Stellar Celebrates Outstanding Recognition in Engineering News-Record (ENR) Midwest Best Projects Awards

Stellar is thrilled to announce its outstanding recognition in the 2023 Engineering News-Record (ENR) Midwest Best Projects Awards and its inclusion in ENR's Top 400 Contractors category in the United States. The judging panel awarded Stellar the prestigious "Best Projects of the Midwest" designation across 18 categories, acknowledging our exceptional workmanship, innovative problem-solving, and effective handling of project challenges.

Out of 63 submissions and 15 earned designations, Stellar's project, JBS Prepared Foods – Principe in Columbia, Missouri, secured the Best Projects award for the Midwest Region 2023. Stellar's design-build expertise and JBS USA's commitment to innovation and efficiency enabled them to build a new state-of-the-art Italian meat and charcuterie production facility that maximized Principe’s growth potential.

Valued at $200 million, JBS Prepared Foods – Principe features ready-to-eat (RTE) food areas utilizing cutting-edge automation technology to set new industry standards for product peeling and packing. The new Principe plant has also contributed to creating over 100 new jobs in the Columbia community and specializes in producing a range of meat products, including salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, pancetta, and coppa.

The judging panel for this year's ENR Midwest Best Projects Awards comprised distinguished industry experts, each with a deep understanding of construction excellence. To ensure a fair and impartial evaluation process, judges refrained from voting in categories where their firms had an entry or involvement with a submitted project. The additional winners of the Best Projects will be featured in a special editorial section in the November issue of Engineering News-Record.

"At Stellar, our core commitment revolves around responsible operations, prioritizing our people, clients, communities, and the environment. We have always seen our role as not just safeguarding the environment by building and designing award-winning facilities but also enriching the lives of those around us. This plant reflects our dedication to creating a positive impact for our employees, clients, and communities, regardless of a project’s size, timeline, or location.” says Jim Oko, Project Executive at Stellar.

About Engineering News-Record (ENR):

Engineering News-Record provides the engineering and construction news, analysis, commentary, and data that construction industry professionals need to do their jobs more effectively. ENR reports on the top design firms, both architects and engineers and the top construction companies, as well as projects in the United States and around the world. ENR’s products include a print and digital magazine (26 issues), a website, ten regional newsletters, ten topical newsletters, webinars, videos, podcasts, and 19 in-person events. The audience includes contractors, project owners, engineers, architects, government regulators, and industry suppliers—many of whom work globally. ENR connects diverse industry sectors with coverage that everyone needs about issues such as business management, design, construction methods, technology, safety, law, legislation, environment, and labor.

About Stellar:

Stellar is a fully integrated design, engineering, construction, refrigeration, and mechanical services firm serving commercial, industrial, and public sector markets across the United States. Over 750 Stellar employees create award-winning food processing plants, refrigerated warehouses, distribution centers, commercial buildings, and military facilities. In addition to its Jacksonville, Florida, headquarters, Stellar offers service and support locations throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.stellar.net.