Knobelsdorff Wins 7 Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards for 2025
(Goodhue, Minn.) January 23, 2026 – KE has earned seven Excellence in Construction (EIC) awards for 2025, five of them at the highest level of distinction, from Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The awards recognize KE’s performance on complex, high-impact projects delivered across Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin, spanning industrial electrical, automation and controls, and renewable energy.
Presented by ABC Minnesota and North Dakota, ABC Wisconsin, and ABC Illinois, the Excellence in Construction Awards honor projects that demonstrate strong execution, safety performance, and craftsmanship. KE team members attended the ABC Minnesota and North Dakota Awards Gala and the ABC Wisconsin Awards Banquet earlier this year and will be recognized at the upcoming ABC Illinois Awards Gala.
“These awards reflect how we operate,” said Karl von Knobelsdorff, CEO of KE. “Our customers expect results, and our teams deliver exceptional work on schedule, under pressure, and without compromising safety or quality. This is what it looks like when you keep raising the standard.”
Award-Winning Projects
ALCIVIA
Industrial Electric and Automation and Controls Engineering
ABC Minnesota and North Dakota Top Eagle Award | ABC Wisconsin Top Crystal Award
KE delivered full electrical and automation systems for ALCIVIA’s greenfield heavy industrial facility as part of a multi-phase project exceeding $86 million. The scope included site-wide power distribution, automation infrastructure, and controls integration designed to support scalable production and long-term operational growth. The project required close coordination across phases to maintain schedule certainty while building a future-ready facility.
Marquis Energy
Industrial Electric
ABC Minnesota and North Dakota Top Eagle Award | ABC Illinois Top Award of Excellence
At Marquis Energy’s large-scale ethanol and energy facility, KE completed a contracted electrical scope valued at approximately $12 million within a project exceeding $400 million overall. KE’s work supported process expansion, on-site power generation, and operational reliability, all while coordinating within an active, highly complex industrial environment.
U.S. Solar
Renewable Energy and Power Services and Testing
ABC Minnesota and North Dakota Pyramid Award | ABC Illinois Top Award of Excellence
KE completed electrical installation, power services, and testing for a 10 MW solar field paired with a 5 MW battery energy storage system (BESS). Delivered on an accelerated schedule, the project supports grid reliability while advancing large-scale renewable energy production through integrated solar and storage capabilities.
Ash Grove
Industrial Electric
ABC Minnesota and North Dakota Honorable Mention
KE provided electrical services for facility upgrades at Ash Grove, supporting improved system reliability and performance. The work was completed within an active industrial environment, requiring detailed planning to maintain safety, minimize disruption, and meet operational demands.
Proven Performance, Looking Ahead
“The common thread across every one of these projects is execution,” von Knobelsdorff added. “We are trusted with critical infrastructure because we perform at a high level and we keep pushing that bar higher. That is how we help our customers level up.”
The ABC Excellence in Construction Awards recognize projects that demonstrate high standards in safety, craftsmanship, and execution. KE’s 2025 EIC honors build on continued recognition for safety leadership and ABC STEP status, Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status, and national recognition as a Top Performing U.S. Construction Company.
Past Excellence in Construction Awards
2019
Dundas Community Solar Garden
2020
Nautilus Solar
ADM Mendota
2021
Bushel Boy
Ball Corporation
2022
Dairy Farmers of America
2023
Shell Rock Soy Processing
2024
Hubbard Feeds
2025
ALCIVIA
Marquis Energy
U.S. Solar
Ash Grove