Minneapolis, MN. – January 30, 2026 – The 31st Annual MCA Awards of Excellence, a prestigious event recognizing exceptional projects and achievements in construction, was held on January 28, 2026, at the Minneapolis Marriott West. The evening showcased innovation, talent, and dedication within the construction industry.
The Awards of Excellence Gala brought together over 280 industry professionals to honor outstanding individuals and organizations who have demonstrated unparalleled excellence in construction. Congratulations to the MCA Awards of Excellence winners:
New Project Total Value Under $15 Million
Terra Construction — Carleton College Class of 1974 Center
Carleton College’s Class of 1974 Center redefines student wellness with a modern hub for health and counseling. Featuring exam rooms, therapy spaces, pharmacy, and advanced systems, it blends accessibility, privacy, and sustainability. More than a building—it’s a lasting commitment to student well-being, designed for generations to thrive.
New Project Total Value Between $15 Million and $50 Million
Terra Construction — Carleton College Student Housing
Carleton College’s Student Housing project expands equitable living with new housing at Lilac Hill and Union Street—184 beds in sustainable, Phius-certified spaces. Designed for comfort, community, and cultural programs, these residences advance energy efficiency and quality standards while supporting Carleton’s goal of 20% townhouse-style living.
New Project Total Value Over $50 Million
Ryan Companies US, Inc. — Marvella 2190
Marvella 2190 expands the Marvella senior living community with 125 independent living units in Saint Paul’s Highland Bridge Development. The 276,000 SF building pairs timeless architecture with modern design, supporting active aging in place within an intergenerational neighborhood full of trails, retail, dining, and green space.
Renovation, Expansion or Tenant Improvement
Adolfson & Peterson Construction — Tartan High School Addition & Renovation
This project included multiple additions and renovations, featuring a new stadium, classroom wing, storm shelter gym, science wing, and new main entrance. The existing gym and locker rooms were transformed into flexible learning spaces and a central atrium with a learning stair.
Publicly Funded Construction Project
Donlar Construction — City of Saint Paul North End Community Center
The North End Community Center is a 25,000 SF building featuring numerous state-of-the-art and sustainable amenities. Sustainable features include a geothermal well field for heating/cooling, a roof-mounted solar array for energy generation, and an underground system for stormwater management with a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons. The building utilizes Cross Laminated Timber beams.
Research, Innovation, or Use of Technology
Terra Construction — Carleton College Phius Certified Student Housing
Carleton College’s Student Housing project expands equitable living with new housing at Lilac Hill and Union Street—184 beds in sustainable, Phius-certified structures. Designed for comfort, community, and cultural programs, these residences advance energy efficiency and quality standards while supporting Carleton’s goal of 20% townhouse-style living
Subcontractor/Specialty Contractor
Rachel Contracting — Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital Demolition
The Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital Demolition Project encompassed the safe abatement, demolition, site restoration of a 12-story, 648,000 SF facility in downtown Duluth. Highlights included environmental remediation, removal of three skywalks & a 110-foot chimney, followed by backfill, new utilities, lighting, landscape restoration, and transforming an entire city block for future redevelopment.
Each year, the Minnesota Construction Association recognizes a project that was completed as a result of a resourceful blending of construction techniques and professionals. The 2026 recipient of the MCA Choice Award is RJM Construction — Bloomington Ice Garden.
Originally opened in 1970 as a single‑sheet rink, the Bloomington Ice Garden (BIG) has grown into one of Minnesota’s premier ice‑skating destinations. Over the decades, the facility expanded to three rinks and now supports more than 10,000 hours of annual ice time, hosting dozens of tournaments and welcoming athletes from across Minnesota, the United States, and Canada.
BIG’s history is equally impressive. The facility has hosted some of the sport’s biggest names, including Olympic and World Champion Dorothy Hamill, NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic team. Over the decades, the building expanded with additional rinks, upgraded training spaces, and enhanced amenities to meet the growing needs of skaters and spectators, and years of extensive use understandably took a toll on the facility.
To ensure BIG continues its legacy for the next generation, RJM partnered with the City of Bloomington on a transformative $37.2 million renovation. The modernization replaced the aging ice plant that relied on environmentally harmful R‑22 refrigerant and introduced a new roof, state-of-the-art mechanical systems, and fully updated rink floors. Olympic-sized Rink 3 was converted to NHL standards, an indoor training area was added, and locker rooms, restrooms, and ADA-accessible areas were refreshed and expanded.
Executing this renovation required strong leadership and an exceptionally collaborative team process. Under the guidance of RJM Superintendent Jeff Mauder, the project navigated several “undocumented” additions and a series of unforeseen existing conditions uncovered once walls and floors were opened. These challenges demanded rapid design adjustments, immediate pricing from trade partners, and a high level of trust among the owner, architects, and RJM to evaluate solutions quickly and cost‑effectively. The team also demonstrated resourceful problem‑solving when frost was discovered beneath Rink 2. With the primary testing agency unable to mobilize for several weeks, RJM swiftly secured an alternate partner capable of completing critical soil temperature testing within days, keeping the project on schedule.
Through carefully phased construction, RJM delivered a “2nd miracle on ice” for the city of Bloomington, all within a planned six-month shutdown, ensuring BIG remains a high‑performance, high‑impact community asset for years to come.
General Contractor of the Year – Bauer Design Build
Subcontractor of the Year – Fehn Companies
Service Provider of the Year – Holmes Murphy Construction
Design Professional of the Year – BKBM Engineers
Member of the Year – Corey Bronczyk, Arthur Chapman Law Firm
About the Minnesota Construction Association
The Minnesota Construction Association is a nonprofit organization that provides networking, recognition, and education opportunities for construction professionals, project managers, general contractors, subcontractors, owners, engineers, architects, attorneys, suppliers, developers, educators and students involved in the construction industry. For more information, contact the MCA Office at (952) 928-4646, info@mnconstruction.org, or mnconstruction.org.
Contact: Jen Wothe, Executive Director • (952) 928-4646 • info@mnconstruction.org