BD+C's 40 Under 40 Frequently Asked Questions

Do you want to be part of Building Design+Construction’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024? Are you interested in nominating one of your colleagues?

Below are a series of Frequently Asked Questions regarding our 40 Under 40 program on topics ranging nomination eligibility to support materials required to materials due date.

Who can be nominated?

Building Design+Construction’s 2024 “40 Under 40” competition is open to AEC professionals from around the world who are under 40 years old as of August 31, 2024. Nominees may come from the following fields:

Academia
Architecture
Building product inventor/developer
Building product manufacturing
Construction
Construction management
Design/build
Engineering (M/E/P, structural, acoustic, etc.)
Facility management
Finance (related to construction)
Government (federal, state, local)
Interior design
Law (AEC oriented)
Marketing
NGOs, membership, or trade association in the building field
Nonprofit environmental or development organizations
Project management
Property ownership or management
Real estate development

Note: Individuals whose work is exclusively related to single-family housing or civil engineering are not eligible. Individuals who were previously nominated for BD+C’s “40 Under 40” competition but not selected are eligible. Individuals previously nominated and who were selected as one of BD+C’s “40 Under 40” are NOT eligible.

Can I nominate myself?

Yes. Don’t be bashful. If you’re under 40 (IMPORTANT: Nominees must be under the age of 40 as of August 31, 2024, to be eligible.) and believe you qualify, feel free to nominate yourself.

Can I nominate more than one person?

Yes. If you feel there are several individuals who truly deserve consideration, please submit their nominations. There is no limit to the number of submissions you can make, but please note that you’ll need to send supporting materials for all nominated individuals.

Is there a fee for making a nomination?

No. There is no fee associated with the “40 Under 40” recognition program.

How do I send in a nomination?

First, fill out the online entry form (include information for the nominee and the individual submitting the form, if they are different).
Then, review the submission process and "How To Win" tips and advice sheet (on the same page).
Lastly, submit your written personal statement and supporting materials VIA EMAIL to qpurcell@sgcmail.com and dbarista@sgcmail.com. No hardcopies will be accepted. THESE ARE DUE May 17, 2024.

How do I know if my nomination went through? Will I receive a confirmation?

Yes. After submitting your entry information (via the online entry form), you should see a confirmation page (note: you will not receive an email confirmation, just a web page on BDCnetwork.com that confirms we received your entry). If you have concerns that your nomination did not go through, please email BD+C's Quinn Purcell: qpurcell@sgcmail.com.

Will I be notified if the person I nominate is selected?

Yes. BD+C will contact both the individual who submitted the form and the nominee(s).

Will I be notified if the person I nominate is NOT selected?

Yes. BD+C will contact whoever submitted the form and let them know if one of their nominees was not selected for this year's competition.

What are the criteria for selecting a "40 Under 40" winner and how does the selection process work?

Nominations will be judged by the editors of BD+C, who will be looking for successful and well-rounded individuals under 40 years old (IMPORTANT: Nominees must be under the age of 40 as of August 31, 2024, to be eligible). Some of the qualities and characteristics the editors will be looking for (in no particular order):

Leadership skills
Inventiveness
Sustained career progress
“People” skills
Client relations
Academic training
Dedication
Personal integrity
Technical skills
Community outreach/volunteer work

For more tips on how to win, see our "How to Win Tips Sheet"

What materials do I need to send in support of my nomination(s)?

A personal statement, plus a résumé or CV, plus supporting materials that make it easy for judges to see why your nominee is a standout in the AEC universe. The brief personal statement (1-2 pages, 500-1000 words) should touch on some (or all) of the following topics:

Career development
Education attainment/academic training
Service to professional organizations
Community service/volunteer work
Other evidence of exemplary professional or personal development
Off-the-clock hobbies and other interesting information that give us a picture of the whole person

For more tips on how to create a good personal statement, see our "How to Win Tips Sheet"

Additional supporting materials can/should include:

Nominee's résumé or CV. This is a REQUIRED element.
Descriptions of the nominee's work or projects – Important: Be sure to describe your role in the project ("Chief Designer," "Construction Manager," "Sustainability Consultant," etc.)
Reprints of articles about the nominee or the nominee's work
Firm brochures in which the nominee is mentioned
Newspaper or publication clippings about the nominee
Testimonials from clients or others familiar with the nominee's work
Awards received
Presentation materials

For more tips on how to win, see our "How to Win Tips Sheet"

When will the "40 Under 40" feature be published?

The “40 Under 40” feature is scheduled for publication in BD+C’s September/October 2024 issue. The online article featuring the entire list of winners will be posted around the same time.

How will the winners be honored?

In addition to coverage in the September/October 2024 issue of BD+C, the winners will be published on BDCnetwork.com and promoted via the BD+C Daily 5 newsletter and social media channels.

See examples of digitally published content below:

When are materials due for this year's competition?

Your personal statement and supporting materials must be sent VIA EMAIL to qpurcell@sgcmail.com and dbarista@sgcmail.com by May 17, 2024.