ABC Names Winner of Its 2026 Construction Management Competition

WASHINGTON, March 23-Associated Builders and Contractors today announced the winners of its annual Construction Management Competition, who were honored at ABC Convention 2026 in Salt Lake City on March 20. Louisiana State University, affiliated with ABC Pelican chapter, was named overall winner of the 2026 competition with the highest cumulative points in the five competition categories. A total of 30 teams of undergraduate students from colleges and universities nationwide competed this year.

LSU placed in the top three in 4 of the competition's 5 categories, including estimating, project management, safety and overall achievement. LSU was also named the 2025 ABC Student Chapter of the year. Auburn University, ABC Alabama's student chapter, took second place in the competition and also placed in the project management and quality control categories. University of Wisconsin - Platteville, affiliated with ABC Wisconsin, earned third place and placed in the estimating category.

"The construction industry needs to bring in 349,000 new workers this year just to meet demand, and that includes experienced young construction management professionals like these because they can solve real-world problems so contractors can build quality infrastructure," said 2026 Chair of the ABC National Board of Directors Thomas "Murph" Murphy, vice president, Power & Construction Group, Scottsville, New York. "This exciting competition gives students valuable, resume-building experience while helping these young leaders achieve their construction career dreams. Congratulations to all the honorees."

Teams put their construction project leadership skills to the test by completing the same real-life construction management project. This year's project was the Salt Lake City Convention Center Hotel-known as Hyatt Regency Salt Lake. Teams were provided access to this project by ABC member contractor Hensel Phelps. This landmark project in downtown Salt Lake City refines the city's skyline with its exterior glass facade. The 686,000-square-foot, 25-story hotel has 517 guestrooms, over 60,000 square feet of meeting space, a lobby and reception area, a fitness center, multiple restaurants, a market, an outdoor pool, an event terrace and underground parking. In addition to the standard goals of completing the project on time and within budget, the primary goal is to avoid disrupting operations to the adjacent convention center during construction.

The 30 teams representing 23 ABC chapters that participated in ABC's 2026 Construction Management Competition are:

1. Auburn University, ABC Alabama chapter
2. Ball State University, ABC Indiana/Kentucky chapter
3. Clemson University, ABC Carolinas chapter
4. Colorado State University, ABC Rocky Mountain chapter
5. East Carolina University, ABC Carolinas chapter
6. Ferris State University, ABC Western Michigan chapter
7. Florida Gulf Coast University, ABC Florida Gulf Coast chapter
8. Florida Institute of Technology, ABC Florida East Coast chapter
9. Florida International University, ABC Florida East Coast chapter
10. Kent State University, ABC Northern Ohio chapter
11. Louisiana State University, ABC Pelican chapter
12. Michigan State University, ABC Greater Michigan chapter
13. Minnesota State University, Mankato, ABC Minnesota/North Dakota chapter
14. Norfolk State University, ABC Virginia chapter
15. North Carolina A&T State University, ABC Carolinas chapter
16. Pennsylvania College of Technology, ABC Keystone chapter
17. Purdue University, ABC Indiana/Kentucky chapter
18. Seminole State College, ABC Central Florida chapter
19. Texas State University, ABC Central Texas chapter
20. The Ohio State University, ABC Central Ohio chapter
21. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, ABC Pelican chapter
22. The University of Southern Mississippi, ABC Mississippi chapter
23. The University of Texas at San Antonio, ABC South Texas chapter
24. University of Central Florida, ABC Central Florida chapter
25. University of Florida, Rinker School, ABC Florida Gulf Coast chapter
26. University of North Florida, ABC Florida First Coast chapter
27. University of Northern Iowa, ABC Iowa chapter
28. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, ABC Greater Tennessee chapter
29. University of Wisconsin-Platteville, ABC Wisconsin chapter
30. University of Wisconsin-Stout, ABC Wisconsin chapter