The first Outstanding Achievement Awards presentation took place on 14 March 2011 at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in London. Eight infrastructure and civil engineering projects in the UK were presented with Outstanding Achievement Awards, with a further three projects picking up a total of nine Highly Commended trophies.

Thirty-four applications were shortlisted and a diverse group of projects were chosen by the judges for their demonstration of genuine excellence.

The eight winners were:

• Olympic Park (overall) – Project Management
• Olympic Park: Enabling Works (North and South Areas) – Land Use
• Olympic Park: Primary Foul Sewer and Pumping Station – Landscape
• A58 Blackbrook Diversion Scheme – Ecology & Biodiversity
• Parc Cybi – Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
• Harefield to Southall Gas Pipeline Project – Waste Management
• Moneymore Flood Protection Scheme – Effects on Neighbours
• Castleford Footbridge – Community Relations

The nine highly commended projects were:

• Cross Valley Link Road – Project Management
• Park for Truro – Landscape
• Park for Truro – Ecology & Biodiversity
• Olympic Park: Enabling Works (North and South Areas) – Ecology & Biodiversity
• Parc Cybi – Ecology & Biodiversity (water issues), Waste Management
• Granville Industrial Estate – Energy & Carbon (material use)
• Olympic Park: Enabling Works (North and South Areas) – Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
• Parc Cybi – Waste Management
• Moneymore Flood Protection Scheme – Community Relations

No awards or commendations were given in two categories – Energy & Carbon and Transport – due to the nature of the Outstanding Achievement Awards. The judges decided that if no project demonstrated pinnacle best-practice performance in the section applied for, then no Outstanding Achievement Award would be made. This decision of the judges reinforced the standing of the Outstanding Achievement Awards made.