ABC’s Excellence in Construction (EIC) awards program is the industry’s premier competition, with hundreds of projects vying to be named the best in the country in 47 categories. In order to be eligible, projects must be registered online by the Oct. 31 deadline and binders must be submitted by Nov. 14.
For members who are preparing their binders for this year’s competition, below are some tips to achieve a higher score:
The scope defines the project. It is also the first thing the judges read. Be sure to include all the items outlined in the application. A clean page layout increases the readability and using bullets allows the judges to easily learn about your project. Samples from winning projects can be seen at
www.abc.org/eic.
The narrative tells the story. Worth almost a third of the total point value, the narrative should be the highlight of the application. This is where applicants can brag about why a project is special. Obstacles that were overcome and explanations of extenuating circumstances should be communicated clearly and succinctly. Winning projects typically use creative subheads and a few small photos to capture the judge’s attention.
Safety is always a priority. Be sure to include the information requested in this section of the application, but also take the opportunity to describe innovative safety programs that were utilized during the project.
The books get judged by their covers. Many times the difference between winning an Eagle or Pyramid award is a single point, and the “overall presentation” category can be the easiest area to gain full points. Applicants should be sure to include all the items listed in the application and review their binder carefully (including the cover) to make sure it complies with national criteria before submitting. Creativity allows projects to stand out, and can be incorporated into the cover design and tab dividers.
Registration for the 2011 EIC competition is now open. In order to compete, companies must complete the online registration form by Oct. 31. Visit
www.abc.org/eic for the application, registration form and additional tips for the submission.