The tilt-up industry’s best-dressed avatars gathered virtually on October 7, 2020, to honor the organizations, people, and projects that demonstrated the variety, beauty, and flexibility of tilt-up construction. Although the coronavirus pandemic prevented the usual in-person gathering, the Tilt-Up Awards Gala, sponsored by Nox-Crete, was virtually presented during the 2020 Tilt-Up Convention and Expo, which was held in The Aggregate. (For more information about The Aggregate, please visit www.theaggregate.world.)

Awards presented during this event included the Alphonse Engelman Safety Awards, the Tilt-Up Achievement Awards, and the TCA Professional Awards. We also inducted new members to the TCA College of Fellows. All of this year’s winners will be featured extensively in the awards issue of Tilt-Up Today, which will be distributed this winter.

Attendees gathered from the comfort of their own homes or offices as we unveiled the industry’s most impressive applications of the tilt-up method. The TCA’s manager for regulatory and technical affairs, Jim Baty, shared his passion for the TCA’s safety awards program, and we also celebrated the extraordinary efforts of the Virtual Host Committee.

“While we will hopefully be able to present and accept awards at the base of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis next year, this year’s awards program was extremely impressive,” said Rick Galloway, executive vice president at Martin Concrete. “The strength of our industry was evident in the diversity of the projects highlighted and the impressive accomplishments of the individuals and companies recognized at the midweek gala.”

There were very special moments throughout the evening, including the presentation of this year’s David L. Kelly Distinguished Engineer Award to Don Greive, CEO of Pinnacle Structural Engineers.  

In recognition of their impactful contributions to the industry, Bret Newcomb, KEE Architecture, Inc., GluDown, and Martin Concrete were given prestigious professional honors.

The TCA also expressed gratitude to former president Brad Nesset for his leadership, passion, and dedication to the association. 

Finally, Ed Sauter, FTCA, presented this year’s Peter Courtois Memorial Award (the TCA’s highest honor) to Shawn Hickey, FTCA.

The evening ended with the President’s After Party near the beach stage with musical entertainment from The Pork Tornadoes.