Ironing Out the Details- Project of the Year Winners Succeed on Single-Access Sites

By Mike Larson, a journalist with more than 45 years of experience writing about equipment, engineering, and construction. He is editor emeritus of Crane Hot Line magazine.

A contractor’s ability to create an effective, detailed plan that solves the unique challenges of a tight, single-access job site can be the key to success on a complex project.

Two of the five Project of the Year award recipients did exactly that.

GMF Steel Group and Alliance Riggers & Contractors each overcame the challenges of working on an active, single-access site. One site sat along a river in Florida and the other was located on the campus of an in-session high school in New Mexico. Detailed sequencing and planning were key to success for both jobs.

The winner in Structural Class III ($1.0 million to $2.5 million) was the expansion of the Tampa Convention Center in Florida. It featured GMF Steel Group, which acted as both erector and fabricator. The project site was fenced on three sides, and the fourth side, where the addition was being built, sat right at the river’s edge, accessible only from the water.

The Project of the Year Award winner in Structural Class IV (Over $2.5 million) was construction of the Carlsbad Performing Arts Center in New Mexico. Alliance Riggers & Constructors planned and performed an intricate mix of tilting up concrete wall panels while also installing structural steel. As an extra challenge, the work was done while school was in session.

“These two projects are excellent examples of contractors coming up with creative, wellplanned solutions to site challenges,” said Pete Gum, Executive Director of SEAA. (See the Summer 2025 edition of Connector for info about the other three winning projects.)

The Project of the Year award competition is open to SEAA members. To learn how to enter the 2026 Project of the Year competition, visit seaa.net/project-of-the-year.

IN THIS ISSUE

Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Fla.

Structural Class III ($1 Million to $2.5 Million)

Erector: GMF Steel Group

Fabricator: GMF Steel Group

Detailer: Ovation Services LLC

Structural Engineer: Walter P. Moore

Architect: Baker Barrios

Construction Mgr./GC: Skanska USA

Contract Value: $1.7 Million

Tons of Steel: 303

Carlsbad Performing Arts Center, Carlsbad, N.M.

Structural Class IV (Over $2.5 Million)

Erector: Alliance Riggers & Constructors

Fabricator: W&W | AFCO Steel LLC

Detailer: W&W | AFCO Steel LLC

Structural Engineer: HKN Engineers

Architect: NPSR Architects

Construction Mgr./GC: Jaynes Corporation

Contract Value: $3.7 Million

Tons of Steel: 738