ACEC Minnesota has recognized the state's best consulting engineering work every year since 1967. The 2027 competition is the 60th. Entries are judged by a cross-sector panel against five criteria, and award recipients advance to the national competition
Entering a project takes three steps. Read the guidelines first, then work through the steps below.
Submission Resources
Several files are available to assist in the submission process. The guidelines document contains information on categories, eligibility, judging criteria, every submission requirement, and the full calendar in one document. Read it before you begin. The public resources link has logos and other files necessary for a complete project entry.
How to enter
Program calendar
Every date from entries opening to the national gala.
| August 17, 2026 | Entries open |
| September 14, 2026 | Virtual information session. Recording posted afterward. |
| October 29, 2026 | Final entry and fee both due |
| November 18, 2026 | Judging |
| December 1, 2026 | Photographic digital panel and optional project video due. |
| January 6, 2027 | National submissions close for advancing firms |
| February 18, 2027 | 60th Engineering Excellence Awards Gala McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota |
| April 20, 2027 | National EEA Gala, Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC |
Serve as a judge
The judging panel is a cross-sector, independent group that evaluates the projects Minnesota firms submit. Judging takes place Wednesday, November 18.
Who can serve. Judges come from outside consulting engineering: public agencies, academia, construction, utilities, and private owners and developers. Employees of consulting engineering firms are not eligible, since those firms compete in this program.
Join the panel
Apply to serve, or recommend a colleague from outside the consulting engineering field.
Apply to be a judge → Nominate someone →Questions are welcome at any point in the process. Contact us at eea@acecmn.org.