Beyond the Numbers:
A Look at Recent Awards
Celebrating Our Growth and the People Behind It
In light of two recent awards, we’ve been taking stock of where we are now and where we have been during the last 26 years.
Recent Recognitions
- We’re thrilled to share that for the third year in a row, Building & Earth has been named to the ENR Top 500 List! This year, we made a significant jump, climbing 27 spots in the ranking. The ENR Top 500 ranks the largest U.S.-based design and professional services firms by annual revenue, serving as a powerful indicator of a company’s strength and impact within the industry.
- We are also incredibly proud to announce that Building & Earth has been named to the inaugural UAB National Alumni Society’s Blazer Fast 40! This prestigious award celebrates the success of top alumni-owned and alumni-managed businesses. As a UAB School of Engineering alumnus, our President and Co-founder Jeffrey Cowen, PG, PE, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Building & Earth’s journey from its inception in 1999.
We’re firm believers that growth simply for growth’s sake is a hollow pursuit. Instead, we strive for responsible growth – the kind that strengthens our ability to serve our valued clients, cultivates a thriving environment for our internal team, and creates meaningful opportunities for every employee and leader within our organization.
We’d like to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and shared vision of the people who propel us forward. These awards are a result of how they show up every day.
It’s with this ethos in mind that we want to share some recent accomplishments – and a historical listing of accolades. Join us in taking a look back at our award-winning projects and meaningful recognitions through the years.
Building & Earth Awards Listing
2025
- ACEC Engineering Excellence Merit Award Geotechnical: UAB Biomedical Research & Psychology Building – Birmingham, AL
- ABC of AL Innovation in Safety and Gold Award Winner
- Engineering News Record, ENR Top 500 Design Firms 2025
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Fast 40 Award Winner for Growth
- ABC of AL Beam Club, Merit Plus and Merit Award, Deepa Bhate
2024
- ABC Alabama Innovation in Safety
- ABC Alabama Excellence in Construction Award Project: Project Redeemer / Hanwha Qcells Mfg –Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Special Inspections
- ABC Alabama Safest in the Industry – Gold Award
- ACEC Engineering Excellence State Award – Geotechnical Category Project: UAB Science & Engineering Complex Phase I, Birmingham, AL
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project Redeemer / Hanwha Qcells Mfg – Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Special Inspections
- Engineering News Record, ENR Top 500 Design Firms 2024
2023
- ABC Alabama Safest in the Industry – Gold Award
- ABC Alabama Excellence in Construction Award Project: UAB Science & Engineering Phase I
- ABC Alabama Innovation in Safety Fleet Safety Focus
- ACEC Engineering Excellence Honor Award Geotechnical – Bucee’s Travel Center, Leeds, AL
- ACEC Engineering Excellence Award – National Recognition Award Project: Bucee’s Travel Center – Geotechnical Engineering/Material Testing – Special Inspections Per IBC
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Renasant Bank Decatur – Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Special Inspections
- ENR Top 500 Design Firms
2022
- ABC Innovation in Safety Talk Rotation
- ABC Alabama Safest in the Industry – Gold Award
- ACEC Engineering Excellence Honor Award Project: Birmingham VA Mental Health Clinic
- ABC Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: Bucee’s Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Material Testing/Special Inspection Services
- ACEC Engineering Excellence – National Recognition Award Project: VA Mental Health Clinic
2021
- ABC Innovation in Safety
- ACEC Engineering Excellence Honor Award Project: The Ascend Student Housing Development – Subsurface Engineering Category
- ABC Alabama Chapter Safest in the Industry – Gold Award
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: VA Mental Health Clinic – Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Special Inspections
2020
- ACEC Engineering Excellence Honor Award Project: Northpoint Building/Warehouse – Geotechnical Engineering – Special Project Category, Houston, Texas
- ACEC Engineering Excellence Award – National Recognition Award Project: Northpoint Engineering Services
- ABC Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: The Ascend Student Housing – Birmingham – Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Special Inspections
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award YKTA/ToyoTetsu Manufacturing – Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Special Inspections
2019
- ACEC Engineering Excellence Award – National Recognition Award Project: The Vesta Apartments – Geotechnical Engineering Commercial and Residential Sector
- ACEC Engineering Excellence Honor Award Project: The Vesta Apartments – Geotechnical Engineering Commercial and Residential Sector
- ABC Alabama Chapter Merit Award Project: Coca Cola Building/Warehouse Facility
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: Midcity Development – Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Special Inspections
2018
- ABC Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: Walmart Mobile Import Distribution Center
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: AC Hotel Huntsville – Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Special Inspections
2017
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Award of Excellence Project: NASA Building 4221 Material Testing & Special Inspection Engineering – All Contract Volumes
- ABC Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Project: UAB Football Operations Complex -Geotechnical -Engineering, Materials Testing and Special Inspections
2016
- ABC – North Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Engineering Project of the Year: NASA Test Stands Complex – Geotechnical Engineering Material Testing & Inspection
- ABC Alabama Excellence in Construction Award Project: NASA Test Stands Complex – Geotechnical Engineering/Material Testing & Inspection
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Award of Excellence Project: NASA Test Stands Complex – Geotechnical Engineering Material Testing/Engineering, Geotechnical Civil Less than $500,000
2015
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction- Engineering & Design Team Project of the Year: University of North Alabama, New Student Housing Facility Education and Residential Sector
- ABC Alabama Chapter Merit Award Project: University of North Alabama New Student Housing Complex Education and Residential Sector
- ABC North Alabama Chapter Award of Merit Project: University of North Alabama New Student Housing Facility – Geotechnical & Material Testing Engineering – Geotechnical/Civil Less than $500,000 Education and Residential Sector
2014
- ABC Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: John P. Magett Generation Station, Alma, Wisconsin
2013
- ABC Alabama Chapter Merit Award Project: Mountain Home VA Cemetery Sinkhole Evaluation/Remediation
2012
- ABC Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: Redstone Gateway Phase I – Geotechnical/Testing Service
2011
- ABC – Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: Material Testing/Special Inspection – Louis Armstrong International Airport Concourse D
2010
- ABC Alabama Excellence in Construction Award Project: The Shops of Grand River – Construction Material Testing/Inspection
2009
- ABC Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: Whispering-Willows East Wind Farm Alternative
2008
- The Zewig Letter Hot Firm A Top 200 Firm The 200 Fastest Growing A/E/P & Environmental Consulting Firm
- ABC Alabama Chapter Excellence in Construction Award Project: New Jefferson County Courthouse – Geotechnical/Testing Services