Alvin H. Butz, Inc., Penn State Berks Campus, and RMJM Hillier received the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) National Project of the Year Award in the Higher Education Project Under $20 million category for the construction of the Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building.

"We couldn't be more satisfied with the quality of work that went into constructing the Gaige Building," says Kim Berry, COO of Penn State Berks. "Receiving a national award such as this is no small feat, and every member of the project team should be honored to receive it."

The CMAA annual awards program presents awards in 11 categories with one winner chosen from each category. The selection of winners involves an extensive review process which analyzes how successfully a project was managed by the construction manager and the owner.

The CMAA judges the specific ways a project is an example of the successful application of construction management principals and standards. It also judges how the specific needs of the project or owner were addressed by using construction management.

The Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building, which is approximately 62,000 square feet, is the largest building on the Berks campus. It showcases a two- and three-story layout featuring nine new classrooms equipped with the latest in communication technologies, dedicated laboratory space and 52 new faculty offices.

Sustainability elements are also featured in the new building. Underground rain harvesting tanks, water-efficient fixtures and a heat-recovery system help ensure that the building saves money on energy costs while also protecting the environment. These features as well as others helped the project receive LEED Gold Certification.

The Butz Family of Companies, consisting of Alvin H. Butz, Inc., Alexander Building Construction Co., and Shoemaker Construction Co., have won 22 CMAA Mid-Atlantic Chapter and National awards in the last 15 years.

Alexander Building Construction Co., also won a 2012 CMAA National Project Achievement Award in the K-12 Construction Project over $20 million for the Phase I construction and renovation of two State College Area School District elementary schools.