Annual awards program celebrates excellence in concrete manufacturing, research, design and construction while lowering environmental impacts.
Alexandria, VA – March 25, 2025
Build With Strength, an initiative of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), has announced the recipients of the 2025 Concrete Innovation Awards. This annual program highlights outstanding achievements in the design and construction of concrete structures where NRMCA member companies played a significant role in supplying products or services. Winners represent exemplary projects that leverage innovative concrete technologies to enhance sustainability, reduce embodied carbon and improve performance. In this judging cycle 11 winners were selected:
- AWS Data Center (New Carlisle, IN) – was honored for its innovative use of low-carbon concrete in the construction of a large-scale data center campus, setting a standard for sustainable development in the tech industry. NRMCA Producer member Ozinga provided the concrete for the project.
- Central City Parallel Tunnel – (Minneapolis) was celebrated for its pioneering use of eco-friendly concrete technologies in a large-scale water management infrastructure project, demonstrating exceptional performance and environmental responsibility. NRMCA Producer member Cemstone Products Company designed and supplied 23,000 cubic yards of highly technical concrete for this project.
- Intuit Dome (Inglewood, CA) – was honored for its use of cutting-edge concrete applications to support the construction of a state-of-the-art sports arena with a focus on minimizing carbon emissions while maximizing structural resilience. NRMCA Producer member CalPortland provided the concrete for the project.
- Lane Construction I-40/I-77 Concrete Paving Project (Iredell County, NC) – was celebrated as the first project in North Carolina to utilize Type IL cement. This milestone reflects a major step toward reducing the carbon footprint of infrastructure projects. U.S. Roanoke Cement Company (RCC) was the NRMCA member and cement supplier.
- Lower Carbon Content Concrete Pavements – MnROAD (Albertville, MN) – was acknowledged for its pioneering research and implementation of lower-carbon concrete pavements, showcasing scalable solutions for sustainable road construction. The following NRMCA members were crucial to the success of the project: Holcim, Ozinga, Continental Cement, Cemstone, the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association of Minnesota, American Engineering Testing, Inc. and Braun Intertech.
- New York State Department of Transportation Southern Tier Bridge Replacement and Safety Project (Whitney Point, NY) – was recognized for specifying low-carbon concrete and incorporating glass SCMs (supplementary cementitious materials) to achieve sustainability goals for a $21.2 million bridge replacement project. NRMCA member Barney & Dickenson was the leader in this project.
- One Milestone (Boston) – a research and development hub, was celebrated for its use of advanced concrete technologies to reduce embodied carbon in a major mixed-use development while enhancing long-term durability. NRMCA Producer member Boston Sand & Gravel supplied the concrete on this project.
- SFO Terminal 3 West (San Francisco) – was cited for its landmark project at the San Francisco International Airport that achieved significant reductions in embodied carbon while meeting rigorous sustainability standards. The concrete utilized aggregates from NRMCA member Martin Marietta and concrete produced by NRMCA Producer member Bauman Concrete.
- TSX Broadway and Palace Theater Redevelopment (New York) – was acknowledged for its extensive use of low-carbon concrete in the revitalization of an iconic Times Square venue, balancing historic preservation with modern sustainability practices. The project utilized products from NRMCA member Heidelberg Materials.
- TVRM’s ‘Proving Grounds’ for Low-Carbon Concrete (Norfolk, VA) – was recognized for its groundbreaking advancements in testing and developing AI-generated low-carbon concrete, showcasing the potential for transformative change in the construction industry. NRMCA Producer member Titan Virginia Ready-Mix provided the concrete for the test paving site and NRMCA member Roanoke Cement Company provided the cement.
- The City of Salt Lake and Utah Transportation Authority: Electric Bus Charging Station (Salt Lake City) – was recognized for its innovative use of concrete in the development of an electric bus charging station, contributing to the region’s clean transportation goals. NRMCA member Roman Cement used a patented technology to re-design a standard concrete mix, driving up performance and making concrete more sustainable.
“The 2025 Concrete Innovation Awards showcased the incredible progress our industry is making in reducing its carbon footprint while delivering strong, durable and sustainable structures,” said Lionel Lemay, NRMCA executive vice president, structures and sustainability. “These projects are a testament to the collaborative efforts of NRMCA members, designers and builders who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with concrete.”
Build With Strength and NRMCA extend their congratulations and gratitude to all winners and nominees for their commitment to advancing sustainability, innovation and resilience in the concrete industry. More details about the nominees and winners, including images, can be viewed at www.concreteinnovations.com/2025winners.
About Build With Strength: Build With Strength is an initiative of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association that seeks to educate the building and design communities and policymakers on the benefits of ready mixed concrete and encourage its use as the building material of choice for buildings. To learn more, visit: www.buildwithstrength.com.