Forget the judges’ panel. Twelve architecture and engineering firms earn top honors based on actual performance data from BQE CORE.
TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The best-run businesses in architecture and engineering have been revealed. 12 firms have won 2026 Operational Excellence Awards, with 24 more earning honorable mentions, in a program that celebrates the business behind the buildings. The awards are presented by BQE Software, Inc., the leading business management platform for architecture and engineering firms.
Countless awards recognize great architecture and engineering. The Operational Excellence Awards are different because they are decided by real, quantifiable business data, with no nominations, subjective judging, or popular vote. Every honoree runs its firm on BQE CORE and opted in to be evaluated on its actual performance data within the platform, using benchmarking metrics tied to profitability, efficiency, financial strength, client value, and employee productivity.
Architecture and engineering firms were evaluated separately, with one winner and two honorable mentions per industry in each of six categories.
The 2026 winners are:
Profitability & Growth Award
Architecture: Butler Armsden Architects. Honorable mentions: ID & Design International; Alloy Architecture.
Engineering: Mbroh Engineering. Honorable mentions: Trotter and Associates; PRVN Consultants.
Operational Efficiency Award
Architecture: STITCH Design Shop. Honorable mentions: ARKO Architecture; Evergreen Design Group.
Engineering: Clark Land Resources. Honorable mentions: Edwin Hancock Engineering Co.; Kurt Fischer Structural Engineering.
Financial Health Award
Architecture: JP Architecture and Design. Honorable mentions: Summerour Architects; Meier Architects.
Engineering: QSPEC Solutions. Honorable mentions: Avalon Mechanical Consultants; C-P Systems Corporation.
Client Value Award
Architecture: Hereford Dooley Architects. Honorable mentions: ADM Group Inc; Risepointe.
Engineering: Arc Surveying & Mapping Inc. Honorable mentions: Edison Engineers Inc.; VP Engineering.
Talent Productivity Award
Architecture: Brandstetter Carroll. Honorable mentions: Abacus Architects; Forge Craft Architecture + Design.
Engineering: Shear Structural. Honorable mentions: Contour Engineering; Arrow Consulting Group.
Balanced Excellence Award
Architecture: DMS design, llc. Honorable mentions: Webber + Studio, Inc.; Collaborative Design Architects.
Engineering: Northeast Infrastructure. Honorable mentions: Dynotec Inc; Globex Corporation.
Each category weighs several metrics in combination, considering datapoints such as profit per FTE, profit margin, multiplier achieved, realization rate, utilization, collection period, and backlog. The strongest firms manage these factors together, enabling them to understand what is happening across their projects and make timely business decisions that benefit their employees, collaborators, and clients.
“I believe that delivering great architecture and engineering is unlocked through a well-run business. These firms know their numbers, they act on them early, and the results show up for their clients and their teams. We’re proud that they run their firms on BQE CORE,” said Matt Cooper, CEO.
The complete list of 2026 winners and honorable mentions is available here. For firms looking to follow in the winners’ footsteps, the path starts with better visibility into their business. Firms can schedule a live demo of BQE CORE and take the first step toward next year’s list.
About BQE Software
BQE Software is the developer of BQE CORE, an all-in-one project management, time tracking, billing, and accounting platform purpose-built for architecture and engineering firms. BQE CORE helps thousands of A&E professionals worldwide run more profitable, efficient practices with real-time visibility into projects, people, and financial performance. Learn more at https://www.bqe.com.
Media Contact
Paul Keskeys, Director of Campaigns and Content, BQE Software
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SOURCE BQE Software
