From erectors to engineers: AISC names 2027 IDEAS Awards jury

by anthony_capkun_2 | 22 July 2026 1:32 pm

A collage showing the jurors selected for the 2027 AISC IDEAS Awards — Clockwise from top left: Parley Dixon, Jessica Jenness, Elizabeth Galan Lapira, Blaine Brownell, Evelyn Lee, Julia Hogroian

As it continues accepting entries for the 2027 IDEAS Awards[2], the American Institute of Steel Construction[3] announced the jurors for the structural steel awards program.

“We are entering an era where the boundaries between materials and disciplines are vanishing, and our jury selection reflects that spirit,” said Erin Conaway, PE, AISC’s senior director of building initiatives.

The 2027 IDEAS Awards jury includes:

Parley Dixon is the CEO of Patriot Erectors LLC[4], a multi-division, turnkey fabrication/erection company with over 900 employees.
Jessica Jenness is a senior project manager with BNBuilders[5], a general contractor specializing in technical commercial construction projects.
Elizabeth Galan Lapira, AIA, NOMA, is an architecture specialist in AISC’s Architecture Center[6].
Blaine Brownell, FAIA, LEED AP, is a professor and director of the David R. Ravin School of Architecture[7], University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, is the founder of the Practice of Architecture[8], which helps individuals and firms identify opportunities for leadership and growth.
Julia Hogroian, PE, SE, LEED Green Assoc., is a senior consulting engineer with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger[9].

“By assembling a team that mirrors the diverse, integrated nature of modern project teams, we’re ensuring that our winners don’t just demonstrate technical excellence—they represent the future of how we design and build together,” Conaway added.

Entries for the 2027 IDEAS Awards are due by August 31, 2026. For more information, visit aisc.org/ideas[10].

Endnotes:

[Image]: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AISC-2027-Awards-Jury-800.jpg
2027 IDEAS Awards: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/news/aiscs-idea-awards-for-structural-steel-now-accepting-submissions-for-2027/
American Institute of Steel Construction: https://www.aisc.org/
Patriot Erectors LLC: https://www.patrioterectors.com/
BNBuilders: https://www.bnbuilders.com/
Architecture Center: https://www.aisc.org/architecture-center/
David R. Ravin School of Architecture: https://coaa.charlotte.edu/architecture/
Practice of Architecture: https://practiceofarchitecture.com/
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger: https://www.sgh.com/
aisc.org/ideas: https://aisc.org/ideas

Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/news/industry-news/from-erectors-to-engineers-aisc-names-2027-ideas-awards-jury/