Excellence in Electrical construction Awards 2026 Nomination 

The Electric League announces its presentation of the Excellence in Electrical Construction at the Hall of Honor & Excellence in Lighting & Electrical Construction Awards 2026 on Thursday, October 22 at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Ballroom.  

Recognition will be presented to individuals and/or firms who have designed and installed exemplary electrical construction projects completed in the Greater Pittsburgh area. 

Submission deadline is April 30, 2026.

The categories of Excellence in Electrical Construction will be based on craftsmanship, complexity of the project, challenges, and community impact. Submittals will be in categories of the electrical construction sum of the project.

  • Under $1 million total electrical construction

  • $1-5 million total electrical construction

  • Over $5 million total electrical construction

  • Overall Innovation of total electrical construction

 Judging Panel:

The Panel of judges will consist of eight (8) industry experts and one alternate.  Judges will review project submittals and photographs. On-site visit of projects will be done. Should a question arise as the eligibility or category of a project, the Judges shall make the final determination.

Entry Conditions:

All entries are to be of new or rehabilitated projects completed within January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025. The criteria for award selections will be made on the basis of originality of craftsmanship, complexity of project, challenges and community impact, meeting budgetary considerations and other factors that made both the design and installation exemplary in achieving the desired goals. Projects may be residential, commercial, industrial or institutional.

 Awards will be judged based on entry form and the on-site review of each project by our jury.  It is important that you provide a description of the project with accompanying digital photographs.

All entries and accompanying materials will become the property of ELWP. By submitting an entry, the entrant grants the ELWP a broad, non-exclusive royalty-free license to copy, distribute, and otherwise use the entry and all accompanying materials (including text, image, or other forms) both related and unrelated to the ELWP Excellence in Lighting & Electrical Construction Awards Program. The entrant is responsible for making the ELWP aware of any required photo credit or restrictions that must accompany an image.

All entries that are selected to be toured by the judges must be available from April 30 to June 30, 2026.

Requirements:

1. Each submission must be accompanied by 3 to 10 digital photographs of the completed project. These need not be professional photographs. The project will not be considered if photos are not included. 

2. The project must have been completed within the timeframe of January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025.

3. Please provide a description outlining for each concept of design based on the craftsmanship, complexity of the project, challenges and the community impact. (250 to 500 words)

Judging criteria:

The Craftsmanship of the Project is evaluated based on several key criteria, which include but are not limited to:

  • Safety: Ensuring that all electrical installations are safe and comply with safety standards and regulations. Identify if safety training was provided to team

  • Quality: Maintaining high standards of quality in the installation process, including the use of appropriate materials and equipment.

  • Workmanship: Following the correct procedures and standards for installation, ensuring that all work is neat, clean, and well-organized.

  • Compliance: Adhering to all relevant codes, standards, and regulations, including the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local building codes.

  • Quality of Materials: Using materials that are suitable for the intended use and that are of high quality to ensure durability and reliability, include sustainable construction practices, green certifications, sustainable solutions, and significant green features.

  • Proper Installation: Installing electrical systems and equipment correctly, ensuring that all components are properly connected and functioning as intended.

  • Maintenance: Regularly inspecting and maintaining electrical systems to ensure they are safe and efficient, and to extend the lifespan of the equipment. These criteria are essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of electrical systems in various settings, including commercial facilities, residential homes and industrial environments.

  • Innovation: State-of-the-art methods, special materials, new material application techniques

 Complexity of the Project: Describe the project story and challenges

  • Scope of the Project

  • Challenges of visual tasks (difficult terrain, restricted workspace, adverse elements, unforeseen conditions, etc.)

  • Energy limitations

  • Style and structural requirements

  • Budget limits and maintainability

  • Space Occupation during development

  • Client Satisfaction

Project Challenges: Identify challenges of the electrical project that impacted the design.

  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to local, state, and national electrical codes and standards

  • Planning Phase: Assess the need for proper planning and resource allocation to avoid disruptions

  • Technical Integration: Evaluate the complexity of integrating new electrical systems with existing infrastructure

  • Safety Concerns: Identify potential safety hazards and develop a safety plan and emergency procedures

  • Power Supply and Backup Systems: Consider the integration of backup power systems for regions prone to power outages.

 Community Impact: The criteria for assessing the community impact of an electrical project typically include but are not limited to:

  •  Community Acceptance: Ensuring that the project is well-received by the local community and meets their needs and expectations

  • Environmental Compatibility: Assessing the project's impact on the environment, including noise, visual, and ecological impacts

  • Social Impact: Evaluating the project's effects on social aspects such as employment, access to services, and community engagement

  • Sustainability: Considering the long-term sustainability of the project and its impact on the community's resources and environment

  • Community Benefit: Implementing actions that benefit the community, such as providing jobs, improving infrastructure, or enhancing public services

Please note that photographs/video of project MUST BE SUBMITTED. Please submit here:

ATTACH PHOTOS/VIDEO FOR ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION AWARD NOMINATION

Please contact Terri Wiehn at terrihanna-wiehn@sbcglobal.net for questions.