2011 Engineering Excellence Awards Winners
Thank you to all the entrants of the 2011 Engineering Excellence Awards. While all the entries were outstanding, this year's winners are:
ACEC of Arizona Community Service Award
For Encouraging and Providing Volunteer Opportunities
Judges were unanimous in selecting AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc,, as the first recipient of the ACEC of Arizona Community Service Award. the award recognizes firms that encourage and provide exceptional community service through volunteering, pro bono services, outreach educational programs, and other humanitarian needs.
On April 2, 2011, AMEC teamed with Rebuilding Together to provide much needed repairs and improvements to the Gompers Habilitation Center. Volunteers helped dismantle and remove the outdated playground equipment; repainted hallways, accent walls, and curbing; decorated the music room; and painted three beautiful custom-designed paint-by-number murals. From jackhammers, Sawzalls, shovels, power tools and hand tools to paint brushes, rollers and sponges, AMEC made quick work of the various projects.
Thank You AMEC employees for supporting our community through volunteer service.
The Clifford Sawyer Achievement Award
For Promoting Communication of Engineering Excellence
To be able to engineer a substantial cost saving – two for the price of one – is a solution every client welcomes! The Deer Valley Road Improvements – 83rd to 91st Avenue panel’s clever use of graphics, photos, and dialog demonstrates how an innovative solution can save money.
In three succinct paragraphs, Premier Engineering Corporation outlined the project, the challenge, and the solution. The “two for the price of one” savings for the City of Peoria allowed funds budgeted for this project to be used to advance additional roadway improvements.
Thank You Premier Engineering Corporation for your engineering innovation and portrayal of engineering excellence!
Judges Choice Award
AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc.
Client: Arizona Department of Transportation
US 93, Hoover Dam to MP 17
Timing of the widening of US 93 to four lanes between Hoover Dam and Kingman was critical due to the completion of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. AMEC led the multidiscipline, multi-firm design team and facilitated continuous coordination. The project included over 3.5 million cubic yards of excavation, 138,000 tons of asphaltic concrete, 20,000 cubic yards of structural concrete, 2.9 million pounds of reinforcing steel, over 22 miles of guard rail, 4.5 miles of pipe, PLUS the first US Desert Big Horn Sheep overpasses and tortoise paths to enhance habitat connectivity and reduce mortality due to conflicts with vehicles. Inspired by the challenge, the project team remained committed to an expedited schedule.
Thank You AMEC Earth & Environmental for this remarkable work performed in a compressed timeframe!
2011 Engineering Excellence Grand Award Winning Projects
AECOM
Client: Arizona Department of Transportation
State Route 179. Oak Creek Village to City of Sedona
The path to upgrade a mostly two-lane highway linking Sedona and the spectacular Red Rock country with I-17 involved a multi-phased planning, design and construction process that lasted 7 years. AECOM led the effort which included 11 roundabouts, curb/gutter/sidewalk, raised medians, multi-use pathways, transit accommodations, drainage systems, 3 new roadway bridges, retaining walls, a bifurcated alignment through the Coconino National Forest, 2 new scenic pullouts, grade-separated trail and wildlife crossings, and wildlife catchments.
Thank You AECOM for these amazing context-sensitive solutions!
Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc.
Client: Frito-Lay, Inc.
Frito-Lay Casa Grande Biomass Boiler
For the Casa Grande biomass boiler project, Burns & McDonnell was selected to improve upon existing Frito-Lay plant steam systems that currently generate steam from coal and most recently biomass wood fuel supplies. The biomass boiler system improves the steam system performance and operating cost. Project innovations were realized by modifying existing plant infrastructure associated with steam support systems and minimized capital investments to boiler control system, boiler feed water system, and existing steam piping.
Thank You Burns & McDonnell for contributing to global sustainability efforts!
HDR Engineering, Inc.
Client: Central Federal Lands Highway Division
Geotechnical Investigation and Design of an ADA Trail for Mather Point
Through an innovative combination of traditional and non-traditional methods, the geotechnical recommendations delivered by HDR helped to guide the design and construction of an ADA-compliant trail at Mather Point at Grand Canyon National Park. Constraints had to be addressed including limited access and worker and public safety issues to obtain the necessary data from the rock samples for analysis. The data collected represents one of very few sources of well documented scientific data for the South Rim of the canyon.
Thank You HDR for enhancing the Grand Canyon experience for all visitors!
Jacobs Engineering Group
Client: City of Peoria
Beardsley Connector - Arizona's First "Texas U-Turn"
Arizona’s first “Texas U-Turn” provides residents in the northwest valley an efficient way to access SR 101L in a location where access was not previously planned. By shifting freeway ramps, Jacobs Engineering was able to reduce traffic volumes in the congested interchanges of 75th Avenue and Union Hills. Improvements included facilities for pedestrians, future development opportunities, features to enhance safety, and an aesthetically pleasing corridor.
Thank You Jacobs Engineering for a project symbolizing the visionary cooperation between a City and its community committed to smart growth.
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Client: Arizona Department of Transportation
State Route 88 Fish Creek Hill
Originally constructed in the 1930’s, the condition of various stone stacked retaining walls along SR 88 had greatly deteriorated. Kimley-Horn enthusiastically adopted ADOT’s goals of retaining the cultural significance of the route, providing reliable public transportation facilities, and maintaining public safety, all while minimizing potential impacts to area stakeholders. The ultimate design features not only improved the safety and functionality of this historic route, but also maintained the visual appeal and historic character of the road.
Thank You Kimley-Horn for preserving the picturesque Apache Trail.
Parsons Transportation Group Inc.
Client: City of Glendale
Multi-Use Bridge over State Route 101L at 63rd Avenue
The City of Glendale recognized the need to connect the neighborhoods at 63rd Avenue and in 2005 selected Parsons Transportation Group to develop final plans and obtain environmental clearance for a new pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly bridge. A cable-stayed bridge type was selected for its inherent aesthetic appeal. An at-grade pedestrian crossing of the frontage roads utilizes a new high-intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) traffic control system – the first on ADOT’s system.
Thank You Parsons Transportation Group for reconnecting neighborhoods that had been divided by a modern, urban freeway.
Ritoch-Powell & Associates
Client: City of Glendale
Sahuaro Ranch Park Sports Complex Improvements
The Sahuaro Ranch Sports Complex is the centerpiece of the City of Glendale’s Parks and Recreation program. The existing site was in need of significant improvements. Thorough engineering and planning analysis identified these issues. Ritoch-Powell utilized the latest 3D modeling technology to seamlessly integrate planning and engineering design solutions to transform the site into a multi-use, user-friendly facility. Sustainable design elements resolved complex drainage and accessibility issues reducing operations and maintenance costs.
Thank You Ritoch-Powell for restoring this community treasure.
Structural Grace, Inc.
Client: City of Phoenix Parks & Recreation
The Little Red Bridge at Encanto Park
In 2009 the last-of-its-kind wooden pedestrian bridge in Encanto Park was scheduled to be torn down. Structural Grace approached the City of Phoenix with a proposal to form a unique public-private partnership to build a replica “Little Red Bridge” at no cost to the City. Sundt Construction responded to the call for voluntary help to construct the bridge and ASCE’s Phoenix Branch Younger Member Forum added construction labor. Over the course of two weekends, volunteers came together to build the bridge.
Thank You Structural Grace for proving engineers do excellent community volunteer projects.
URS Corporation
Client: Arizona Department of Transportation
State Route 202L Red Mountain Freeway Design-Build
SR 202L design-build project encompassed a total of 10 miles of widening, including both sides of the Mile-Long Bridge over the Salt River and 18 other bridge structures. The extraordinary teamwork carried out during this $190M project between ADOT, Kiewit/Sundt Joint Venture, and the URS-led design team enabled issues to be identified, decisions made, and solutions implemented in a very efficient manner. The project ran smoothly, saved ADOT $20M, and was completed 8 months early.
Thank you URS for this greatly improved, aesthetically pleasing roadway in record time.
Wilson Engineers
Client: City of Phoenix
Ceer Valley Water Treatment Plant - East Basins Reconstruction Project
The Deer Valley WTP-East Basins Reconstruction Project by Wilson Engineers involved the design of a 100 MGD capacity WTP. It is the first and largest SBF/GAC Filter Adsorber facility in Arizona. The augmentation and reuse of the excavated native material for structural backfill was a sustainable and sound approach in terms of economics, limited transportation, and providing a sound footing for the new East Basins. Complexity is a common thread that connects the various stages of this project.
Thank You Wilson Engineers for helping the City of Phoenix implement this advanced technology.