The Denny Regrade came in on the DJC list of top projects of the century in Washington State at number 7.

We have also compiled a list of the 25 oldest construction firms in the state. Many of these firms have spent the better part of this century constructing buildings, roads, bridges and dams that have helped Washingtonians enjoy a quality of life that most of us would agree is tough to beat.

With the help from some local architects and engineers, we've assembled a list of some of the most influential designers of the past century. Architects and engineers are the visionaries that shape the things we build, their legacy lives in the structures we all still benefit from today.

And finally, credit Where credit is due:

Paul Dorpat and Genevieve McCoy provided photos and information from their book "Building Washington, A History of Washington State Public Works," published by Tartu Publications; along with Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, editor of "Shaping Seattle Architecture," published by University of Washington Press.

DJC reporters who contributed to this special edition are Sam Bennett, Lisa Lannigan, Annu Mangat, Benjamin Minnick, Jon Savelle, Marc Stiles and Ragan Willis.

The projects of the 20th century that shaped Washington State ...

Project #1 - Grand Coulee still the mightiest of them all
It's little wonder that DJC readers tabbed Grand Coulee Dam as the Project of the Century. The dam generates more power than a million locomotives and is the third largest hydroelectric facility in the world.

Project #2 - The Space Needle: In a galaxy of its own
When Seattle businessman Edward E. Carlson became chair of the 1962 World's Fair, he wanted to dazzle the world with a Space-Age... something.

Project #3 - Boeing 747 Plant soars into 2000
In July of 1966, when Boeing announced that it would build the 747 airliner, it had no suitable site or building in which to construct the mammoth jets. So, first things first: Boeing had to build the world's most voluminous building.

Project #4 - Ship canal locks in top spot
Lake Washington Ship Canal sails into the next century as the canal most frequently used by recreational boaters in the country.

Project #5 - Narrows Bridge is awesome, both times around
When it was built, "Galloping Gertie" was the third longest suspension bridge in the country, connecting Tacoma and Gig Harbor on state Route 16 over a mile of water.

Project #6 - Lake Washington Bridge still wowing visitors
When Homer M. Hadley first presented the idea of a floating concrete bridge spanning Lake Washington, people thought the idea was all wet.

Project #7 - Denny Regrade: Hosing Seattle into shape
During the 1880s Seattle was racing toward new status as a major metropolis. City leaders and engineers were determined to create a prosperous town even if that meant changing the landscape to do it.

Project #8 - Cascade Tunnel bores a rock-solid spot in history
Stevens Pass is a favorite route for cross-state travelers, and a popular destination for skiers and hikers as well. But perhaps few people today realize that 74 years ago the pass was the scene of a herculean engineering effort -- one that ultimately sent trains rumbling through solid rock 1,000 feet below the chairlifts.

Project #9 - It struck out at the polls, but fans of Safeco Field still claim victory
Safeco Field was never supposed to be, at least not according to a slim majority of King County voters. But now that it's here, DJC readers are happy about it.

Project #10 - Columbia Basin Irrigation System: nearly 60 years of feeding Washington
Thanks to the Columbia Basin Irrigation System, more than 300 miles of canals irrigate over 600,000 acres with water from the Columbia River.

... and the designers and contractors that built them

The top 25 oldest constuction firms in Washington State
A look at some of Washington's oldest construction firms and the projects they built.

Some of the century's top architects and engineers
Whether it be a building, a bridge, a dam or a road, the projects of these architects and engineers helped shape our state over the past century and still have a tremendous impact on Washingtonians today.