CHICAGO, IL — A new award is set to elevate the importance of construction projects that directly improve community life across America. The Paschen Prize for Public Progress, established by F.H. Paschen, will celebrate infrastructure and public-purpose projects that make cities and neighborhoods stronger, safer, and more connected.
The award will honor exemplary work in building spaces where Americans live, learn, move, and gather — from civic buildings and transit systems to schools and parks. By recognizing innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, the Paschen Prize aims to spotlight the often-unheralded role that builders play in shaping public progress.
Celebrating Public-Driven Construction Excellence
F.H. Paschen — a Chicago-based general contractor known for its extensive portfolio of civic and transportation projects — designed the Paschen Prize to acknowledge excellence across nine key categories. These include:
- Civic Building Project of the Year
- Education Construction Project of the Year
- Parks and Recreation Project of the Year
- Most Innovative Public Infrastructure Project
- Transit or Mobility Improvement Project of the Year
- Excellence in Sustainable Design
- Public Safety Project of the Year
- Historic Preservation & Adaptive Re-use Project of the Year
- The Paschen Legacy Award: Project of the Year, recognizing the single most exemplary public project across all categories
According to the company, the 2025 Shortlist Finalists will be announced in November, and the inaugural winners will be revealed this December.
A Tribute to Builders Who Strengthen Communities
“Public-purpose projects shape how we live, work and connect,” said Jim Blair, CEO of F.H. Paschen. “We created the Paschen Prize to recognize the builders, leaders and communities who make those projects possible.”
Through the awards, Paschen seeks to highlight not only aesthetic or technical excellence, but also the social and civic value of construction — projects that bring tangible benefits to the public such as better access to education, recreation, transportation, and safety.
A Vision for the Future of Infrastructure Recognition
The Paschen Prize represents one of the first national award programs focused exclusively on the public impact of construction. While many industry accolades honor design or innovation, few specifically celebrate the collective good created by infrastructure projects that serve everyday Americans.
This initiative underscores a growing movement in the construction industry to align projects with community outcomes and sustainability goals, from resilient schools and transit hubs to revitalized historic landmarks.
Industry and Community Collaboration
By establishing the Paschen Prize, F.H. Paschen hopes to foster stronger collaboration among contractors, architects, engineers, and public agencies — those who transform ideas into enduring infrastructure. The awards are also intended to inspire future generations of builders by showcasing projects that go beyond bricks and steel to make a difference in people’s lives.
With categories spanning education, mobility, and sustainability, the program creates a national platform for celebrating how construction can drive public progress in tangible, meaningful ways.
Full details and official release:
https://www.fhpaschen.com/introducing-the-paschen-prize-for-public-progress/
Originally reported by F.H. Paschen.
