Frequently Asked Questions
about Build Ohio

What is Build Ohio?

Build Ohio celebrates construction. The Build Ohio awards program recognizes members of the Associated General Contractors of Ohio for excellence in construction. The Build Ohio Celebration is a gala held annually in the fall that celebrates the accomplishments of Ohio's commercial building industry.

What are the benefits of entering?

Build Ohio provides a means to showcase your company’s best projects to construction owners and the construction industry; to recognize employees and subcontractors for a job well done; to impress your clients; to have your project highlighted in the Build Ohio Preview, which is mailed with the AGC of Ohio Building Ohio magazine to 2,500 construction professionals, owners, architects, and engineers; and to celebrate the construction industry and your company’s hard work.

How do I enter?

There are three steps to entering a project in Build Ohio:  (1) Submit the Build Ohio entry form and fee, along with a company logo, a photo of the project, and a 300-word overview that describes the project; (2) submit 5-10 loose photos of your project and a 2,500-word “project story” that describes how your project meets the Build Ohio criteria for its category; and (3) submit a display board to provide a visual description of your project.

What projects are eligible?

All projects must be located in Ohio and completed between August 1 and July 31. 

Are joint ventures permitted?

Yes, as long as the controlling partner is an AGC of Ohio member. Nonmembers will not be recognized.

When will we know who our competitors are in a category? 
Entrants will be posted in AGC of Ohio’s Construction Update newsletter and on AGC’s website, www.agcohio.com, within two weeks after the entry deadline.
 

Can different phases of the same project be entered?

Yes, different phases or elements of the same project may be entered independently or combined as a total project entry. However, you cannot enter any phase independently and then choose to include that phase in a later in a multi-phase or combined entry.
 

What do Build Ohio entrants receive?

Build Ohio entrants receive a green marble plaque; projects are publicized in the Build Ohio Preview published in the fall with AGC of Ohio's Building Ohio magazine and handed out during the Build Ohio Celebration, and included on the AGC of Ohio website; press releases are sent to the major media outlets in Ohio and throughout the industry announcing the Build Ohio entrants; and all participants receive a copy of the video that highlights all Build Ohio entrants during the awards presentation.
 

What do Build Ohio winners receive?

In addition to all of the entrants' benefits, Build Ohio winners receive the bronze and green marble Build Ohio statue in lieu of the green marble plaque; an article about the project in the winter issue Building Ohio magazine; the project listed as a Build Ohio winner on the AGC of Ohio website; press releases sent to the major media outlets in Ohio and throughout the industry announcing the winning projects; and a reception is held at the conclusion of the awards dinner on behalf of the winning projects.

How do I determine what category to enter my project?

Projects can be entered in one of six categories: new construction under $10 million, renovation, industrial/heavy, specialty, construction management and new construction over $10 million.

To determine in which category a project should be entered, first consider what type of project is it: Renovation, industrial/heavy (heavy, utilities, highway, industrial, manufacturing settings), new construction, specialty (this category is reserved for those who primarily work as a subcontractor), or construction management. The entry form provides a detailed description of the categories.

When dealing with a new construction project, the cost of the project determines whether it goes in the New Construction Over $10 Million or Under $10 Million category. For example, if a company is working on a large, $100 million project and has a $8 million contract for a portion of that project, the entry would go in the New Construction Over $10 Million category. When determining a project’s cost, consider the construction costs (contract amounts for subs, GC, primes, CM, etc.), not the cost for the land itself or architect fees.

The Build Ohio categories are loosely defined to allow AGC to be fair and flexible. Some projects may meet the requirements for more than one category. For example, a company could enter a new industrial building in the New Construction category since it meets the New Construction criteria. A specialty contractor may choose to enter a project in the Renovation category as opposed to the Specialty category.

Construction Managers may only enter in the Construction Management category unless (1) it is a new construction project and total project amount is under $10 million, then they can enter in the New Construction Under $10 Million category; or if the company self-performed more than 5% of the work, then they may submit in any of the appropriate categories.

The Build Ohio judges have the final say in what category a project is entered, and they will move a project to another category if it is in the best interest of the project. Each project is judged according to the criteria of the category in which it is entered (i.e. Specialty contractors entering projects in the Renovation category will be judged according to the Renovation criteria, not the Specialty category criteria.)

If unsure about which category your project should be entered in, contact the AGC of Ohio office for assistance.

If submitting a picture/logo electronically, what type of files should we save them as?
Files should be scanned in at a minimum of 300 dpi and saved as a tif, gif, bmp, etc. Jpegs tend to have too low of a resolution.

What if our company has more than one  project that it wants to enter in the same category?

Companies may enter up to two projects per category. If a company with multiple offices in Ohio has separate offices that want to enter in the same category, each office may submit two projects in the same category. For example, XYZ Construction Co.’s Cleveland and Cincinnati offices may each submit two projects in the Renovation Category.

Do judges take into account the creativity of the board?
No. While everyone enjoys the creative display boards, the judges strictly review the boards to learn how the project better meets the Build Ohio criteria based on the photos and text included on the board.

What should I include in the project story (2,500-word written submission)?
Include aspects of your project that best meet the Build Ohio criteria for its category. Provide as many examples as possible of how the project meets and surpasses each individual criterion. The Build Ohio criteria for each category are: Renovation, Industrial/Heavy, New Construction, Construction Management:  Meeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job, Excellence in Client Service, Innovation in Construction Techniques or Materials, Excellence in Project Management; and Specialty:  Excellence in Client Service, Meeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job, Innovation in Construction Techniques or Materials, Craftsmanship, Performance as It Relates to Schedule. 
 

Can I include pictures in the project story? If so, how many?
Yes. The number of pictures is up to you. Photos can be placed on one page or inserted throughout the text— just try to keep it within two pages of photos. Also, if you want make sure the judges see your photos in color, provide at least 12 color copies of your written submission.

Why do we need to submit loose photos—can’t we use the photos on the board?
The loose photos are separate from the board and will be used for media purposes. These photos will be used in the video shown during the awards presentation, as well as in any Build Ohio promotional materials. They can be submitted as hard copy photos or as electronic files.

What should we include in our project overview that is sent in with our entry form?
Include any information that you want people to know about your project. AGC of Ohio will use that information when writing the promotional materials for Build Ohio. Information can include unique aspects of the project, challenges, innovations in construction, your management style, an aesthetic description of the completed project, etc.

Can we use computer-printed photos on computer photo paper?
No. The photos will have to be rescanned in by AGC, and end up looking grainy when used in the video or printed media. If you have the photos scanned in on your computer, your best bet is to get professional prints printed or submit them electronically on a disk.

Does our project board have to be 30x40 inches and on foam core board?
Boards can be smaller than 35x45, and do not have to have a foam core base. Some companies opt to have their boards matted and framed, some use corrugated board, and some are creative with their board materials. Instead of using a rectangular board, some opt to cut their boards into shapes. Feel free to be as creative as you like. However, please understand that the AGC staff must transport the boards to an outside location, so please don’t submit oversized boards and/or ones that weigh more than 10 lbs.

How are winners chosen?
The judges examine each project according to how it meets the criteria in its category. Each individual criterion in a category is allotted a certain number of points. The criteria and points are as follows:

Renovation, Industrial/Heavy, New Construction, Construction Management: Meeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job (30 pts), Excellence in Client Service (30 pts), Innovation in Construction Techniques or Materials (20 pts), Excellence in Project Management (20 pts);

Specialty: Excellence in Client Service (20 pts), Meeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job (20 pts), Innovation in Construction Techniques or Materials (20 pts), Craftsmanship (20 pts), Performance as It Relates to Schedule (20 pts)

All Build Ohio judges receive a binder containing the submitted 2,500-word written description of each entry and judging sheets. The judges are asked to review each submission, independent of the other judges, and determine each project’s preliminary score. After the binders have been reviewed, the judges are brought together at the AGC office in Columbus. There, each judge individually reviews the project boards, and adjusts his scores accordingly. The judges then meet as a group to discuss their individual findings, and adjust their individual scores based on any new information uncovered in the group discussion.

To ascertain the total score for a project, the highest and lowest judges’ scores are removed, and the median is taken from the remainder of the scores. The project with the highest average in its category wins the Build Ohio award for that category. One award is provided in each category, with the exception of the New Construction Under $10 Million category where there will be two awards: one for contractors with an annual volume of under $20 million and one for contractors with a $20 million or higher volume.

All Build Ohio judges receive a binder containing the submitted 2,500-word written description of each entry and judging sheets. The judges are asked to review each submission, independent of the other judges, and determine each project’s preliminary score. After the binders have been reviewed, the judges are brought together at the AGC office in Columbus. There, each judge individually reviews the project boards, and adjusts his scores accordingly. The judges then meet as a group to discuss their individual findings, and adjust their individual scores based on any new information uncovered in the group discussion.

To ascertain the total score for a project, the highest and lowest judges’ scores are removed, and the median is taken from the remainder of the scores. The project with the highest average in its category wins the Build Ohio award for that category. One award is provided in each category with the exception of New Construction Under $10 million.  That category is split for two awards:  one for companies with a volume over $20 million and one for companies with a volume under $20 million.

How are the Build Ohio winners notified?
Build Ohio winners will be announced for the first time during the annual Build Ohio awards dinner and presentation. No companies will be notified before the winners are announced that evening.

What is the attire? 
Semi-formal: suits for men; dresses/suits for women.

Is it possible to arrange for a vegetarian meal?
Yes, but arrangements must be made in advance through AGC of Ohio.

Can we reserve a table if we have less than 8 people?
Tables are reserved only for groups of 8-10 people. If you have 6-7 people and would like to reserve a table, you must pay for a table of 8. AGC does try to match larger groups with smaller groups whenever possible to provide a table. (For example, if a Youngstown company is sending 6 people and the Youngstown AGC or another company from that area has a group of 4, we would contact the organizations to see if they would like one table reserved for the two groups.) Otherwise, smaller groups sit in the open seating area.