ICF BUILDER AWARD COMPETITION

PROJECTS DEMONSTRATE INNOVATION, EFFICIENCY

The Builder Awards competition is an annual event designed to showcase the innovation, quality, and energy-efficiency of ICF construction, and promote them as a sustainable, durable and attractive building material.

2024 Builder Award Winners

These are milestone projects that have advanced the entire industry due to their significance and visibility.

Official Rules

Entry Notebooks
Project materials must be submitted with an official Entry Notebook.  This notebook can be downloaded above or a copy can be requested by phoning or emailing ICF Builder Magazine. It is acceptable for the notebook to refer to additional materials submitted with, but not contained within, the Notebook. Please add your Entry Notebook to the same Google Drive folder that you add your photos to. The Google Drive folder will be created for you when you request one.

Entry Fees
Cost is $90 (U.S.) for each Entry Notebook submitted. Members of ICF Builder Group will have the fee waived for the first project. Entry Notebooks without payment will not be considered.

Deadline
Entry Notebooks must be received no later than Friday, October 13, 2023.

Competition Categories
Projects must use Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) as the primary construction method for the exterior walls. Awards will be given in the following categories:

Residential
Residential entries will be placed in categories based on the “total conditioned square footage of the home,” excluding garage and attic space, if conditioned.

Small Residential
Single-family residential buildings totaling 3,000 sq. ft. or less of conditioned space.

Large Residential
Single-family residential buildings between 3,001 and 6,000 sq. ft. of conditioned space.

Unlimited Residential
Single-family residences larger than 6,000 sq. ft. of conditioned space.

Education
The Education category consists of K-12 and college learning facilities.

Commercial

Light Commercial
This category encompasses all commercial construction projects with a total project cost of less than $5 million (USD). Typical projects in this category would include car washes, warehouse space, restaurants, gas stations, churches, and small retail and office complexes.

Heavy Commercial
This category is for commercial construction with a total project cost of more than $5 million (USD). This would include most cinema multiplexes, churches, and large office and retail buildings. Apartment complexes and condominiums would fall into the MultiFamily category.

MultiFamily
This category includes all buildings designed for more than one family, as well as similar constructions that are six stories or more. This includes student dormitories, hotels, condominiums, and so forth.

MultiFamily Low-Rise
Buildings designed for multifamily living that are five stories or less. This includes projects like duplexes, four-plexes, and apartments.

Pools
Pools of any size constructed of ICFs.

Specialty Applications
This category includes all uses that do not fall into one of the above categories. Examples include retaining walls, water features, zoo exhibits, landscaping, and so forth.

We retain the right to reassign a project’s category if specifications show the project is inappropriate for the category in which it is competing.

Restrictions
Projects must be completed (defined as having an occupancy permit, if intended to be habitable) by the entry deadline.   The project completion date must be within five years of the entry deadline.

The competition is open to any type or brand of ICF, and projects may be submitted by anyone associated with the project.

Photography Requirements
A minimum of 7 and a maximum of 30 photographs shall be submitted with each entry. At least 4 photos must be of the project under construction, and 3 must be of the finished project, including at least one photo each showing the completed interior and exterior of the project. Photos must be in the high-resolution megabyte size range (MB) as opposed to kilobyte (KB) size range since photos of the winning projects are used in a printed program and in the printed ICF Builder magazine throughout the year. High resolution photos are considered to be 300 dpi at 100% size. Entries that do not meet this criteria will score zero on this portion of the judging. If you don’t have photos meeting this high-resolution criteria let us know or consider entering the following year when you are able to get better photos.

Photos should illustrate the project’s ability to address each of the other judging criteria. Photos should be submitted in digital format, and all photos submitted should be separate, high resolution image files in JPG format. (While photographs may be embedded in this Entry Notebook, all photos should also be sent as separate, high resolution image files in JPG format.)

Entry Notebook/Photos Submission
When entry materials are completed, submit a Dropbox, Google Drive or similar file sharing link including the name of your project,  your entry form, photos and any other project documents to vanessa@icfmag.com.

Additional Information
If you have questions or need additional information, email Vanessa Salvia at vanessa@icfmag.com.

Judging Criteria

  • ICF Use 20% 20%
  • Construction Factors 40% 40%
  • Design Factors 25% 25%
  • Significance 15% 15%

ICF Use (20%)

Size (Floor): 5%
Bigger projects are usually more visible, and more difficult. The portion of the score compares the floor area of the project to others in the same category.

Sq. Footage of ICFs: 5%
Even more important than the overall size of the project is the scope of the ICF installation. The portion of the score compares the square footage of ICF walls, both interior and exterior

Percentage ICFs: 10%
Exterior ICF walls will get some points, but projects that use ICFs for interior walls, retaining walls, pools, safe rooms, and other systems will score even higher. The use of foam decking systems for floors or roofing, or underslab insulation, will boost this portion of the score even higher. All ICF aspects of the project, such outbuildings, landscaping, etc. are considered.

Construction Factors (35%)

Complexity and Creativity: 15%
A project with many angles, wall thicknesses, radius, or other construction considerations scores higher than a simple rectangular footprint. The number of window and door openings and steel embeds would also affect this portion of the score. Creativity refers to how the designer and contractor used ICFs to find innovative solutions to construction challenges, such as bracing modifications or new ways of reinforcing radius walls.

Construction and Site Considerations: 15%
Overcoming construction challenges like tight schedules, tight sites, difficult topography, bad weather, and so forth show the advantages ICFs can bring to the table. Winning over a difficult GC or other sub-trade to ICFs will also boost the score in this category. Finally, the cost per square foot, affordability, and the value the homeowner received for the budget allocated is also considered in this category.

Craftsmanship: 5% This portion of the score evaluates the level of precision and craftsmanship displayed. Attention to detail, straightness of walls, embeds, and bucks; and the absence of voids, honeycombing, bulges, etc. will contribute to a high score.

Design Factors (30%)

Architecture: 15%
Winning project illustrate that ICF projects are more than bunkers or simple boxes. The quality of interior and exterior finish, as well as proportions and the neighborhood aesthetic all play a role. Projects that score highly in this area demonstrate an awareness of architectural styles, timeless design principles, current trends, and the owner’s wishes.

Sustainability: 10%
Site use, water use, insulation, heating, alternative energy, recycled content, the efficiency of the various appliances and fixures, and other factors are considered. HERS ratings, LEED certification, EnergyStar, or other green building certification program also play a role.

Photography: (5%)
A minimum of 7 and a maximum of 30 photographs shall be submitted with each entry. At least 4 photos must be of the project under construction, and 3 must be of the finished project, including at least one photo each showing the completed interior and exterior. Photos should illustrate the project’s ability to address each of the judging criteria. Photos shall be submitted in digital format, and all photos submitted should be separate, high resolution image files in JPG format. High-resolution images are 300 dpi or better, and at least 1000 pixels in the smallest dimension. Larger images are accepted and encouraged.

Significance (15%)
This portion of the score ranks a project’s significance to the ICF industry, including whether it has set new standards or advanced the industry in significant ways. This includes factors such as a new benchmark in height or size, opening new regions or construction segments to ICFs, and the amount of positive publicity it has created among construction and design professionals, as well as the public at large. Exceptional media coverage and jobsite tours are obvious factors as well.

Secrets of Winning Entries

The ICF Builder Awards represents the best-of-the best in the industry.  All projects submitted are noteworthy, and getting your project to score highly requires understanding how the judging process works.

Tips to maximize your chance of winning:
Every project submitted to the competition is built with ICFs, and the judges are already familiar with ICF technology.  You should explain what makes your entry different from other ICF projects, not how it differs from traditional wood construction.

Make sure the Entry Notebook contains all the relevant information and photographs that judges need to make a decision.  Judges will not give a project “the benefit of the doubt” if a question is left blank. Special emphasis should be given to the project’s significance, complexity and construction challenges.  Together, these categories make up 50% of the total score.
Note that Sustainability is only 10% of the score.  It is a contributing, but not determining, factor is coming out on top.

Review the judging criteria carefully and evaluate how the project measures up in each area.  It may be helpful to download the judges score sheet and score your own project against past winners in your category. Don’t overwhelm the judging panel with dozens and dozens of photos.  Select between 7 and 20 photos that illustrate key characteristics of the building.  Be sure to include views of the interior and exterior, as well as views during construction and after completion

Finally, make sure that the information provided is accurate.

FAQ

What are the ICF Builder Awards?
The ICF Builder Awards are an annual project-of-the-year competition for the insulated concrete form (ICF) industry. Winners are selected in multiple categories, including Light Commercial, Heavy Commercial, MultiFamily, and three residential divisions.  They represent the industry’s very best, and generate significant positive publicity, especially for the construction and design teams.  This year’s contest attracted entries across the globe, including theaters, schools, condos, and residential projects of every shape, size and style. 

When and where will the ICF Builder Award Presentation take place? 
The current plan is to hold the award ceremony in person on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at World of Concrete, as in years past. If COVID-19 issues arise that do not allow an in-person event to take place, we will shift to an online format. Details will be made available as we get closer to the event. 

Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available

The ICF Builder Awards are supported, in part, through generous sponsors. As in years past, limited sponsorship opportunities are available.

If your company or organization wants to be a sponsor of the premier ICF award competition, contact Craig Shorts at 877-229-9174 ext. 1.

We continue to use the award in our ads. I certainly would apply again.

Louis Lemoine

Best Residential Development

We never would have received all of this coverage without the award and it has been a source of potential business as well as giving much needed press to the ICF Building industry.

Barry Oberpriller

ICF House of the Year Award

The People’s Choice award [from the regional Parade of Homes] was such a welcome surprise, but your award has elevated our project to another level!… We sincerely appreciate what your publication has given us and will continue to spread the word with advertising.”

Beverly Stevenart