1. Program Overview
The Construction Specifier 2026 Top Firms program (the “Program”) recognizes architecture, engineering, and specification practices that are setting the standard for firms in the United States. The Program is administered by Kenilworth Media Inc., publisher of The Construction Specifier (“Administrator”).
2. Eligibility
2.1 Firm Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the Program, a firm must:
- Be an architecture, engineering, or specification practice.
- Be based and operating in the United States of America.
- Be in good standing as a business entity at the time of submission and throughout the evaluation period.
2.2 Submission Eligibility
Submissions must be made by an authorized representative of the entering firm. Each firm may submit one entry per program cycle. Submissions made on behalf of another firm without express authorization will be disqualified.
3. Entry Requirements
3.1 Submission Period
The 2026 Top Firms submission portal is open as of the date of first public announcement. The final deadline for submissions is:
Monday, August 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time
3.2 Entry Fee
An introductory entry fee of $100.00 USD per firm is required to complete a submission. Payment is accepted by Visa and Mastercard. Entry fees are non-refundable once a submission has been completed and payment confirmed, regardless of whether the firm is selected for inclusion on the Top Firms list. The entry fee may increase at any time without prior notice during the Submission Period.
3.3 Submission Materials
Entrants must complete the official entry form available at the Program’s submission portal. Required materials include firm profile information, a project example, and supporting documentation as specified in the entry form.
Images submitted must meet the following technical requirements:
- Minimum size: 8.5 × 11 inches
- Minimum resolution: 300 dpi (print-quality)
- Accepted file formats as specified in the entry form
Submissions that do not meet technical requirements may be disqualified or returned for correction at the Administrator’s discretion, provided time permits prior to the deadline.
4. Evaluation and Selection
4.1 Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the editorial staff of The Construction Specifier and a panel of industry judges. Evaluation is based on demonstrated performance across the following areas:
- Technical excellence in project delivery
- Company culture and benefits
- Community involvement
The Administrator reserves the right to assess additional criteria it deems relevant to recognizing firms that set the standard for technical delivery in the AEC industry.
4.2 No Guarantee of Inclusion
Submission and payment of the entry fee do not guarantee inclusion on the 2026 Top Firms list. The Top Firms list is not an award conferred automatically upon all entrants. The Administrator retains sole discretion over the selection and composition of the final list. Not all submitted firms will be featured.
Firms not selected for the 2026 list are encouraged to apply in future program cycles.
5. Notification and Publication
Selected firms will be notified by the editorial team of The Construction Specifier via the contact information provided in the submission. Recognition will be published in The Construction Specifier December 2026 issue and/or digital formats.
By submitting an entry, firms grant Kenilworth Media Inc. a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the firm’s name, logo, submitted images, and project information for editorial and promotional purposes in connection with the Program. You also grant a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the firm’s any submitted project images in The Construction Specifier editorial content, both in print and online. This may include, but is not limited to, using these photos on the cover of future issues.
6. General Conditions
- The Administrator reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the Program at any time without prior notice.
- Entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or fraudulent will be disqualified. The Administrator reserves the right to verify all information provided in a submission.
- The Administrator’s decisions regarding eligibility, evaluation, and selection are final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into regarding individual selection outcomes.
- Entrants are responsible for ensuring that all submitted materials, including images and project descriptions, do not infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties.
- Personal information submitted as part of an entry will be collected, used, and stored in accordance with the Kenilworth Media Inc. Privacy Policy, available at www.kenilworth.com/privacy-policy/.
7. Contact
Questions regarding the Program, eligibility requirements, or submission requirements should be directed to:
Jason Cramp, Executive Editor
The Construction Specifier
jcramp@constructionspecifier.com
