Michigan—s top engineering and surveying projects recognized at annual excellence awards ceremony

LANSING, MICH. —” The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) recently honored 13 firms for engineering and surveying excellence during the association’s annual awards ceremony.

On Feb. 26, engineering professionals and guests gathered at the MotorCity Casino SoundBoard Theatre in Detroit to recognize outstanding Michigan engineering and surveying projects from the last year. Since 1965, firms have competed to receive ACEC/M’s top honor —” the prestigious Eminent Conceptor Award.

This year’s engineering Eminent Conceptor winner was HNTB for the I-75 Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project in Detroit. The project provided a complete transformation of the busiest international border crossing in North America allowing direct connections between the freeway system and the Ambassador Bridge. The main contract, Contract 4, was the largest single contract in Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) history at nearly $170 million. The project was completed five months ahead of schedule and created approximately 3,500 jobs. In 2010, HNTB ranked 19 among Engineering News Record’s (ENR) top 500 design firms.

Six firms were honored with the Honorable Conceptor Award, the second-highest award of achievement: Fleis & VandenBrink for the Northport Waste Water Collection & Treatment Facility (Northport, Mich.); Mead & Hunt for the Sand Creek Relocation project (Benton Harbor, Mich.); Spicer Group for the Karn/Weadock Coal Dock Replacement project (Essexville, Mich.); Alfred Benesch for I-196 Reconstruction/Baldwin Street Interchange Improvements (Georgetown, Mich.); Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber for the 9 Mile over I-75 Emergency Bridge Replacement (Hazel Park, Mich.); and a surveying award to Spicer Group for the Henry Ford Hospital Site Information System (West Bloomfield, Mich.).

Engineering Merit Awards were presented to: Johnson & Anderson for the Water System Control Optimization project (Charter Township of West Bloomfield, Mich.); NTH Consultants & AEW for the North Gratiot Interceptor-Phase 1 (Chesterfield & Harrison Townships, Mich.); Abonmarche for the Silver Beach Center (St. Joseph, Mich.); URS Corporation for the new I-96 Interchange at Wixom Road (Wixom, Mich.); and C2AE for the new Francis Motz County Park (St. Johns, Mich.).

The Judges’ Choice Award for Board Design was given to Mead & Hunt for the project board designed to “tell the story” of the Sand Creek Relocation project in Benton Harbor, Mich.

This year’s ACEC Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was presented to William Winiarski, P.E., PS, retired CEO of ROWE Professional Services, to honor his outstanding leadership roles in ACEC and community organizations. The Felix A. Anderson Image Award was presented to James Page, P.E., retired Detroit Office Corporate Director of Harley Ellis Devereaux, for his contributions that have enhanced the image of the engineering profession.

The 2011 Engineering & Surveying Excellence Program offers the opportunity to showcase the year’s best engineering and surveying achievements to an audience of peers, clients, and decision makers at all levels. Eminent and Honorable Conceptor award winners are eligible to compete at the National ACEC competition in Washington, D.C.

For more information on the projects and award winners, contact ACEC/M at (517) 332-2066 or visit the ACEC/M website at www.acecmi.org.