The Concrete Society of Southern Africa (CSSA) has officially launched the 2027 Fulton Awards, calling on the construction industry to submit concrete
The Concrete Society of Southern Africa (CSSA) has officially launched the 2027 Fulton Awards, calling on the construction industry to submit concrete projects that have pushed the boundaries of technical excellence, innovation and craftsmanship over the past two years.
For more than four decades, the biennial Fulton Awards have celebrated projects that showcase the versatility and potential of concrete, while recognising the collaborative efforts of the professional teams responsible for bringing these exceptional projects to life.
Named in honour of the late Dr Sandy Fulton, one of South Africa’s foremost concrete pioneers and a founding force behind the Concrete Society, the awards recognise his outstanding contribution to advancing concrete technology and construction throughout Southern Africa.
What began with just two award categories has evolved into one of the built environment’s most prestigious industry accolades. Over the years, the judging criteria have continually evolved to reflect advances in engineering, sustainability, durability, architectural excellence and innovation.
Previous winners have included landmark commercial developments, iconic bridges, major dams, sophisticated industrial facilities, innovative water infrastructure and architectural masterpieces. The 2027 Fulton Awards promise to continue this proud tradition.
The 2027 programme invites nominations for projects completed, or substantially completed, between January 2025 and December 2026 anywhere within the SADC region.
Projects will compete in the following five categories
Buildings up to R50 million
Buildings over R50 million
Infrastructure up to R100 million
Infrastructure over R100 million
Innovation and Invention in Concrete
The Innovation and Invention in Concrete category recognises advances in research, new technologies, construction techniques, applications, design methodologies and innovative concepts that have successfully advanced the use of concrete in practice.
Should sufficient rehabilitation projects be entered, the judging panel may introduce an additional category recognising excellence in concrete rehabilitation. The judges also reserve the right to introduce further categories where warranted by the quality and diversity of the submissions received.
While engineering excellence remains at the heart of the Fulton Awards, the judges continue to emphasise that the most successful entries are those in which concrete is celebrated rather than concealed.
Projects that demonstrate outstanding structural design, innovative construction methods, exceptional surface finishes, architectural expression and creative detailing are likely to receive greater recognition than projects where concrete serves purely as a hidden structural element.
Independent Judging Process
As with previous Fulton Awards, all entries will undergo a rigorous multi-stage adjudication process.
Initial nominations will be evaluated by the independent adjudication panel of highly respected professionals representing the concrete and built environment sectors, including specialists in concrete materials, architectural concrete and structural engineering.
Based on the information submitted during the nomination stage, the judges will determine which projects will be invited to submit a full Entry Package for the final adjudication process. Shortlisted projects will then undergo comprehensive technical evaluation, including site inspections where applicable, before the winners are selected.
Important Dates
The CSSA has announced the following programme for the 2027 Fulton Awards:
Nominations close: Monday, 31 August 2026
Formal submissions close: Monday, 30 November 2026
Project adjudication: February – March 2027
Fulton Awards Gala Evening: Saturday, 5 June 2027
The Society emphasises that the deadline for the formal Entry Pack submission is final, and late entries will unfortunately not be accepted.
