The winners of the prestigious 2025 CFA Projects of the Year were revealed at the 2025 CFA Convention (CFACON25), but owing to the intense competition among the submissions, they weren’t the only projects that achieved recognition. Seven more amazing projects are recognized due to the high scores they received. These impressive projects include six by SCW Footings & Foun­dations of Salt Lake City, Utah, and one by Fox Blocks of Omaha, Neb.

“I am amazed each year by the amount of complex projects we receive for the Projects of the Year,” said James Baty, executive director of the Concrete Foundations Association. “The level of skill and creativity increases each year, so with the high level of competition, we felt we should recognize additional projects for their achievements.”

FOX BLOCKS

TEXAS RANCH HOUSE • LOVING, TEXAS

Above-Grade Concrete Home

This residential project features a 5,000-square-foot living space constructed entirely with insulated concrete forms (ICF), providing a seamless structural and thermal envelope. The Texas Ranch House’s exterior walls, totaling 7,000 square feet, are made of double-insulated, steel-reinforced ICF with an R-value exceeding 23.5. The design ensures resilience against small tornadoes, brush fires and extreme temperature swings, offering energy efficiency with monthly utility costs averaging $150 in winter and $300 in summer.

The Texas Ranch House includes gables reaching 30 feet, which required precise engineering for concrete reinforcement and placement. A six-in-one ICF system was utilized, incor­porating insulation, concrete form, air and vapor barriers, fastening strips and an interlocking mechanism. The walls are integrated with pre-engineered roof trusses and, secured using hurricane ties, which enhances structural continuity.

Exterior finishes combine five-inch limestone cladding and high-strength stucco, demonstrating the flexibility of ICF to accommodate varied aesthetics. Beneath the slab, 10-mil polyethylene sheeting ensures moisture control across 7,260 square feet.

Construction challenges, including extreme heat over 105 degrees Fahrenheit and remote site logistics, were managed through adaptive scheduling, safety protocols and efficient re­source planning. The project reflects advanced building science and resilience, making it a benchmark in melding traditional architectural styles with cutting-edge ICF technology, tailored for harsh environmental conditions.

Texas Ranch House – Loving, TX

SCW FOOTINGS & FOUNDATIONS, INC.

FOX MOUNTAIN RETREAT • MORGAN, UTAH

Single Family Foundation 5,000-10,000 sq. ft

The Fox Mountain Retreat involved constructing a custom mountain home on steep, rugged terrain, requiring innovative solutions and precise craftsmanship. The foundation design navigated a 36-foot vertical elevation change using 20 stepped footings, with widths varying from 20 to 108 inches and depths between 10 and 24 inches. Over 450 linear feet of foot­ings were poured, incorporating reinforced keyway joints and doweled connections for load stability. These steps utilized 80 cubic yards of concrete and nearly 6,000 linear feet of rebar to balance durability with optimal concrete flow.

The foundation walls ranged from three to 18 feet in height and were primarily eight inches thick, with critical sections increased to 10 inches for enhanced strength. The project also featured two vertical board-form chimneys, standing 38 and 39 feet tall, crafted with reinforced 10-inch-thick concrete to combine visual impact with structural integrity.

Custom board-form concrete walls introduced an artistic element, accomplished through hand-milled form boards that mirrored weathered wood. Complex geometries, curved walls and seamless joints highlighted meticulous execution. Ad­vanced layout tools and 3D modeling supported precise rebar placement, staging and sequencing. The Fox Mountain Retreat not only met extensive structural demands but blended seamlessly with the alpine surroundings, showcasing technical expertise and aesthetic innovation in one of the region’s most challenging environments.

Fox Mountain Retreat – Morgan, UT

SCW FOOTINGS & FOUNDATIONS, INC.

CUTLER RESIDENCE • PARK CITY, UTAH

Single Family Foundation 5,000-10,000 sq. ft

This project showcases a concrete foundation that combines technical precision with architectural creativity. The Cutler Residence’s foundation features footing widths ranging from 24 to 60 inches, customized to accommodate varying load demands and enhance stability on a challenging site with clay-heavy soils and fractured rock. The hybrid system ensures even load distribution and lateral stability, exceeding local code requirements for durability and resilience.

The foundation walls, ranging from two to 18 feet in height and eight to 24 inches in thickness, were designed with board-form finishes for a striking visual effect. Vertical board-form walls, rarely seen in similar projects, required meticulous craftsmanship. Sloped and vertically oriented walls added complexity, necessitating custom-fabricated formwork and precise alignment to maintain structural and aesthetic consistency.

A centerpiece of the design is the curved, board-form concrete fireplace. This sculptural element demanded innovative solu­tions, bending and positioning form boards to preserve wood grain textures and ensure seamless integration. The result is a tactile and visual focal point that redefines exposed concrete as both structure and art.

From the elevated craftsmanship in wall detailing to the robust design of the footing system, the Cutler Residence ex­emplifies how concrete can transcend functionality, achieving both technical excellence and architectural expression in a single, enduring structure.

Cutler Residence – Park City, UT

SCW FOOTINGS & FOUNDATIONS, INC.

HYDE RESIDENCE • MORGAN, UTAH

Single Family Foundation 5,000-10,000 sq. ft

The Hyde Residence project demonstrates an advanced con­crete foundation system tailored to address complex terrain and demanding engineering requirements. Spanning diverse elevation changes, the stepped footings included widths from 24 to 60 inches, maintaining a consistent 12-inch depth. These footings were reinforced with a grid of #4 rebar to maximize structural integrity. A rise of 24 vertical feet, distributed over 10 steps, ensured alignment and stability despite challenging soil conditions. Grade beams and reinforced transitions further enhanced durability against slope, frost and seismic impacts.

The foundation walls, varying from four to 40 feet in height, incorporated thicknesses ranging from eight to 36 inches to address specific load demands. Reinforcement included tailored rebar layouts and strategic control joints, as well as expansion joints to improve resistance against lateral pres­sures and shrinkage. Precision formwork and bracing mini­mized alignment issues during single lift pours.

Architectural elements like 40-foot board-formed chimneys and angled wall finishes showed high-end craftsmanship. Techniques ensured seamless finishes, eliminating visible cold joints. Embedded hardware, concrete shelves and cast-in-place columns demonstrated both structural innovation and aesthetic precision.

Careful preconstruction planning, including BIM and advanced layout systems, optimized work sequences, drainage and waterproofing integration. Each stage adhered to strict QA/QC protocols, ensuring long-term durability. The foundation at the Hyde Residence exemplifies exceptional planning, technical expertise and innovative solutions for a challenging site.

Hyde Residence – Morgan, UT

SCW FOOTINGS & FOUNDATIONS, INC.

MARSHALL PAVILION • PARK CITY, UTAH

Single Family Foundation  5,000-10,000 sq. ft

Built on a mountain slope, the Marshall Pavilion combines elegance with precision. The foundation system includes dynamic footings varying from 24 inches to 10 feet in width and depths of 12 to 18 inches, designed to adapt to the uneven terrain. Reinforcement includes a detailed grid of #4 and #6 rebar, enhancing strength and durability. Key features like stepped transitions, deepened keyways and integrated shear lugs ensure stability amidst the site’s natural movement.

The residential pavilion’s vertical elements are equally remarkable, with concrete walls ranging from three to 34 feet in height and thicknesses of 14 to 16 inches. These walls in­tegrate advanced formwork techniques and precise vibration methods, achieving clean finishes and seamless alignment. Challenges were met with innovative solutions, like curved walls requiring custom forms and a structurally complex floating beam supported by refined falsework systems.

By leveraging 3D modeling for planning and creating mock-ups for accuracy, the project excelled in both design and execution. Each element, from high-quality finishes to strategic drainage plans, was tailored to meet architectural and environmental demands. The Marshall Pavilion not only withstands demanding conditions but also elevates residen­tial concrete construction by showcasing mastery in form, function and creative problem-solving.

Marshall Pavilion – Park City, UT

SCW FOOTINGS & FOUNDATIONS, INC.

VELVAERE LOT 27 • PARK CITY, UTAH

Single Family Foundation 10,000-15,000 sq. ft

Velvaere Lot 27 stands as an example of technical precision and innovation, executed on a steeply sloped site. The foun­dation incorporates 15 footing steps, achieving a vertical rise of 60 feet. Footings vary in width from 18 to 66 inches and in depth from 12 to 14 inches, with rebar reinforcement of #4 and #5 sizes ensuring stability. Wall heights range from three to 18 feet, with thicknesses of eight to 22 inches, designed to accommodate heavy loads and challenging backfill pressures.

The construction required integrating pad footings, water-stop joints and monolithically poured concrete columns. Detailed preconstruction planning addressed site-specific challenges, including elevation differences and complex structural re­quirements. Surveying and engineering coordination ensured precise alignment of forms and rebar placement.

Key highlights include the innovative stepped footing design, which minimized excavation and retaining wall needs and wall construction that seamlessly adapted to varying terrain and structural demands. Despite weather delays and tight access, communication and execution maintained quality and timelines.

This build demonstrates how advanced planning, technical expertise and adaptive problem-solving can address unique design challenges and deliver long-lasting structural integrity. Velvaere Lot 27 shows how high-quality concrete construction enables sophisticated, enduring architectural designs in demanding environments.

Velvaere Lot 27 – Park City, UT

SCW FOOTINGS & FOUNDATIONS, INC.

NOCEK RESIDENCE • TUHAYE, UTAH

Single Family Foundation 5,000-10,000 sq. ft

The Nocek Residence demonstrates an exceptional execution of a residential foundation within a challenging mountain terrain. Covering 6,050 square feet, the foundation required 298 cubic yards of concrete and 19,481 pounds of reinforcing steel. Footings featured 19 distinct steps, achieving a cumulative elevation gain of 36 vertical feet. Widths varied from 18 to 87 inches, tailored to meet specific load conditions. Precision in execution ensured seamless load transfer with custom keyways and dowel patterns, adapting to the uneven topography.

The foundation walls, ranging from two feet to 12.5 feet in height and eight to 20 inches in thickness, were designed to retain hillside pressure while complementing the architectural design. These include angled and radius walls, such as a signature curved wall standing 12.5 feet tall. Two extensive retaining walls were also incorporated, dynamically addressing the natural contour of the terrain.

Extensive preconstruction planning, including GPS-backed site modeling and total station equipment, enabled precise layout and sequencing in this environment. Estimation and upfront collaboration with project stakeholders minimized risks and built trust, ensuring budget and schedule alignment. The Nocek Residence exemplifies innovative problem-solving, technical excellence and the ability to execute a robust foundation that supports both structural demands and architectural vision in a challenging landscape.

Nocek Residence – Tuhaye, UT