The Colón Urban Renewal Projects and Line 2 of Panama's Subway were announced as winners in the eighth edition of the Global Best Projects award from the renowned American magazine Engineering News-Record (ENR).

The Urban Renovation of Colón received the award for "Best Global Project" in the Renewal/Restoration category, while the Subway Line 2 received the "Merit Award" in the Rail category.

The "Global Best Projects" seeks to reward projects and construction challenges completed in the year preceding the competition. For this edition, the construction of each participating project had to be completed between January 2019 and April 2020.

This year there were 30 winning projects, from 21 different countries, distributed over 6 continents. The jury responsible for the selection assessed the performance in safety, innovation, challenges, quality in design and construction, with special emphasis on global diversity with which the work teams were formed. They also considered how the projects benefit the local community and the construction industry in their country.

"In short, these awards are a recognition of the work and commitment of each of the members who have been part of the development of these projects, from concept to delivery. Every contribution is important and, thanks to the teams's great effort, we deliver works that stand out locally and internationally and benefit thousands of Panamanians. My congratulations to all the members who made this great achievement possible," said Pedro Pinheiro, director in Panama.

In previous years, works executed by OEC in Panama were also awarded in several categories of this important global competition, among which we can mention the projects of Urban Renewal in Curundú, Cinta Costera III, Sanitation of the City and Bay of Panama and Expansion of Tocumen International Airport, the latter in 2019.

This year, the eighth edition of the Global Best Projects Awards will be presented virtually. It will take place on September 17th and can be watched through the magazine's website.

Several OEC works around the world have been awarded the "Global Best Project" award in recent years or received merits. It is the fifth project carried out by the company in Panama to receive one of the most important awards in the world of engineering. See which projects have won in previous years:

• 2019 - In the Ports/Airports category, with the Expansion of the Tocumen International Airport;

• 2018 - Award of Merit for the Line 5 of the São Paulo Metro;

• 2017 - In the categories Aiports and Sports/Entertainment, with the RIOgaleão airports's new terminal and the development of Rio's Olympic Park;

• 2016 - Award of Merit in the Industrial category with Etileno XXI, in México;

• 2015 - Line 1 of Lima's subway (Peru), in the Rail category, and the Cinta Costera 3 Project in Panama in the Roads and Highways category;

• 2014 - Awarded in two categories: a Wastewater Treatment Plant in the project Panama City and Bay Sanitation, in the category Water/Residual Water, and the Curundú Project, in the Residential/Hospitality category;

• 2013 - Airports/Ports, with the North Terminal Miami International Airport project; in the Highways category, with the extension of the AirportLink Metrorail, in Miami; in the Environment category, for work on the Floodwall on the I-10 highway in New Orleans.

• 2012 - Given the ENR award for the southeast region of the US for the MIAMOVER, in the Rail category.