Washington, D.C. - September 16, 2008 - The National Building Museum presented the 2008 Henry C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction Technology to Charles H. Thornton, Ph.D., P.E., co-founder of Thornton Tomasetti, Inc., the international engineering design firm and founder of the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program of America, on September 9th at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

The Henry C. Turner Prize, named after the founder of Turner Construction Company, recognizes an invention, an innovative methodology, and/or exceptional leadership by an individual or team of individuals in construction technology. Since its inception in 2002, the Turner Prize has been awarded to structural engineer Leslie E. Robertson, architect I.M. Pei, engineer and builder Charles A. DeBenedittis, U.S. Green Building Council, Paul Teicholz, and, most recently, Gehry Partners and Gehry Technologies. The Prize carries a cash award of $25,000 from an endowment established by Turner Construction Company.

There is a growing recognition within the building industry that there is a labor shortage in the fields of architecture, construction, and engineering. Through his inspirational work in founding the ACE Mentor Program, Thornton introduces high school students-the nation's future workforce-to careers in the building arts and sciences. ACE and Thornton have worked to connect students with mentors in the profession and provide college scholarships.

From modest beginnings, Thornton has helped grow the ACE Mentoring Program of America into a national program with affiliate organizations in 31 states, and involvement of 45,000 students nationwide. The program's mission is to enlighten and increase the awareness of high school students to career opportunities in architecture, construction and engineering and related areas of the design and construction industry through mentoring; and to provide scholarship opportunities for students in an inclusive manner reflective of the diverse school population.

Jury chair Norbert W. Young, Jr., FAIA, president of McGraw-Hill Construction, said, "ACE's partnership with industry professionals who collaborate to attract high school students to their professions sets Thornton and ACE apart in the effort to curb the anticipated industry workforce shortage."

Peter J. Davoren, president and CEO of Turner Construction Company commended the selection, saying "Thornton's leadership of the ACE Mentor Program is providing an impressive pool of talent for the industry for years to come. Approximately 35,000 students have had an opportunity to explore the construction industry through ACE. An additional 10,000 students are participating in the 2008-2009 school year alone. This success makes Thornton very deserving of the honor as the 2008 recipient of the Turner Prize."

Following the award ceremony, Thornton offered a presentation about founding the ACE Mentor program and his thoughts on the future of the building industry. Young then led a discussion on the topic with architect Jon Pickard, Thornton and Davoren.

For more than five decades, Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. has devised engineering solutions for globally iconic skyscrapers, stadiums, museums, health care and airport facilities, and has been a leader in forensic engineering, historical preservation and building information modeling. Throughout his career as a structural engineer, Thornton has been involved in the engineering of hospitals, arenas, high-rise buildings, airports and transportation facilities worldwide. His expertise extends to the areas of collapse and structural failure analysis.

Dr. Thornton is also chairman emeritus of the Salvadori Center, a nonprofit educational organization in New York that guides thousands of young people toward careers in architecture, engineering and construction.

About National Building Museum (www.nbm.org)
The National Building Museum is America's leading cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and planning. Chartered by Congress in 1980 and open to the public since 1985, the Museum has become a vital forum for exchanging ideas and information about the built environment through its exhibitions, education programs, and publications. The Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission is free. Museum Shop. Café. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org.

About Thornton Tomasetti (www.ThorntonTomasetti.com)
Thornton Tomasetti provides building engineering services to clients worldwide on projects of all sizes and complexity. From the tallest buildings and the longest spans, to innovative building systems and materials, the firm is committed to creating the best solutions through its technical ingenuity, pursuit of excellence, and responsiveness to client needs.

Founded in 1956 as Lev Zetlin & Associates, today Thornton Tomasetti is a 650-person organization of engineers and architects, collaborating from offices across the United States and in Hong Kong, London, Moscow, and Shanghai. Services cover structural design, building evaluation, and remediation to optimize building efficiency and performance. Thornton Tomasetti mobilizes rapidly to provide disaster response investigations, and deliver expert consulting services and testimony for legal and insurance purposes.

Contact
Great Ink Communications - 212-741-2977
Roxanne Donovan/Eric Gerard/Deborah Geiger

Thornton Tomasetti - 917-661-7800
James M. Kent, JKent@ThorntonTomasetti.com