COVER STORY By Mike Larson
Representatives from GMF Steel Group and Gulf Coast Rebar, two of the five Project of the Year award winners, share a laugh during a panel discussion at SEAA’s 2026 convention in Kansas City.
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CONTRACTORS DEMONSTRATE HOW PREP AND INNOVATION DRIVE RESULTS IN THIS ISSUE Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Infill, Austin, Texas Structural Steel Class II ($500,000 to $1 Million) Erector: Perry & Perry Builders, Inc. Fabricator: Alamo Structural Steel Architect: CORGAN/AEC-Way Engineering Construction Owner/GC: Whiting-Turner Project Owner: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Contract Value: $636,400 Tons of Steel: 98 400 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, Fla. Reinforcing Steel Class II ($500,000 and up) Erector: Gulf Coast Rebar, Inc. Fabricator: CMC Architect: Arquitectonica Construction Mgr./GC: Suffolk Construction Project Owner: Red Apple Contract Value: $:5,478,360 Tons of Steel: 9,116 tons of rebar Tropicana Field Cupola Renovation, St. Petersburg, Fla. Structural Steel Class I (Up to $500,000) Erector: GMF Steel Group Fabricator: GMF Industries Architect: Geiger Engineers Construction Mgr./GC: Tampa Bay Rays Project Owner: City of St. Petersburg Contract Value: $196,946 Tons of Steel: 2 26 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
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EAA’s 2026 winning Projects of the Year highlight the versatility and problem-solving capabilities of steel erectors working in vastly different environments, from urban high rises and active airports to remote national park infrastructure. Three of the winning companies and their projects are featured in this article. The two remaining winners will be featured in the Fall edition of Connector. Each of the winning contractors in this article landed their project with a creative approach, not the lowest bid. All three projects took place at high-visibility venues, had short deadlines, and were completed on time, within budget, and without any injuries. In addition, two of the three were done in occupied buildings where operations couldn’t be interrupted. The Project of the Year award competition is open to SEAA members and recognizes creative problem solving and commitment to executing on time and on budget. Categories are available for Structural Steel, Miscellaneous Metals, and new this year, Reinforcing Steel. Winners receive trophies, the opportunity to participate in peer panel discussions, and feature article coverage in Connector magazine. To learn how to enter the SEAA 2027 Project of the Year competition, visit seaa.net/project-of-the-year. Mike Larson is a journalist with more than 45 years of experience writing about equipment, engineering, and construction. He is editor emeritus of Crane Hot Line magazine.