PGAL Celebrates ENR Best of the Best Projects Award for UNLV Advanced Engineering Building

PGAL proudly announces that the Advanced Engineering Building at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has been honored with the 2024 Best of the Best Projects Award from Engineering News-Record (ENR) in the Higher Education/Research category. This prestigious award recognizes the project as one of the most exceptional in commercial construction completed between May 2023 and May 2024.

A testament to innovative design and meticulous planning, the Advanced Engineering Building is a transformative, four-story, 51,000-square-foot facility that elevates UNLV’s academic and research capabilities. Designed in collaboration with the SmithGroup and general contractors Core Construction, the building features flexible classrooms, state-of-the-art research labs, and open, light-filled collaborative spaces.

The project’s success reflects PGAL’s dedication to delivering forward-thinking designs that support sustainability, transparency, and community engagement. The building’s modern aesthetic and high-performance systems demonstrate PGAL’s commitment to creating environments that promote interdisciplinary learning and advance the field of engineering education.

This award is part of ENR’s rigorous national competition, which begins with over 800 regional submissions from across the country. Regional winners advance to the national level, where a distinguished jury evaluates projects on criteria including teamwork, safety, innovation, and overall excellence. The Advanced Engineering Building stood out as a shining example of what’s possible when vision, expertise, and collaboration intersect.

“We are honored to receive this national recognition,” said Ben Girardin, AIA, Principal at PGAL. “This award highlights the power of collaboration and the dedication of every team member who contributed to bringing this visionary project to life. The Advanced Engineering Building exemplifies our commitment to design excellence and innovation.”

For more details about the event and the complete list of winners, visit the ENR Event Website.