CENTENNIAL, CO – On March 29^th, the American Galvanizers Association (AGA) announced the winners of the 2023 Excellence in Hot-Dip Galvanizing Awards during their Annual Conference in Coronado, CA. More than 110 projects were submitted, representing a variety of applications of hot-dip galvanizing. The finalists were judged online by a panel comprised of architects, engineers and retired galvanizers. The submitted projects and winners are all featured in the AGA Project Gallery.

This year’s highest honor, Most Distinguished, was awarded to the Jackson Generation Power Plant in Elwood, Illinois. Jackson Generation is a 1,200-megawatt gas-fired power plant that utilized 4200 tons of HDG steel in the structure. Jackson Generation uses state-of-the-art combined-cycle gas turbine technology to provide the highest efficiency while producing the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any natural gas-fired power plant in the United States.

The second most prestigious award, Lifetime Achievement, is presented to projects with a minimum of 15 years in service. The 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to A Stadium Sized Galvanizing Decision in Denver, CO. This massive project included more than 500 tons of steel handrails and safety guardrails to help guide and keep safe the 76,125 fans safe entering and exiting the stadium. Protecting the exposed steel railing from corrosion was an important decision for the design team when originally built in 2001. Fast forward 21 years, after two name changes (now Empower Field at Mile High), hundreds of football games, concerts, motor sport events, etc. the maintenance free HDG coating has met all expectations.

Outside of the Lifetime Achievement Award, another Recreation project, Centier Des Cimes (Treetop Lookout) in Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carre, Quebec won the Recreation & Entertainment sector. When specifying the fully accessible 130-foot-tall observation tower, the top priorities were aesthetics and cost efficiency. The low-cost strength of a steel supporting structure provided unbeatable value and the proven compatibility of treated lumber with HDG steel made it the obvious maintenance-free corrosion solution.

A second project in Canada was awarded, The Caribou Falls Upgrade in Ontario took home the Water & Marine category. Much of the steel used in the nearly 60-year-old complex was originally hot-dip galvanized and has remained maintenance free throughout its life. Due to this proven track record, it was an easy decision for Ontario Power Generation to specify galvanizing once again for all the exposed steel in the first major upgrade to these facilities.

Another upgrade won in the Transportation category this year. Newark Liberty Airport Canopy in New Jersey needed renovation to its busiest terminal in the airport, Terminal A. The two canopies were hot-dip galvanized and painted, to create modern looking, spacious pedestrian canopies, showcasing a beautiful example of a duplex system.

There were plenty of other duplex projects represented in the awards this year including the four, four-story, computerized light towers of Flammes d’Illuminacion in Arlington, Texas which won the Artistic category. The artist Michella O ‘Michael, consulted with her galvanizer, as it is her practice to use galvanizing for her sculptures that necessitate industrial corrosion protection to extend the paint or powder coat finish durability.

In the Duplex Systems category, two winners were awarded. One being the South Motors BMW Canopy in Miami, Florida. While constructing a new showroom, it was decided to add a canopy to protect the luxury cars from damage and a weather barrier from the Florida sun. HDG proved to be an easy choice that provided extra protection, low maintenance cost and longevity providing the owner peace of mind that the structure will stand strong well into the future.

The second winner was The Noisette Creek Pedestrian Bridge in North Charleston, South Carolina which has been named as one of the 11 most beautiful, elevated walkways through nature in the entire world by Architectural Digest. The posts for the bridge utilized HDG with a durable powder coating finish for the added aesthetics and corrosion protection.

In addition to this pedestrian bridge, the USACE Fort Wingate Bridge Replacement won the Bridge & Highway category. Located in Gallup, New Mexico, the bridge was originally specified as a concrete arched culvert, but after learning about press-brake formed steel tub girders, the US Army Corps of Engineers minds were changed. HDG was specified to provide long-lasting protection that can extend product life by decades, and the U-BEAM™ boasts a 75-year expected lifespan.

Making the world a better place is a noble goal as sustainability is in the forefront of everyone’s minds. Hippo Hopper Self Dumpsters in Houston and Vertical Faming Robot Bases in San Francisco are two projects that employ hot-dip galvanized steel to improve their cities. Winning in Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM), the Hippo Hopper self-dumpster has various applications for industrial and construction related waste and debris, much of which is recyclable. A hot-dip galvanized product was missing from their traditional painted inventory and after customer demand, they decided to include it. The HDG product has far outlasted the painted products for durability, longevity, and cleaning.

Plenty’s Vertical Farming Robots allow farmers to grow produce all year, regardless of climate, weather, pests or other factors impacting crop yield. Its technology reduces traditional agriculture’s reliance on water and land. This winner of the Food & Agriculture category uses just one percent of the land an outdoor farm requires, and addresses challenges associated with traditional farming including inconsistent yields, supply chain disruptions, high water use and pesticide or chemical uses.

Another unique project in terms of sustainability and innovation is the Mount Olive Solar Field, a winner in Electric, Utility, & Communications (EUC). The Mount Olive property served as a landfill from 1966 to 1981. This 25.6 megawatt (dc) solar project located in Mount Olive, New Jersey has enabled the township to recoup nearly $2.3 million in past taxes while at the same time transitioning the former Combe Fill North Landfill Superfund site into a revenue-generating, clean energy asset. The Mt. Olive Solar Field will supply clean energy to more than 4,000 households.

The second EUC winner is Key Crossing Reliability Initiative in Baltimore, Maryland. Five out of the eight new transmission towers are installed in the river including the tallest transmission monopole on the continent. In addition to providing the necessary corrosion protection, galvanizing also delivered on the other key project goals: environmental sensitivity and economic impact.

A hidden, but critical use of hot-dip galvanized steel is in the mining industry as demonstrated by the winner of the Industrial Award. The Nevada Gold – Turquoise Ridge Shaft No. 3 in Golconda, Nevada underwent an expansion to increase production, ventilation, gold extraction and demand. At a depth of 3,200 feet underground, the expansion is in the deepest mine shaft in Nevada. Knowing the shaft would be in a moist environment, thousands of feet below the surface, a reliable form of corrosion protection was necessary to achieve the required 30-year life-cycle. Hot-dip galvanizing proved to be the best option due to its proven performance in a variety of corrosive environments.

Outside of the traditional infrastructure projects, there were a few building projects awarded. The Building and Architecture winner is Atrium Health, Carolinas Medical Center, Parking Structure in Charlotte, North Carolina. Due to the growth of the hospital, their parking areas needed to be able to service their expansion needs. For a company that has been in operation for more than eight decades, special design considerations were needed to give the parking deck the longest possible life, all while providing the most economical solutions for the new construction. Hot-dip galvanizing this project proved to be a solution that could provide a longer service life, as well as reduce the overall rising construction costs.

An unconventional building entitled “Petite Maison” in Luxembourg won the International Category. Petite Maison is designed to be a feature of the circular economy - rather than use welds, beams and columns can be "unscrewed" and then taken down and reconstructed elsewhere. Hot-dip galvanizing the beams and materials was chosen because of its corrosion resistance and sustainability benefits for years to come. This project was led by the University of Luxembourg.

Another project that was constructed by students, this time with the University of Kansas School of Architecture, is the Pollinator Pavilion, winner of the Civic Contribution award. This project stands as an important component of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka, Kansas, therefore protecting the steel from corrosion in the reach of children was a major safety priority. Galvanizing allows for maximizing structural longevity for future generations to enjoy.

With its aesthetic appeal, durability and sustainability hot-dip galvanized steel has proven to be an excellent choice for construction projects of all shapes and sizes. To see more hot-dip galvanized steel projects including other submissions to the 2023 competition and past winners, please visit the AGA Project Gallery.

Contact AGA Senior Marketing Coordinator Rebecca Spodick for more information, high quality images, or specific project articles.

Complete List of Winners, by Category: