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Quality
Each year, Pepper Indiana brings employees together to celebrate innovation, share lessons learned and reinforce our commitment to delivering quality on every project while having a little fun along the way. Now in its eighteenth year, the Quality Concept of the Year (QCOTY) event has become a highly anticipated tradition, showcasing the creative thinking and practical problem solving that drive our teams forward.
To learn more about the Quality program at Pepper and the QCOTY Awards, watch this video.
Quality can be "patriotic"
Our 2026 theme embraced the spirit of Quality 250, with a celebration worthy of America’s 250th birthday. Set against a White House–inspired stage complete with patriotic banners, American flags and energizing music, project teams went head to head in a friendly showdown, showcasing their strongest quality concepts. The excitement built as the audience played an active role casting votes, rallying behind their favorites and ultimately helping crown the final champion.
Each of the concepts included strategies to improve constructability, sustainability, safety and quality assurance through unique material choices or innovative techniques.
And the Winner Is...
Taking this year’s top prize was the PVC Temporary Handrail. By replacing traditional wood handrails with PVC, this solution eliminates splinters, removes the need for taping and reduces ongoing maintenance. The result is a cleaner, safer installation that saves time and labor while improving worker safety from start to finish.
The field of revolution-worthy competitors included the following submissions:
Oldcastle – Dallas | Unitized Glazing Approach - The team adopted a unitized glazing system to accelerate installation and improve coordination. This approach shortened the schedule by eight weeks and allowed glazing to be installed from inside the building, eliminating exterior coordination challenges and improving overall efficiency.
Automated Design Collaboration with Clarity and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) - To streamline early design collaboration, Pepper's virtual design and construction (VDC) team partnered with architect BSA’s BIM group to automate the model conversion process using Clarity and Autodesk Construction Cloud. Revit and Navisworks files are now automatically created, transferred and updated, allowing the team to review the latest design with a single click and saving hours each week on large, complex projects.
Community South Cancer Center | Robotic Layout - Using HP’s site print robotic layout system, the team delivered faster and more accurate wall and bulkhead layouts directly onto the concrete slab with permanent ink. This approach catches conflicts earlier, aligns with MEP layouts, supports prefabrication and opens opportunities to provide layout services for additional trades.
Veyor Digital Logistics - Veyor modernizes delivery and crane coordination with a digital platform that replaces whiteboards and paper schedules. Trade partners submit delivery requests through the app, Pepper approves them in real time and the team can manage logistics from anywhere—no trailer required.
Pour. Scan. Perfect. | Laser Scanning Wet Concrete - In partnership with Pepper's self perform group (SPG) Concrete, the team developed a method to laser scan concrete immediately after screeding. Within seconds, a heatmap reveals flatness issues so corrections can be made before the concrete cures, ensuring superior floor quality as proven on Project Tahoe.
Augmented Reality Installation Verification - An augmented reality (AR) system was developed using Trimble Connect and QR codes to project a location-based AR model on site. This allows teams to spot check installations, visualize the finished product and enhance owner communication—bringing quality control and clarity to an entirely new level.
1915 Window Opening Solution - To address poor existing substrates in a historic 1915 structure, the team engineered an 11-gauge sheet metal solution to span voids and provide consistent anchorage for glazing. This approach preserved critical limestone aesthetics, improved fastening reliability and provided a clean substrate for air- and vapor-barrier adhesion.
“Secretary of WAG Defense” | Medical Gas Protection - Recognizing the risk of trade damage, the team partnered with mechanical contractors to design protective framing around medical-gas-zone valve boxes. This proactive solution safeguards critical infrastructure and prevents costly leaks or depressurization events.
21st Century SWPP - This modern Site Wide Project Plan replaces paper boards with QR codes that provide instant access to drawings, permits and inspection logs. Documentation stays organized, current and accessible on site, making compliance easier for inspectors, subcontractors and project teams alike.
Rolls Royce Project | Strategic South Wall Framing - Faced with a complex fire-rated wall and sliding-door sequencing issue, the team reconfigured the wall into back-to-back cold-formed stud assemblies. This allowed one side to be finished on schedule while steel installation followed later, meeting owner milestones through creative coordination and cross-team problem solving.
Congratulations to all the teams who delivered exceptional work in this year’s competition. In the end, the true winners are our clients - those who are already benefiting from these quality innovations, and those who will continue to see their impact as these ideas become part of Pepper’s standards and practices.
