2025 ESE Projects
Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award
Ford Dearborn Campus Stormwater Management
Wade Trim
A new stormwater management system is protecting Ford Motor Company’s massive Dearborn Campus Transformation via 2 million cubic feet of storage, weather-monitoring technology, automated controls, and green infrastructure. Wade Trim led stormwater master planning and system design, and provided engineering and survey expertise through construction.
Surveying Eminent Conceptor Award
Tittabawassee River Watershed Survey
Spicer Group
Spicer Group conducted hydrological and hydraulic surveys along the rivers and tributaries within the Tittabawassee River Watershed, developing a cohesive data package for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use in a study that examined stormwater-related infrastructure to create feasible solutions to decades of flooding issues.
Engineering Honorable Conceptor Awards
Glass City Metropark
SmithGroup
This Metropark project turned a 70-acre stretch of underutilized, industrial brownfield along the Maumee River into a one-of-a-kind park in Toledo, Ohio. Breathing new life into the riverfront through a conservation-first approach, the former industrial site is transformed into a sustainable, accessible, vibrant urban park.
H-Stem Health Technologies Complex
HED
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The H-STEM Engineering and Health Technologies Complex is a groundbreaking facility for MTU, bringing together researchers from across the university to delve into complex health science questions. From human physiology to biomechanical engineering, this project bridges departments, brings research and learning under one roof, and provides a platform for discovery.
Churchill Downs Natural Floodplain Area
Spicer Group
​After a major 2012 storm flooded Ann Arbor’s Lansdowne/Churchill Downs area, Spicer Group was hired to design stormwater management solutions. The project focused on creating flood storage in Churchill Downs Park, providing 10.8 acre-feet of water storage to prevent future flooding and protect the neighborhood from future storms.
East Riverfront Riverwalk - "Uniroyal" SiteÂ
​The Mannik & Smith Group
VOTED #1 RIVERWALK IN AMERICA . . . in The USA Today’s national competition. The Detroit Riverfront’s Uniroyal Promenade is the final link to the East Riverfront’s 3 ½-mile long riverwalk, connecting Mt. Elliott Park to Gabriel Richard Park and to the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle.
Greenville Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements - Contract 2Â
Williams & Works
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This Greenville WWTP expansion featured two treatment technologies that were new to Michigan: rotating belt filters and Aerobic Granular Sludge (AGS). Both technologies feature small land use and were specifically chosen for their compatibility with Greenville. This project highlights Greenville’s commitment to social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
Innovate Mound
HNTB Michigan and AECOM Great Lakes
Mound Road is a vital community and economic corridor serving as a major hub for national automotive, defense, aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. This reconstruction was Macomb County’s first design-build project and the largest to be fully equipped with fiber optics, setting a precedent for the State of Michigan.
OHM Advisors
The unification of Detroit’s Roosevelt Park created a cohesive, adaptable, and accessible greenspace that connects neighborhoods and inspires engagement. The project removed an existing boulevard and added paths, plantings, flexible spaces, stormwater innovations, and links to multi-modal transportation systems. The result transforms the community’s experience and achieves the City’s vision.
Spiral Wound Sewer Lining
Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick
Use of Spiral Wound lining for the Macomb Interceptor Drainage District’s Garfield Interceptor repair project was the first of its kind in Michigan, and its success will undoubtedly inspire its use for projects involving large-diameter pipes going forward.
Surveying Honorable Conceptor Award
Elkhart Dam Flowage Lands Mapping
Wightman
Wightman partnered with American Electric Power (AEP) to perform 13 miles of mapping and flowage rights review along the St. Joseph River. By combining traditional survey techniques with modern mapping methods, Wightman was able to deliver a comprehensive digital mapping plan set ahead of schedule and within budget.
Engineering Merit Awards
Easterday Avenue & Carbide Dock Improvements
C2AE & SmithGroup
C2AE and SmithGroup revitalized aging infrastructure in the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan’s oldest city. These two projects at Carbide Dock and Easterday Avenue required intense stakeholder coordination to improve shipping, tourism, and resident safety, resulting in resilient infrastructure that supports this historic city’s modern needs.
Farm Lane Design/Build Bridge Replacement
Fishbeck
Farm Lane Bridge over the Red Cedar River connects MSU’s north and south campuses, accommodating 12,000 vehicles and 7,000 pedestrians daily. Originally built in 1936, it was replaced with a single 123-foot span bridge that improved infrastructure, while seamlessly integrating into the aesthetic consistency with the surrounding historic architecture.
Fenton Road Over Thread Creek Bridge
ROWE Professional Services Company
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The Fenton Road bridge over Thread Creek was a 100-year-old severely deteriorated Luten Arch bridge. ROWE helped develop a design that addressed the safety and accessibility concerns for both pedestrians and motorists, finding a solution that is now rated for all 28 Michigan vehicles.
Increasing Capacity, Efficiency, and Savings
Fleis & Vandenbrink
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When Leoni Township WWTP’s flat-plate membrane trains began losing hydraulic capacity, F&V retrofitted them with hollow fiber type membranes. F&V integrated the new fibers with the old controls systems while reusing the existing piping to maintain the hydraulic profile during construction. The improvements provided the plant over $104,000 in energy savings.
Innovation Center and Regional Headquarters
HED
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Wacker Chemical made the commitment to building a new R&D workplace in a highly desirable community. Wacker turned to HED to design an upscale, modern, desirable workplace that would attract top young talent and retain employees and be twice as large as the original workplace.
Jackson & Mechanic Railroad Bridges
AECOM
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Reconstructing two century-old railroad bridges on the vital Michigan Line in downtown Jackson, this project overcame tight urban constraints, complex geotechnical challenges, utility conflicts, and a challenging schedule. Using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters, the bridges were replaced within a 120-hour window, enhancing safety, and improving the passenger rail corridor’s connectivity.
M-89 Five-Point Roundabout in Allegan
Benesch
The M-89 roundabout reconstruction, a $7 million project by MDOT and the City of Allegan, transformed a congested intersection into a five-point roundabout. It included resurfacing, utility upgrades, and improved access to downtown. The project reduced traffic congestion, enhanced safety and access, and boosted economic growth through a successful partnership
Mid-Michigan Pipeline
SME
Energy providers and geotechnical engineers know the most successful pipeline projects are the ones that deliver natural gas without delays, leaks, or rupture. By collaborating on the smallest details, the team flawlessly executed 52-miles of construction and established a well-designed pipeline that will reliably serve Michigan for decades.
Pedestrian Bridge and Shared Use Pathway
Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick
AEW worked with Clinton Township to design and construct a pedestrian bridge and shared use pathway along Cass Avenue. The project links non-motorized facilities that exist on both sides of the Clinton River and closed a significant gap in the trailway system.
Road to Zero Action Plan
Hubbell, Roth & Clark
The Road Commission of Kalamazoo County developed its comprehensive Transportation Safety Action Plan to improve safety and achieve the goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries on roadways in Kalamazoo County by 2050. This comprehensive plan will guide decisions and investments to best address safety now and in the future.
Rouge River BIM Pilot
Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International served as the Lead Designer for the Rouge River BIM Pilot project. This project was notably the first in the state of Michigan to utilize digital delivery. The original structure replaced with two single span concrete prestressed bulb-tee bridges, one Eastbound and one Westbound.
US-12 Wastewater Improvements
Stantec
This interceptor line was less than 50 years old but showed significant deterioration due to sulfuric acid corrosion. Stantec design a interceptor constructed primarily of fiberglass reinforced pipe (FRP), a material entirely resistant to sulfuric acid corrosion. This open-cut FRP sewer is the first of its kind in Michigan.
Water Improvements Flush Out Discoloration
Fleis & VandenBrink
The City of McBain struggled with discoloration and sediment in its water system. Fleis & VandenBrink assisted the city in evaluating and fixing the problems, replacing much of the water system. The project improved water quality and took the city out of the business of having to do frequent flushing.
Surveying Merit Awards
3D Scanning of Huntington Place
Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick
Huntington Place, the 16th largest U.S. convention center, is expanding. The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority hired AEW for a topographical survey, creating a digital twin that includes exterior mapping of roads and utilities and targeted interior mapping. Advanced scanning utilized Trimble SX12 and Lecia BLK360 for precision.
Buick City Restoration Land Surveying
ROWE Professional Services Company
Located in Flint, the Buick City manufacturing site is being transformed after decades of neglect. ROWE collected critical data to optimize site usage and address soil and drainage issues, saving costs and preventing challenges. This development will restore productivity, significantly benefiting the local economy and creating hundreds of jobs.
Wade Trim
Consumers Energy’s $550-million Mid-Michigan Pipeline project modernized 55 miles of natural gas pipeline, enhancing safety and reliability for customers throughout Michigan. Wade Trim provided comprehensive surveying services and as-built measurements, managing a dynamic corridor with collaborative technology and precise data records.
Board Design Award
Project Entries
