Events & Awards

Events & Awards

Product of the Year

Product of the Year (POY)

The Consulting-Specifying Engineer Product of the Year program highlights some of the best new products in the mechanical, fire/life safety, electrical, lighting, plumbing, and related nonresidential building systems market. Qualified subscribers are asked to select products based on technological advancement, service to the industry, and market impact. The annual reader-choice program was created to provide Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s readers with information about the top new product in their fields.

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR RECOGNIZE THE NOMINATIONS FOR
THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

  • Actuators, Motors, Drives
  • Asset Management
  • Automated Processes
  • Control Systems
  • Electrical & Lighting
  • HVAC
  • I/O & Networking
  • Information Management
  • Mechanical
  • Plumbing
  • Power
  • Safety & Security
  • Sensors
  • Services
  • Software
  • Test & Measurement

KEY DATES:

  • Nominations open Oct. 1, 2025, and close Jan. 30, 2026.

RECOGNITION:
All nominations that meet the eligibility requirements are named Nominees. Nominees receive an official Nominee logo to use in marketing efforts promoting their status to customers. Nominees are listed in a special eBook released in March 2026.

Based on the voting results, one Most Valuable Product (MVP) winner will be named (the product that receives the most votes overall) and each category will have a declared Gold, Silver and Bronze winner. In the event of a tie, it is possible for more than one Gold, Silver or Bronze winner to be awarded in a category. All winners receive an official Gold, Silver, Bronze or MVP logo to use in marketing efforts promoting their status. Winners are featured in a special eBook released in June 2026.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Products nominated into the 2026 POY program must meet the following criteria:

  • Products must have been made first available for purchase in the North American market between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.
  • If the nomination is a new version of a previously available product, the nomination must represent a major modification or redesign of the product. New versions of software must offer new capabilities and significant enhancements.
  • Products must be available for purchase in the United States.
  • All information fields on the nomination form are completed and accurate regarding the product and the manufacturer.
  • Products for the 2026 POY program cannot have been previously nominated for the 2026 POY program.

40 Under 40

40 Under 40

Consulting-Specifying Engineer is dedicated to encouraging and recognizing the most talented young individuals in the engineering community supporting the building industry. We want to shape the future of young engineers, and will do so by recognizing and encouraging them through mentoring articles in the magazine, young engineer networking events and the 40 Under 40 program.

NOMINEES MAY COME FROM THE FOLLOWING
NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDING FIELDS:

  • Academia
  • Applications engineers for manufacturers
  • Architecture
  • Building/engineering product inventor/developer
  • Building/engineering product manufacturing
  • Commissioning agents
  • Construction
  • Construction management
  • Design/build
  • Engineering (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection,
    lighting, acoustic, etc.)
  • Facility management
  • Finance (related to construction)
  • Government (federal, state, local)
  • NGOs, membership, or trade association in the engineering field
  • Nonprofit environmental or development organizations
  • Project management
  • Researchers (in building/engineering field only).

KEY DATES:

  • Beginning Dec. 1, 2025, Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s 2026 40 Under 40 competition
    is open to engineering and building professionals from around the world who are 40 years
    old or younger as of May 1, 2026.

RECOGNITION:
The 40 Under 40 feature is scheduled for publication in May 2026. Those named to the list also will be highlighted in a nationally published press release that will be sent out the same day the print and digital magazine publishes. A package of congratulatory materials also will be sent to the 40 Under 40 award recipient.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Nominations will be judged by the editors of Consulting-Specifying Engineer and anonymous industry experts (many of whom are past 40 Under 40 winners), who will be looking for successful and well-rounded individuals 40 years old or younger (as of May 1, 2026). Some of the qualities and characteristics the judges will be looking for (in no particular order):

  • Academic training
  • Client relations
  • Community service
  • Dedication
  • Innovation
  • Inventiveness
  • Leadership skills
  • “People” skills/mentoring ability
  • Personal integrity
  • Professional service
  • Public speaking/presentation skills
  • Sustained career progress
  • Technical skills
  • Work/life balance.

MEP Giants

MEP Giants

The MEP Giants program lists the top 100 mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) and fire protection engineering firms in North America. The in-depth analysis of these firms appears in September/October and reveals what’s going on in the industry and how it has changed over the
past few years.

KEY DATES:
Submissions open Jan. 19, 2026, and close April 3, 2026.

COMMISSIONING GIANTS
The Commissioning Giants program lists the top North American
engineering forms that perform commissioning services on any level.

Feature article and full listing available in November/December.