Mortenson Celebrates Two 2023 National DBIA Awards of Merit

Winning a DBIA National Award of Merit is a distinguished honor that carries substantial significance in the construction industry. It demonstrates accomplishment and showcases innovative design-build practices from high-performing teams. Mortenson is honored to share recognition with our customers and partners, having received two 2023 DBIA National Awards of Merit.

One award-winning project in the Rehabilitation / Renovation / Restoration category is the Building 60 Renovation at Fort McNair, located in Washington, D.C.  This project was successfully delivered to the United States Department of Defense by Mortenson and KCCT. Building 60 is a historic masonry structure, originally designed in 1905 by McKim, Mead and White that served as the Officer’s Club for the U.S. Army. The goal of the project was to restore and repurpose the building into a state-of-the-art education facility and grand assembly for the Inter American Defense College (IADC) to meet facilitative needs for a 50-year life expectancy. The project called for extensive renovations and improvements, including mold remediation, the installation of new mechanical, fire protection, and electrical systems, the application of new architectural finishes, the restoration of historic elements, and building envelope repairs.  All these upgrades were carefully carried out to preserve and respect the building’s original historic character. The result was a design-build partnership that went above and beyond expectations, delivering immense value to the owner.  The project was completed on schedule for the IADC, exemplifying a successful collaboration.  

Another project to be honored with a DBIA Award of Merit, this time in the Federal / State / County / Municipal category, is the Ross Complex Redevelopment – Technical Services Building (TSB) in Vancouver, WA.  This project, delivered by Mortenson and Opsis to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), supports an organization that provides clean, reliable and affordable hydropower to eight states throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Technical Services Building, BPA’s latest facility, has been purpose-built to support the maintenance, testing, and repair of modern electronic transmission communication and controls. As BPA’s inaugural progressive design-build project, the team facilitated a major transformation in the way work is contracted, designed, and constructed. Innovation within various component teams, such as the creation of elegant, prefabricated two-story exterior wall panels, went beyond BPA’s performance goals. The high level of transparency, communication, and end-user engagement facilitated an expedited project delivery.  This approach marked a wholesale shift in capital project design and construction delivery, laying the foundation for a successful ten-year complex redevelopment.   

What distinguishes the above projects is the team’s ability to manage complex projects, paired with a genuine dedication to fostering collaboration. The design-build approach requires cohesive teamwork and open communication among various stakeholders, including architects, engineers, trade partners, and project team members, to ensure a harmonious and efficient process. The collective commitment to maintaining open lines of communication and nurturing strong partnerships undoubtedly played a significant role in securing these prestigious awards.

Both Merit Award winning projects will go on to compete for National Awards of Excellence.  The winners will be announced at DBIA’s Design-Build Conference & Expo Awards Ceremony, scheduled to be held in National Harbor, MD, this coming November.

To attend the DBIA National Conference visit dbia.org/design-build-conference-expo/
To learn more about Mortenson visit www.mortenson.com/

Additional Resources:

07.12.2023 /// Bonneville Power Administration’s Ross Complex celebrates new addition

07.13.2023 /// Mortenson celebrates opening of Bonneville Power Administration redevelopment project in Vancouver

05.2023 /// Building 60 for the Inter-America Defense College Receives Three DBIA – Mid-Atlantic Awards

11.18.2022 /// IADC celebrates 60 years with the inauguration of Building 60