Sacramento’s Big Build, the name given to the construction of the area’s new, state-of-the-art airport terminal, has received an award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of California.

The award, called the Golden State Award, recognized not only the scope of the project undertaken (approximately $1.1 billion) but also the engineers’ ability to deliver the terminal on time and under budget. It was the largest design-build contract ever executed by Sacramento County and also the largest capital improvement program in the county’s history.

“The 22 projects receiving awards this year highlight some of the innovative and experienced approaches taken by private sector companies to solve engineering challenges in both the private and public sectors in California as well as deliver those projects on time, on budget and to the highest professional standards,” said Paul Meyer, executive director of ACEC California.

The projects that were recognized represented some of the many engineering successes in the last year. The projects ranged in scope from the design of a railroad underpass in Merced to an alignment survey of the boosters used for two successful launches in the Atlas 5 rocket program at Vandenberg Air Force Base in 2011.

Winners of the Golden State Award will now go on to compete for national recognition within the American Council of Engineering Companies.