Michigans top engineering and surveying projects recognized at ACEC Excellence Awards Ceremony

Lansing, Mich. — The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) recently honored firms for engineering and surveying excellence during the association’s 50th annual Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards ceremony. Design professionals and guests gathered at The Henry Ford in Dearborn to recognize outstanding Michigan engineering and surveying projects from the past year, as well as engineering professionals who have significantly contributed to the profession.

The ACEC/M Awards Program recognizes outstanding efforts of professional design firms to solve clients’ needs through exceptional projects, and 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.

“This program serves as the final celebration of Engineers Week,” said Ron Brenke, P.E., ACEC/M Executive Director. “The knowledge and expertise that filled the room on Saturday was astounding! The projects engineered by private sector firms have a profound effect on the quality of life for all Michigan residents. Their efforts result in quality roads and bridges, safe drinking water, and a clean environment for people to live, work and play.”

This year’s engineering Eminent Conceptor Award winner was NTH Consultants, Ltd, Detroit, for the structural analysis for Cobo Arena Demolition and Reconstruction. During the redevelopment of Cobo Arena, a $279 million project, NTH Consultants, Ltd. utilized the shell-like geometry of the original structure, performed detailed analyses for each stage of demolition and reconstruction, and worked with the contractors to safely sequence the work, thereby eliminating the need for an estimated $1 million in internal temporary bracing.

Four firms were honored with the Engineering Honorable Conceptor Award: Bergmann Associates for The Rapid/Amtrak Passenger Station Relocation (Grand Rapids); Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. for the Grand Rapids Downtown Market and for Michigan State University West Circle Drive, Phase 3; OHM Advisors for the Farmington Hills Elevated Storage Tank and Parsons Corporation for the I-96/M-50 Bridge Slide Design.

Engineering Merit Awards were presented to HNTB Michigan, Inc. for the I-94 Truck Parking Information and Management System; Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. for the Orion Road Bridge Replacement (Oakland County); NTH Consultants, Ltd. for the Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain; Parsons Corporation for the US-131/3 Mile Road Bridge Slide; Prein&Newhof for Lake Street Improvements (City of Whitehall); RS Engineering, LLC for the I-96 Interchange at Latson Road; and ROWE Professional Services Company for the Uptown Bay City project.

Surveying Honorable Conceptor Awards were presented to Fleis & VandenBrink for the Osceola Inn Demolition Project (Reed City) and Spicer Group, Inc. for the South County Water Authority Asset Collection Project.

The Judges’ Choice Award for Board Design was given to Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc., for the project board designed to ‘tell the story’ of how the "Accelerated Orion Road Abridgement Replacement Saves Cider Season."

This year’s ACEC/M Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was presented to Paul C. Wade, P.E., recently retired from Spalding DeDecker Associates, Inc., to honor his outstanding leadership roles in ACEC and several community organizations. The ACEC/M Felix A. Anderson Image Award was presented to Gerald M. (Jerry) Belian, P.E., FESD, of SME for his actions and contributions to enhance the image of the profession.

The Eminent and Honorable Conceptor award winners are eligible to compete at the National ACEC engineering competition in Washington, D.C.