2018 ESE Projects
Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award

HNTB Michigan, Inc.
As part of Michigan’s first active traffic management (ATM) project, US-23 Flex Route, HNTB led the planning, design, and system management of the intelligent transportation system (ITS). The ATM will provide additional capacity during peak periods, improved incident response, speed harmonization, and advance notice to drivers of upcoming conditions.
As part of Michigan’s first active traffic management (ATM) project, US-23 Flex Route, HNTB led the planning, design, and system management of the intelligent transportation system (ITS). The ATM will provide additional capacity during peak periods, improved incident response, speed harmonization, and advance notice to drivers of upcoming conditions.
Surveying Eminent Conceptor Award

OHM Advisors
OHM Advisors documented the impacts of historic flooding on Midland County’s roads and bridges using unmanned aircraft system technology and advanced GIS software. This approach captured conditions not possible with traditional survey and produced detailed maps for analysis three times faster – allowing the engineering team to propose restoration solutions more quickly.
OHM Advisors documented the impacts of historic flooding on Midland County’s roads and bridges using unmanned aircraft system technology and advanced GIS software. This approach captured conditions not possible with traditional survey and produced detailed maps for analysis three times faster – allowing the engineering team to propose restoration solutions more quickly.
Engineering Honorable Conceptor Awards

HDR
Holland Energy Park is the city’s largest-ever public works project and the world’s first ISI Envision® Platinum-verified energy project. Completed on budget, the $240 million plant revitalizes a decaying entrance to the city, reconnects the community with nature, and doubles the size of Holland’s unique snow-melt system.
Holland Energy Park is the city’s largest-ever public works project and the world’s first ISI Envision® Platinum-verified energy project. Completed on budget, the $240 million plant revitalizes a decaying entrance to the city, reconnects the community with nature, and doubles the size of Holland’s unique snow-melt system.

Harley Ellis Devereaux
Children’s Hospital of Michigan Troy is the Detroit Medical Center’s hospital designed specifically for children. This three-story, 64,500 SF facility performs critically significant medical services that are serious – and scary – to most young patients and their families. Designed by Harley Ellis Devereaux, the brightly-colored building looks like a giant toy, and that is precisely the point.
Children’s Hospital of Michigan Troy is the Detroit Medical Center’s hospital designed specifically for children. This three-story, 64,500 SF facility performs critically significant medical services that are serious – and scary – to most young patients and their families. Designed by Harley Ellis Devereaux, the brightly-colored building looks like a giant toy, and that is precisely the point.

Wade Trim
The Great Lakes Water Authority integrated a new Biosolids Dryer Facility into their Water Resource Recovery Facility as a sustainable solids processing alternative to incineration and landfilling. The long-term, regulatory compliant upgrade expanded operational flexibility and reduced O&M costs, emissions and impacts to the community. A unique design-build-operate-maintain project delivery system fast-tracked the facility’s startup in under three years.
The Great Lakes Water Authority integrated a new Biosolids Dryer Facility into their Water Resource Recovery Facility as a sustainable solids processing alternative to incineration and landfilling. The long-term, regulatory compliant upgrade expanded operational flexibility and reduced O&M costs, emissions and impacts to the community. A unique design-build-operate-maintain project delivery system fast-tracked the facility’s startup in under three years.

Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.
FTCH designed a complete replacement of the City of St. Louis water supply after p-CBSA was discovered in two of its water supply wells. The project included a hydrogeological study; WTP expansion; and new wells, booster pumping stations, transmission mains (raw and finished water), and an elevated water storage tank.
FTCH designed a complete replacement of the City of St. Louis water supply after p-CBSA was discovered in two of its water supply wells. The project included a hydrogeological study; WTP expansion; and new wells, booster pumping stations, transmission mains (raw and finished water), and an elevated water storage tank.

OHM Advisors
The Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil – Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS) went from pilot to replacement program for short span bridges and large culverts in Midland County. The flexible, quick-build system takes one-third of the time and is half the cost of traditional construction, saving $1M since rollout in 2016 and demonstrating significant resilience during a historic flood in June 2017.
The Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil – Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS) went from pilot to replacement program for short span bridges and large culverts in Midland County. The flexible, quick-build system takes one-third of the time and is half the cost of traditional construction, saving $1M since rollout in 2016 and demonstrating significant resilience during a historic flood in June 2017.

Alfred Benesch & Company
The I-96 & Cascade Road Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) project successfully addressed growing traffic needs by replacing an existing 55-year-old infrastructure. This transformative project is the second DDI ever constructed in Michigan. It required complex maintenance of traffic, extensive stakeholder coordination and an intricate twelve-stage construction staging scheme.
The I-96 & Cascade Road Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) project successfully addressed growing traffic needs by replacing an existing 55-year-old infrastructure. This transformative project is the second DDI ever constructed in Michigan. It required complex maintenance of traffic, extensive stakeholder coordination and an intricate twelve-stage construction staging scheme.
Surveying Honorable Conceptor Award

Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.
The City of Wyoming sought to safely improve capacity and redundancy in their water system to meet community needs. They undertook a design survey as the first step in the study and design of a second water intake. FTCH was selected as the ideal partner to help the City honor its promise to the community.
The City of Wyoming sought to safely improve capacity and redundancy in their water system to meet community needs. They undertook a design survey as the first step in the study and design of a second water intake. FTCH was selected as the ideal partner to help the City honor its promise to the community.
Engineering Merit Awards

Anderson, Eckstein and Westrick, Inc.
A damaged 11-ft. diameter interceptor, and the sinkhole it created, was discovered on Christmas Eve, causing the immediate evacuation of 23 families. It serves more than 500,000 residents, 40,000 businesses and 11 communities, and required urgent action. Teamwork by all involved resulted in full flow being restored on September 26.
A damaged 11-ft. diameter interceptor, and the sinkhole it created, was discovered on Christmas Eve, causing the immediate evacuation of 23 families. It serves more than 500,000 residents, 40,000 businesses and 11 communities, and required urgent action. Teamwork by all involved resulted in full flow being restored on September 26.

Progressive AE
Grand Rapids’ first CNG fueling station was designed with considerations for a future expansion, and to extend service to private vehicles. This drove the need for two dispensing systems: A parallel cascade system, and redesigned buffer system. The latter is only the second of its kind in the United States.
Grand Rapids’ first CNG fueling station was designed with considerations for a future expansion, and to extend service to private vehicles. This drove the need for two dispensing systems: A parallel cascade system, and redesigned buffer system. The latter is only the second of its kind in the United States.

Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc.
Nearly 70 years after its construction, the 2-mile long urban corridor was transformed from a flood-relief channel to a destination for habitat and the 1.5 million residents of southeast Michigan. Utilizing innovative engineering and construction methods, habitat outcome goals were exceeded by creating over 13-acres of habitat and recreational opportunities.
Nearly 70 years after its construction, the 2-mile long urban corridor was transformed from a flood-relief channel to a destination for habitat and the 1.5 million residents of southeast Michigan. Utilizing innovative engineering and construction methods, habitat outcome goals were exceeded by creating over 13-acres of habitat and recreational opportunities.

Wade Trim
Seeking an independent raw water source for Genesee, Lapeer, and Sanilac Counties, and the Cities of Flint and Lapeer, the Karegnondi Water Authority constructed a $262 million water supply system that spans 63 miles from Lake Huron to Flint. As Program Manager, Wade Trim and AECOM oversaw 7 contracts on an aggressive, 4-year schedule using a highly structured approach to maintain consistency.
Seeking an independent raw water source for Genesee, Lapeer, and Sanilac Counties, and the Cities of Flint and Lapeer, the Karegnondi Water Authority constructed a $262 million water supply system that spans 63 miles from Lake Huron to Flint. As Program Manager, Wade Trim and AECOM oversaw 7 contracts on an aggressive, 4-year schedule using a highly structured approach to maintain consistency.

Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.
Marquette’s new service center was successfully completed using a modified design/build method and local labor force. It features underfloor vehicle exhaust ducting and radiant heating, overhead cranes, and portable lifts for versatility and operational ease. Indoor HVAC equipment and a single roof height to reduce snow drifting improves winter maintenance.
Marquette’s new service center was successfully completed using a modified design/build method and local labor force. It features underfloor vehicle exhaust ducting and radiant heating, overhead cranes, and portable lifts for versatility and operational ease. Indoor HVAC equipment and a single roof height to reduce snow drifting improves winter maintenance.

SmithGroupJJR
The LEED Gold (pending) Michigan State University Grand Rapids Research Center provides laboratory and office space for approximately 33 Principal Investigators (PIs), in the domains of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, and Pediatrics and Human Development.
The LEED Gold (pending) Michigan State University Grand Rapids Research Center provides laboratory and office space for approximately 33 Principal Investigators (PIs), in the domains of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, and Pediatrics and Human Development.

NTH Consultants, Ltd.
While performing upgrades, NTH discovered the NESPS discharge chamber was nearly collapsed. NTH evaluated the chamber and seven miles of the NI-EA, identifying critical repairs. NTH devised a permanent solution that prevented a catastrophic failure, avoided disruption of service to 800,000 people, and saved over $100 million in repair costs.
While performing upgrades, NTH discovered the NESPS discharge chamber was nearly collapsed. NTH evaluated the chamber and seven miles of the NI-EA, identifying critical repairs. NTH devised a permanent solution that prevented a catastrophic failure, avoided disruption of service to 800,000 people, and saved over $100 million in repair costs.

Tetra Tech
A healthy river is vital to a community. The Village of Dundee’s sewer system was unable to handle overflows from wet weather events. This project involved the study, design, and construction of substantive improvements to the system. Since construction of those improvements, no untreated overflows have entered the River Raisin.
A healthy river is vital to a community. The Village of Dundee’s sewer system was unable to handle overflows from wet weather events. This project involved the study, design, and construction of substantive improvements to the system. Since construction of those improvements, no untreated overflows have entered the River Raisin.

AECOM
Construction of a causeway across the St. Mary’s River to Sugar Island destroyed the Little Rapids. A Fixed-Price-Variable-Scope Best-Value Design-Build contract was used to construct a 5-span 625-foot bridge to reconnect this stretch of river, restoring the Little Rapids and creating conditions that will benefit the Great Lakes aquatic community.
Construction of a causeway across the St. Mary’s River to Sugar Island destroyed the Little Rapids. A Fixed-Price-Variable-Scope Best-Value Design-Build contract was used to construct a 5-span 625-foot bridge to reconnect this stretch of river, restoring the Little Rapids and creating conditions that will benefit the Great Lakes aquatic community.

NTH Consultants, Ltd.
Conversion of a blighted, vacant factory into the modern Baldwin Pontiac Transfer facility has transformed the formerly abandoned Pontiac Fiero assembly plant into a productive segment of the regional solid waste management system, providing an infusion of new employment, revenue, and taxes to a financially-challenged city.
Conversion of a blighted, vacant factory into the modern Baldwin Pontiac Transfer facility has transformed the formerly abandoned Pontiac Fiero assembly plant into a productive segment of the regional solid waste management system, providing an infusion of new employment, revenue, and taxes to a financially-challenged city.
Surveying Merit Awards

Abonmarche
After investing in new drone technology, Abonmarche devised a hybrid survey approach involving the use of a DJI Inspire 2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to survey 6.34 miles of Portage neighborhood streets. Data captured from the drone was found to be within 2/10 of a foot from conventional survey data.
After investing in new drone technology, Abonmarche devised a hybrid survey approach involving the use of a DJI Inspire 2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to survey 6.34 miles of Portage neighborhood streets. Data captured from the drone was found to be within 2/10 of a foot from conventional survey data.

Spalding DeDecker
Spalding DeDecker helped Midwest Steel maintain tight tolerances at every phase of the steel erection. This started from the ground up, checking every anchor bolt location, and checking and marking every connection of the structural steel’s hundreds of connection points on embedded plates in concrete shear walls.
Spalding DeDecker helped Midwest Steel maintain tight tolerances at every phase of the steel erection. This started from the ground up, checking every anchor bolt location, and checking and marking every connection of the structural steel’s hundreds of connection points on embedded plates in concrete shear walls.

ROWE Professional Services Company
ROWE performed a survey for a building addition on the University of Michigan-Flint campus that included the complexity of mapping 1,500 feet of underground tunnels, contending with a record snowfall, and the challenge of mapping a winding building configuration and aboveground walkways.
ROWE performed a survey for a building addition on the University of Michigan-Flint campus that included the complexity of mapping 1,500 feet of underground tunnels, contending with a record snowfall, and the challenge of mapping a winding building configuration and aboveground walkways.
Board Design Award
Project Entries