Aday & Associates, a Round Rock, Texas commercial design-build contractor, has earned first place in the Church/Religious category of American Buildings’ prestigious 2026 Excellence in Design Awards — one of the metal building industry’s most competitive annual programs — for their work on the Hutto Bible Church project. Out of approximately 100 submissions reviewed by judges this year, the Hutto Bible Church stood out for its combination of aesthetic appeal, structural craftsmanship, and practical functionality.
What Is the American Buildings Excellence in Design Award?
The Excellence in Design Award is an annual competition hosted by American Buildings, a Nucor brand with more than 75 years in the metal building industry. The program recognizes Authorized American Builders who demonstrate creativity, technical skill, and innovation across a wide range of project types. Categories span Agricultural, Auto Dealership, Church/Religious, Commercial, Community/Government, Manufacturing/Industrial, Office, Recreation, Retail, Special Projects, Transportation, and Warehouse/Distribution. First-place winners in each category are then nominated for the overall Building of the Year recognition.
This year’s Building of the Year (Gold) went to Rock Lititz POD 1B Clair Global in Lititz, PA, built by E.H. Beiler Industrial Services. The Silver award went to Papillion Sanitation in Bellevue, NE, and the Bronze was awarded to Martin County Event Center in Stanton, TX.
Did You Know? Judges reviewed nearly 100 project submissions for the 2026 Excellence in Design program, making a first-place category win a genuinely competitive achievement.
Hutto Bible Church: A Project Built on Purpose
The Hutto Bible Church project reflects exactly what Aday & Associates brings to every build — a deep commitment to quality craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and on-time delivery. Located in the fast-growing Hutto, Texas area near Round Rock, the project required balancing strong visual appeal with the practical demands of a working religious facility serving an active congregation.
Metal building systems were selected for their flexibility and long-term durability, giving the design team the structural freedom to create spaces that feel welcoming and purposeful — from the worship center to community areas. The result is a building that serves its congregation well while meeting the aesthetic standards that earn industry recognition.
Why Design-Build Works for Church Construction
What made this project possible from day one was the design-build delivery model. What is design-build? Design-build is a construction approach where one firm handles both the design and construction phases under a single contract, creating tighter coordination, faster timelines, and better budget control.
For faith-based organizations planning a new facility, this model offers real advantages. Leadership teams work with one point of contact throughout the entire process, from initial planning and preconstruction consulting through final construction. There’s no gap between what the architect designed and what the builder delivers — because it’s the same team.
Pro Tip: If your organization is planning a new church or community facility, ask prospective contractors how they handle coordination between design and construction. A true design-build firm eliminates the costly miscommunication that often develops when these two phases are managed separately.
A Track Record Built in Texas
Aday & Associates has been delivering commercial construction projects across Texas since 2009. Founded by Temple Aday, a Texas A&M graduate with more than 40 years of commercial construction experience, the firm has completed dozens of projects including office buildings, retail centers, banks, churches, and industrial facilities throughout the state.
Their commercial general contracting services cover the full project lifecycle — from dirt work and site utilities to concrete, structural framing, and final build-out. That end-to-end capability is a big reason clients trust them with complex, high-visibility builds like Hutto Bible Church.
The firm was also awarded Best of Round Rock 2025 in the Construction Category, a recognition that reflects their reputation within the Central Texas community they’ve served for more than 16 years.
What Sets an Award-Winning Contractor Apart
Most commercial construction projects aren’t judged by industry panels. But the principles that earn awards are the same ones that protect owners on every project. They include accurate preconstruction planning, honest budget management, skilled subcontractor coordination, and attention to the details that keep a build on schedule.
At Aday & Associates, preconstruction consulting is treated as one of the most valuable phases of any project. Getting the site work, utility planning, and structural decisions right before breaking ground is what keeps costs predictable and timelines intact.
Did You Know? Religious construction spending in the U.S. reached $4.793 billion in mid-2025, a more than 20% year-over-year increase — meaning more faith-based organizations than ever are investing in purpose-built facilities.
The Full List of 2026 Excellence in Design Winners
American Buildings announced winners across all 12 project categories this year. In addition to Aday & Associates’ first-place win in Church/Religious, the full list of category first-place winners includes:
- Agricultural: United Cooperative — Waupun, WI (Keller, Inc.)
- Auto Dealership: Bell Ford — Arlington, WI (Keller, Inc.)
- Church/Religious: Hutto Bible Church — Round Rock, TX (Aday & Associates)
- Commercial: Inland Truck Parts & Service Center — Shreveport, LA (Hand Construction LLC)
- Community/Government: Martin County Event Center — Stanton, TX (Butler-Cohen Design + Build)
- Manufacturing/Industrial: Papillion Sanitation — Bellevue, NE (K.C. Petersen Construction Co.)
- Office: ABC Office Headquarters — Madison, WI (Advanced Building Corporation)
- Recreation: WSFS Bank Sportsplex (Philadelphia Union) — Chester, PA (Building Concepts of America, Inc.)
- Retail: Esh’s Grocery — Windsor, CO (Traverse Builders, LLC)
- Special Projects: Rock Lititz POD 1B Clair Global — Lititz, PA (E.H. Beiler Industrial Services, LLC)
- Transportation: Wicomico Regional Airport — Salisbury, MD (Bob Breeding General Contractors, Inc.)
- Warehouse/Distribution: Pitt Plastics Warehouse — Pittsburg, KS (Koehn Construction Services)
Pro Tip: When evaluating a commercial contractor for your next project, ask whether they’ve completed work in your specific building category — whether that’s a church, office, or retail space. Category-specific experience matters more than general volume alone.
Building What Matters in Central Texas
The 2026 Excellence in Design award is a meaningful milestone, but it’s also consistent with the work Aday & Associates delivers every day. From site utilities and concrete work to full design-build general contracting, their team approaches every project — award-winning or not — with the same level of care and accountability.
For faith-based organizations, commercial developers, and business owners across Texas who want a contractor with proven credentials and a genuine commitment to quality, this recognition is one more reason to call Aday & Associates first.
Ready to start planning your next commercial project? Contact Aday & Associates today to schedule a free consultation and learn how their design-build approach can deliver better results on your timeline and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the American Buildings Excellence in Design Award? The Excellence in Design Award is an annual competition from American Buildings that recognizes Authorized Builders for outstanding commercial metal building projects across 12 categories. Judges evaluate creativity, craftsmanship, and performance, with top category winners nominated for overall Building of the Year honors.
What did Aday & Associates win the award for? Aday & Associates won first place in the Church/Religious category of American Buildings’ 2026 Excellence in Design program for their work on the Hutto Bible Church project located in the Hutto, Texas area near Round Rock.
Does Aday & Associates build churches in Texas? Yes. Aday & Associates is an experienced Texas design-build contractor with a track record of completing church and religious facility projects across the state. Their full-service approach covers everything from preconstruction planning and site work to structural build-out and final completion.
What is a design-build contractor? A design-build contractor manages both the design and construction phases of a project under one contract. This approach reduces communication gaps, speeds up project timelines, and gives owners a single point of accountability from start to finish.
How do I hire a commercial contractor in Texas for a church project? Start by looking for contractors with direct experience in faith-based or commercial construction in Texas. Verify their project portfolio, ask about their preconstruction process, and confirm they offer design-build services if you want unified oversight. Aday & Associates offers free consultations for Texas commercial projects.