A Good Ground Game Is a Sound Game Plan

The recognitions for Projects of the Year were made during the Concrete Foundation Convention 2019 in Denver, Colorado this summer. Seen there was another crop of great projects constructed from some familiar CFA members who contribute annually to this competition, as well as some new and returning participants. If we imagine the country as a giant football gridiron, this year’s winners remind us of the sensibility of planning a marketing strategy like a good offensive scheme. You do need the occasional deep throw, a one-off project that captures excitement for your crews and the entire organization, one that projects your capabilities to the market. However, a steady regimen of recognizing regular contributions to the built environment, much the same as a solid running attack, will deliver unmistakable results to your market success as well as increase your recognition as a quality contractor.

While it may be cliché to suggest that you have to play to win, it is an appropriate statement for member-based opportunities like project awards. Only those projects that get photographed and submitted (with attention to the important and intriguing details that make it pride-worthy) can achieve recognition. In regard to project awards, a project not submitted is only marginally better than a project never built. Some of the best architectural and engineering designs are never able to come to fruition for lack of funding or a change in market conditions. More importantly, every year each of you has projects capable of vying for one of the categories and some projects that, perhaps, would create new categories. The 2019 Projects of the Year emphasize how each company is capable of honoring their crew’s commitment to accomplishing these impressive (even when common) works of concrete construction, week in and week out.

The Categories

Each year, the CFA encourages its membership and invites the market at large to become a member and be involved in this program. The breadth of categories continues to grow to accommodate the diversity of work accomplished by these companies each year. Submittals can be made to one of four categories for single-family residential foundations, including structures under 2,000 square feet, 2,000 to 5,000 square feet, over 5,000 square feet, and above-grade, all-concrete homes. Additional categories include commercial structures, agricultural structures, multi-family/townhome/apartments, and a non-wall structural element category. There is also an invitation to introduce a new category based on a project of interest.

EXPOSED CONCRETE MASTERY
Single-Family Foundation, 2,000–5,000 Square Feet | Browning-Plunkett Ski Lodge
SOLID CONCRETE WALLS, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
CFA Contractor Member

“UN-BRIDLED” SIZE AND PLAN COMPLEXITY
Single-Family Foundation, Over 5,000 Square Feet | 26 Bridlebourne
CUSTOM CONCRETE, WESTFIELD, INDIANA
CFA Contractor Member

100% PURE GRAIN CHALLENGE
Agricultural Foundation Structure | Robert’s Grain Facility
ATKINS BROTHERS CONCRETE, BEAVERCREEK, OHIO
CFA Contractor Member 

CORNERED BUT NOT CONFINED
Commercial Foundation Structure | Carlson Landing
TALPEY CONSTRUCTION, WESTBROOK, CONNECTICUT
CFA Contractor Member 

THE BIGGER SIDE OF CAST-IN-PLACE
Multi-Family Foundation Structure | Poplar Creek Apartments  
VAN WYKS INC., WALDO, WISCONSIN
CFA Contractor Member

BIG BITES ARE NOT ALWAYS BIG PLATES
The 2019 Overall Grand Project of the Year | Lafond
TALPEY CONSTRUCTION, WESTBROOK, CONNECTICUT
CFA Contractor Member