LANSING, MI – The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) recently honored firms for engineering and surveying excellence during the association’s annual Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala. On March 19, design professionals and guests gathered at the Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth 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.
“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,” said Ronald Brenke, PE, ACEC/M Executive Director.
This year’s most prestigious award – the Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award – went to OHM Advisors (Livonia) for the Brandenburg Park Shoreline Restoration Project in Chesterfield Township, which addressed a failing seawall while increasing the diversity of the shoreline habitat. The result provides community members with increased recreational and educational opportunities and renewed connections to an improved, diverse ecosystem.
Six firms were honored with an Engineering Honorable Conceptor Award for their work on the following:
- HNTB Michigan, Inc. (Detroit) – I-375 Reconstruction Study Project in Detroit for the Michigan Department of Transportation
- Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. (Bloomfield Hills) – Recreating Conventional project in Sterling Heights for the Macomb County Public Works Commissioner’s Office
- OHM Advisors (Livonia) – Baldwin Road Reconstruction in Orion Township for the Road Commission of Oakland County and Orion Township
- Prein&Newhof (Grand Rapids) – Walker Avenue Bridge Removal for the City of Walker
- SME (Shelby Township) – Beekman on Broadway in Ann Arbor for Morningside Group
- The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. (Detroit) – Robert C. Valade Park in Detroit for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Engineering Merit Awards were presented to:
- Abonmarche Consultants, Inc. (Benton Harbor) – Asset Management Leads to Community Sustainability project for the City of Benton Harbor
- AECOM (Grand Rapids) – Whites Bridge Road over the Flat River in Keene Township for the Whites Bridge Historical Society and Ionia County Road Department
- C2AE (Gaylord) – Railroad Square Revitalization Project for the Village of Kalkaska
- Fleis & VandenBrink (Grand Rapids) – Taking Water Sampling to New Heights in Ann Arbor for Gelman Sciences, Inc.
- Fleis & VandenBrink (Grand Rapids) – Transforming Old Runway into a New Roadway in Summit Township for the Jackson County Department of Transportation
- G2 Consulting Group (Ann Arbor) – Revere Dock Seawall Design in Troy for Revere Dock, LLC
- HDR (Ann Arbor) – Thompson State Fish Hatchery Renovation in Manistique for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
- Matteo Engineering & Consulting, LLC (Washington Township) – Frankenmuth Levee Improvements for the City of Frankenmuth
- NTH Consultants, Ltd. (Northville) – Landfill Leachate PFOA and PFOS Statewide Study for the Michigan Waste and Recycling Association
- Wightman (Allegan) – Cassopolis Transformation Project for the Village of Cassopolis
This year’s Surveying Eminent Conceptor Award went to Surveying Solutions, Inc. (Standish) and Fishbeck (Grand Rapids) for their Blue Water Bridge: Lighting up the Bridge with LiDAR project for the Michigan Department of Transportation. Surveying Solutions and Fishbeck completed data collection for the resurfacing and electrical improvements of the Eastbound Bluewater Bridge. Multiple LiDAR collection methods were used including a Terrestrial 3D Tripod Scanner and Mobile LiDAR scanners on both an SUV and a boat to capture the entire bridge simultaneously.
A Surveying Honorable Conceptor Award was presented to Spicer Group, Inc. (Saginaw) for the Multi-Sensor Data Fusion Supports Dam Restoration project for the Four Lakes Task Force.
Surveying Merit Awards were presented to:
- ROWE Professional Services Company (Flint) – I-196 Grand River Bridges project in Walker for the Michigan Department of Transportation
- Spalding DeDecker (Rochester Hills) – Detroit Zoo Survey for the Detroit Zoological Society
The Board Design Award went to AECOM (Grand Rapids) for their board designed to tell the story of the Whites Bridge Road over the Flat River project.
This year’s ACEC/M Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was presented to Amy L. Trahey, PE, of Great Lakes Engineering Group to honor her outstanding leadership roles in ACEC and several community organizations. The ACEC/M Felix A. Anderson Image Award was presented to Paul C. Ajegba, PE, of the Michigan Department of Transportation 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, DC. For more information on the projects and award winners, please contact ACEC/M at 517.332.2066 or visit their web site at www.acecmi.org.
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan is the voice of Michigan’s engineering industry. Council members – numbering over 100 firms throughout the state – are engaged in a wide range of engineering/architectural/surveying works that propel the state’s economy and enhance and safeguard Michigan’s quality of life. These works allow people to drink clean water, enjoy a healthy life, take advantage of new technologies, and travel safely and efficiently. The Council’s mission is to contribute to Michigan’s prosperity and welfare by advancing the business interests of member firms.