The DEI Project of the Year Award recognizes willing teams that are exceptional at creatively and intentionally incorporating DEI initiatives in projects. Our President and CEO, Gordon Lansford, announced the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center as the 2024 DEI Project of the Year.
The Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center is a 1M SF, 21-story, 888-room hotel with 317K SF of convention center space. In addition to the 888 luxury guest rooms, the convention center includes three ballrooms totaling over 123K SF of ballrooms62K SF of meeting space, and resort-style amenities such as a resort pool with 100-seat pool bar, beach/splash pad, cabanas, spa, salon, and fitness center. The project includes 23K SF of commercial kitchen space over three stories. The facility is connected directly to a seven-level, 1,500-car parking garage that houses the primary dock for the convention center, also built by JE Dunn. The project serves as the anchor and hospitality destination within the Arlington Entertainment District, which includes Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
The project team went above and beyond to increase diverse trade partner participation and engage the community by facilitating intentional discussions with our client, majority firms, and the community.
In partnership with the client, we launched Minority Contractor Development (MCD) Lite. Trade partners participated in this project-specific, compressed version of our signature MCD Program by attending monthly lunch-n-learns facilitated by JE Dunn staff. As a result of the success of Loews project, MCD Lite is now included as a benefit in project pursuits.
Majority firms understood partnering with diverse trade partners was an expectation to work on the project. Every scope of the project had diverse trade partner participation, including scopes that had a diverse trade partner as the primary. We broke down large project packages to allow for maximum minority-/women-owned business (M/WBE) participation.
The project team was very creative with community engagement and outreach due to the project being awarded right before the COVID-19 pandemic. We held virtual outreach meetings with stakeholder groups. Once COVID restrictions were lifted, the project team partnered with Moment Connect and BUiLD ERGs to volunteer at Mission Arlington, an area nonprofit.
The project achieved 42.3% MWBE participation — 12.3% more than the 30% goal.
This Loews project is a strong example of the importance of working with diverse trade partners and having diverse project teams. Diversity brings broader perspectives and innovation; studies show that diverse teams tend to perform better. Inclusive environments enhance team collaboration and productivity. Our commitment to diversity positioned JE Dunn to win additional work for the client, including the Soy Cowboy restaurant and Go for Three Garage.
Arlington, Texas, is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse large cities in the U.S. Having a project with a diverse team, being built by diverse trade partners, demonstrates JE Dunn’s commitment to inclusion, which ultimately strengthens relationships with the community beyond contractual diversity goals.
Having diverse trade partners on our projects creates economic opportunities and a more inclusive construction industry. It’s bigger than a social good, it is a strategic advantage in delivering high quality, efficient, and community-centered projects as we strive to build authentic partnerships.
“We have been very fortunate to win many awards on this project, but this award means a little more,” said Vice President Jason Parker. “Hitting mandated M/WBE goals on a project and fostering longstanding partnership are two totally different things. When we took the extra step to host a project-specific Minority Contractor Development Program, I knew this project was going to be different. Helping others succeed is very rewarding, and I’m grateful I was able to have a hand in this project.”
Submissions for the 2025 DEI Project of the Year are due in early October, with the award being announced during the December All-Company Event. Work with your regional DEI Manager to learn more or recommend your project for consideration.
