ICT receives 2025 IRTBA Sustainability Champion Award

Illinois Center for Transportation has been named the 2025 Sustainability Champion by the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association Sustainability Council, recognizing ICT’s leadership in advancing sustainable transportation research and practice.

The award was presented at IRTBA’s Annual Awards Ceremony on Dec. 11 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and was accepted on behalf of ICT by Director Imad Al-Qadi.

“We are honored and deeply appreciative of the IRTBA Sustainability Council’s acknowledgment of our efforts,” Al-Qadi said. “I look forward to celebrating with the broader industry community the achievements in Illinois.”

The Sustainability Champion Award recognizes individuals, companies and institutions that make outstanding contributions to sustainable design or construction practices within the transportation industry. ICT was selected for its broad-ranging research and real-world applications that enhance sustainability in transportation.

ICT’s work in sustainable design and construction includes improved mix design using locally sourced materials, energy harvesting from highway traffic, in-road electric vehicle charging, and other performance-based solutions.

IRTBA’s Annual Awards Ceremony brings together transportation and construction leaders from across the state, with more than 400 attendees at the ceremony and more than 1,200 participants at the reception and dinner that followed.

The award also reflects the Sustainability Council’s emphasis on collaboration with the academic community to advance sustainability goals through practical, data-driven research and implementation.