Craftsmanship awards return to Browns Stadium
As affiliated members of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council perform site prep work for the new Cleveland Browns domed stadium in Brook Park, the current stadium will host the awards ceremony honoring the top union construction workers, contractors and projects.
The 2026 Building Excellence and Craftsmanship Awards, hosted by the Construction Employers
Association, are set for Aug. 20, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. The program honors outstanding construction projects across Northeast Ohio, along with the individual craftsmen and crews whose skill brings those projects to life.
The evening runs from 5 to 9 p.m. The event begins with a cocktail reception from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony from 6 to 7 p.m. A second cocktail and networking reception closes the night from 7 to 9 p.m. The event recognizes work in the Cleveland metropolitan area, spanning Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. It is built around two main honors – the union construction workers and their signatory contractors.
The Craftsmanship Awards honor hands-on skill, spotlighting the individuals and crews behind a project’s most demanding and artful work.
The Building Excellence Awards recognize standout projects — those finished on time and on budget, with seamless teamwork and a clean safety record that demonstrate innovation and precision in overcoming construction challenges.
Those nominated by their employers, project general contractors or Local Unions affiliated with the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council are judged on quality, dedication, the level of skill required, aesthetics, difficulty and attention to detail.
Prior to the Craftsmanship and Building Excellence awards, the top apprentices are recognized. These apprentices have shown exemplary performance within their trade — a nod to the next generation entering the building trades at a time when apprenticeship enrollment across Ohio is climbing.
Past ceremonies have drawn hundreds from the region’s union construction industry. The awards are a partnership between the CEA, the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council and other organizations and companies within the industry.
Tickets are available to be purchased online at clevelandcraftsmanship.com. The deadline to purchase tickets is Aug. 6 at 11:59 p.m. Those attending the event are asked to follow a business cocktail dress code.