This year’s winners prove marketing done right delivers higher margins and stronger growth.
Zweig Group’s 2025 Marketing Excellence Award winners prove that strategic marketing isn’t just creative – it’s profitable.
Each year, the Marketing Excellence Awards celebrate the most innovative and effective marketing campaigns in the AEC industry. The program recognizes outstanding achievements across 10 categories, including brand identity, drone video, publication, and more. Every submission is evaluated by a panel of industry experts for creativity, effectiveness, and alignment with business goals.
The 2025 winners once again demonstrated the power of marketing to drive measurable results – fueling growth, profitability, and visibility across an increasingly competitive landscape. Zweig Group’s research shows a clear connection between marketing investment and firm performance. Nearly all award-winning firms (97%) reported revenue growth over the past three years. Almost half (46.7%) saw fast growth of 20% or more, and more than 56% achieved very high profit margins of 15% or greater, well above the industry average. These firms aren’t just growing – they’re thriving.
Even in a shifting economic environment, consistent marketing investment continues to deliver stability. Fifty percent of winners reported steady, moderate growth, showing that firms committed to brand-building and communication weather change more effectively. That growth extends beyond revenue, too – 26.7% of winners increased their staff by 20% or more over the same period, proving that strong marketing supports recruitment, retention, and firm culture.
The business case for creativity.
For the AEC industry, marketing is no longer optional – it’s essential. Firms that view marketing as a strategic investment rather than a cost are seeing the returns in client engagement, brand equity, and profitability.
The winning campaigns reveal a shared truth: great marketing starts with purpose. Whether it’s telling a firm’s story through digital media, reimagining how proposals communicate value, or creating campaigns that celebrate people and culture, these firms have shown that creativity backed by strategy drives results. The best marketing doesn’t just showcase projects – it builds relationships, communicates expertise, and strengthens the firm’s position in the market.
The People’s Choice Award.
Zweig Group is also proud to announce the 2025 People’s Choice Award winner: Calibre, recognized for its innovative Gateway to Adventure campaign. The immersive, storytelling-driven proposal transformed a traditional RFP response into a 64-page travel magazine experience – winning a $2.2 million contract and proving that even a small firm can outshine global competitors with creativity and vision.
Voted on by peers and the public, the People’s Choice Award was announced live at the 2025 ElevateAEC Awards Gala in San Antonio, Texas, where Calibre was honored for its exceptional achievement.
Why marketing matters more than ever.
This year’s winners underscore a key lesson: marketing excellence directly supports business excellence. Firms that invest in marketing – building teams, dedicating budgets, and treating communication as strategy – see higher profits, stronger brands, and more resilient growth.
Zweig Group’s data reinforces what the winners already know: effective marketing drives measurable business outcomes. It builds trust, supports recruiting and retention, and creates visibility that opens doors to new opportunities. In today’s market, great marketing isn’t just about differentiation – it’s about direction.
See the 2025 winners.
The 2025 Marketing Excellence Award winners exemplify the creativity, innovation, and strategic thinking that define the future of AEC marketing. To see what the best of the best are doing – and to get inspired for your firm’s next big move – explore the full showcase of this year’s winning campaigns.
Looking for more data on AEC marketing performance?
Dive deeper with Zweig Group’s newly released 2025 Marketing & Business Development Report – the industry’s most comprehensive look at how AEC firms structure, staff, and invest in marketing and BD. Featuring more than 100 data points,
this report reveals how top-performing firms are allocating budgets, leveraging technology, and measuring ROI in today’s competitive landscape. Explore the full report and access benchmarks, trends, and insights to guide your marketing strategy for 2025 and beyond.
Mailena Urso is chief marketing officer at Zweig Group. Contact her at murso@zweiggroup.com.
