SUNNY ISLES, FL — A project in Charleston, South Carolina, has been named a recipient in the annual Project of the Year awards by the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA). One winner was selected in each of four categories based on the dollar amount of the erection contract. Honorable Mention awards were also given out. Categories are Class I up to $500,000; Class II $500,000 to $1 million; Class III $1-2.5 million; and Class IV over $2.5 million.

Chosen by an independent panel of judges, the winning companies received their awards for projects that were topped out in either 2019 or 2020.

“Erectors often work in close collaboration with other teams and trades, and sometimes the customer. Challenges frequently deal with logistics, crane selection and rigging methods, and execution of complicated connection plans,” said Alan Sears, SEAA Awards Committee Chairman. “We congratulate these companies for excellent delivery of these unique structural steel construction projects.”

One project in the Construction area received Honorable Mention: CAS Steel Erectors Inc. for International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina (Class III).

South Carolina presents unique construction challenges in that it is a multi-hazard zone subject to hurricanes, earthquakes, and flooding. A 41,760-square-foot elevated structure, which will house a new museum, required numerous moment and seismic welds and use of a zero tolerance brick relief system. The complex project was further complicated by an aggressive schedule amid COVID-19, requiring additional health and safety protocols. CAS Steel Erectors built a temporary canopy with cantilevered beams and scaffolding to temporarily shore the cantilevered beams at elevation until moment welds were completed. In all, hundreds of inches of field welding was required for connections, which included 220 standard moment connections and 110 rigid frame moment welds.