-acre Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. The campus, known as Apple Park, required all the electrical wiring to be invisibly integrated to maintain Apple’s minimalist design. In total, Rosendin and Redwood installed roughly 700 miles of conduit; over 2,000 miles of building, feeder and MV cabling; and 57,000 light fixtures.

Transportation/Infrastructure – C3M Power Systems LLC

C3M upgraded the Orange Blue Line Metro Rail System in Washington, D.C., completing the project September 30, 2018 after executing over $95 million of mixed bid-build and design-build electrical work. Metro service had to remain operational while work was underway, requiring the contractors to make use of temporary control and power configurations and work at night when Metro does not operate. An aerial section of the project required contractors to complete most of this work in the air using boom lift and scaffolding to access the site. The project included the replacement of 20 traction power substations, 22 tie-breaker stations, 18 uninterrupted power systems, 33 motor control centers, the electrical systems for 22 elevators and 103 escalators among other improvements.

Educational Over $1M- ERMCO Inc.

ERMCO worked on the Indiana University Excellence Academy, IU’s student athlete development program housed in IU’s Memorial Stadium. The renovation enclosed almost 67,000 square feet of the Memorial Stadium’s south end zone and included a multifunction event space and a new scoreboard. Because the design of the project would be damaged if lighting or wiring had to be redone after installation, “re-dos” were not possible. To prevent damages or rework, required coordination between the trades, detailed planning, a precise layout and an accurate installation on the first try. The curved shape of the building also posed a unique challenge, requiring most of the conduit to be bent at varying angles to match the stadium’s walls. The $53 million renovation was completed in August 2018.