Dr. Paul Teicholz

Henry C. Turner Prize

February 1, 2007  

Dr. Paul Teicholz (right) and Bob Tatum discuss Teicholz’s research, career, and the future of the engineering industry during the 2006 Turner Prize ceremony.

© Mike Abbott Photography

The National Building Museum announced that Dr. Paul Teicholz is the fifth recipient of the Henry C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction Technology. The Prize was awarded to Teicholz for carrying the architecture, construction, and engineering fields into the information age through his development and integration of information technology into the building and design industries. For more than 40 years, Teicholz has worked in the academic and engineering industries, bridging cutting-edge research and real-life needs to create industry-wide improvements in project management, modeling, and business processes.

"Since the 1960s, Paul has influenced an entire industry and economy with his research and applications," said Chase Rynd, president and executive director of the Museum. "Paul’s achievements prove him an innovator in construction technology and an ideal recipient for the Turner Prize."

Teicholz began his career developing computer applications for the construction industry at Jacobs Associates. He later developed applications for all business areas at Guy F Atkinson Co., working as the information technology manager for over 20 years and overseeing the development and implementation of integrated accounting, manufacturing, cost, and engineering systems. In 1988, Teicholz founded the Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) at Stanford University, the premier research center for architecture and AEC computer applications. He is currently professor emeritus of civil engineering at Stanford University and a noted industry consultant. "Paul’s unique understanding of design and construction practices, coupled with his vision, intellectual ability, and commitment to advancing integration needs, sets him apart," said Bob Tatum, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and a member of the Turner Prize jury. "His leadership of CIFE resulted in a highly effective joint effort by industry professionals and researchers to develop and apply information technology."

Teicholz was named the Construction Management "Man of the Year" by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1985 and an "Innovator for Technology and Materials in the Construction Industry" by Engineering News-Record magazine in 1999. He was also awarded the Peurifoy Construction Research Award by the Construction Research Council of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1999 and elected to the Chi Upsilon engineering honor society at Cornell University.

On Thursday, February 1, 2007, the Museum presented its Henry C. Turner Prize to Dr. Teicholz at a public ceremony at Stanford University. Bob Tatum then lead Teicholz in a discussion of his research and career, and the future of the engineering industry.

"Innovation is critical to bringing our industry to the next level. For this reason, we have funded the Henry C. Turner endowment at the National Building Museum to celebrate and encourage the achievements by visionaries such as Dr. Paul Teicholz, whose work has not only impacted the architectural, engineering, and construction industries, but our daily lives, as well. Paul’s founding of the CIFE has inspired technological advances that allow our industry to build in ways never before possible. As the nation’s leading general builder and a member of CIFE, Turner believes Paul is very deserving of this honor as the fifth recipient of the Turner Prize," says Thomas C. Leppert, chairman and CEO of The Turner Corporation.

The Henry C. Turner Prize is named after the founder of Turner Construction Company, founded in 1902 in New York City. Founded in 2002, the Prize recognizes an invention, an innovative methodology, and/or exceptional leadership by an individual or team of individuals in construction technology. This includes construction techniques, innovations and practices, construction and project management, and engineering design. The Prize carries a cash award of $25,000 from an endowment established by Turner Construction Company.

The 2006 Henry C. Turner Prize jury was composed of five members—J. Robert Hillier, FAIA, founding partner of The Hillier Group, Princeton, NJ; Clyde B. Tatum, professor, department of civil and environmental engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA; Thomas R. Turner, vice president, national sales, Turner Construction Company, New York, NY; and Norbert W. Young, Jr., FAIA, president, McGraw-Hill Construction, New York, NY; and Scott Kratz, vice president for education, National Building Museum, Washington, DC.

The Henry C. Turner Prize is supported by an endowment from Turner Construction Company