LERA wins ACEC New York 2026 Diamond Award for Merdeka 118

Manhattan, NY LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA) received the top honor Diamond Award at the 2026 ACEC New York Engineering Excellence Awards for its work on the structural systems design of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The award was presented during the ACEC New York Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on April 18, 2026, and accepted on behalf of LERA by John Pugh, Eddy Roberts, and Jeff Villacres. Pugh will retire this June after a 48 year career at LERA working on some of the firms most distinguished projects including Merdeka 118, in Kuala Lumpur, the Bank of China in Hong Kong, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Lotte Tower is Seoul, South Korea and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts due to open later this year in Los Angeles, CA.

LERA led the structural design of the mega-tall development. Standing at 2,228 ft. with 118 stories, Merdeka 118 is officially the second tallest building in the world. Designed by Melbourne-based architect Fender Katsalidis along with collaborating engineer Robert Bird Group, the sophisticated structure presents significant structural and engineering challenges associated with the design and construction of a supertall tower in a dense urban environment. 

The ACEC New York Engineering Excellence Awards recognize outstanding achievements in engineering that demonstrate innovation, complexity, value, and a high degree of technical accomplishment. The Diamond Award represents the competition’s highest level of recognition.

LERA Consulting Structural Engineers is an M/WBE structural engineering firm providing services to architects, owners, contractors, and developers. Since its founding in 1923, the firm has designed numerous landmark projects around the world and established a strong reputation for design and technical excellence. LERA’s services include complete structural design, feasibility studies, peer reviews, value engineering, blast analysis and design, forensic consulting, and special inspections. Headquartered in New York City, LERA also operates offices in Salt Lake City, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Seoul. and has completed projects in more than 60 countries.