For the past 40 years, consulting engineering firms have entered their most innovative projects and studies in the American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado competitions.
The winners of the 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards represent original or innovative applications of new or existing engineering technologies and have demonstrated their future value to the engineering profession. The judges also equally consider the social, economic and sustainable design considerations; complexity; and exceeding the client or owner needs in selecting the winners.
In January Colorado's winners compete in the ACEC national competition in Washington, D.C. The panel of judges will select 24 national awards ā eight grand and 16 honor winners from the 11 categories and one grand conceptor award. Awards are presented at a black-tie Engineering Excellence Awards Gala Event, April 28, 2009.
Seven projects were selected for Colorado Engineering Excellence Awards.
Category A: Studies, Research and Consulting
CHUM HILL, Englewood, CO
"Demonstration of Natural Purification for Prairie Waters"
Client: Aurora Water, Aurora, CO
The project demonstrated benefits of riverbank filtration and aquifer recharge and recovery, a unique combination to provide Aurora with a sustainable water supply.
Category B: Building/Technology Systems
M-E Engineers Inc., Wheat Ridge, CO
"Washington Nationals Park, Washington, D.C."
Client: HOK Sport, KansasCity, MO
Contractors: Clark Construction Group, Bethesda, MD; Hunt Construction, Indianapolis, IN; and Smoot Construction, Washington, D.C.
M-E Engineers provided the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, lighting and technology design for the first professional baseball park to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.
Category B: Building/Technology Systems
The RMH Group Inc., Lakewood, CO
"Valor Christian High School, Highlands Ranch, CO"
Client: SLATERPAULL Architects, Denver
Contractors: Saunders Construction, Centennial, CO;mechanical, Trautman & Shreve, Denver
A thermal displacement ventilation system conditions interior spaces, saving the school an estimated $65,000 annually in energy costs.
Category B: Building/Technology Systems
MKK Consulting Engineers Inc., Greenwood Village, CO
"Signature Centre ā The Highest Mark of Sustainability, Golden, CO"
Client: Aardex LLC, Golden, CO
Contractors: Aardex LLC, MKK Consulting Engineers Inc.
Unique under-floor air delivery, hydronic heating, and chill beam cooling systems contributed to energy efficiency for this LEED Platinum certified core and shell 186,000-square-foot business building.
| URS Corp. won an Engineering Excellence Award in the Water Resources category for its Carter Lake Dam No. 1 Outlet Works Addition. |
Category G: Water Resources
URS Corporation, Denver
"Carter Lake Dam No. 1 Outlet Works Addition"
Client: Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Berthoud, CO
Contractor: SEMA Construction, Denver
The second outlet, which allows a sustainable and uninterruptible water supply for 12 communities and water districts, was accomplished without interruption to service.
| CH2M Hill won an Engineering Excellence Award in the Transportation category for its Colorado Springs Metrol Interstate Expansion project. |
Category H: Transportation
CH2M HILL, Englewood, CO
"Colorado Springs Metro Interstate Expansion(COSMIXā¢), Colorado Springs, CO"
Client: Colorado Department of Transportation, Region 2, Colorado Springs, CO
Contractor: Rockrimmon Constructors
This complex $130-million design/build project rebuilt interchanges and widened 12 miles of Interstate 25 while keeping traffic of 105,000 vehicles daily moving and finished a year early.
Category I: Special Projects
Merrick & Company, Aurora, CO
"Integrated Glovebox System (IGBS)"
Client: Confidential
Contractor: IP Systems, Broomfield, CO
The IGBS combines multiple, highly complex operator-intensive operations in an enclosed stainless steel glovebox with stringent atmospheric requirements to protect the integrity and security of manufacturing operations.
Five Colorado projects earned Honor Awards.
Category D: Surveying/Mapping Technology
Merrick & Company, Aurora, CO
"Binational Geospatial Teamwork Saves Lives and Properties"
Client: Cuidad Juarez Instituto Municipal de InvestigaciĆ³n y PlaneaciĆ³n
Using highly advanced technologies such as LiDAR, Merrick created topographic databases allowing for flood/drainage modeling, disaster preparation, and public safety planning in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.
Category D: Surveying/Mapping Technology
PBS&J, Denver
"Flood Map Desktop"
Client: PBS&J, Beltsville, MD
At its own cost, PBS&J developed the Flood Map Desktop software to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency meet a goal of encouraging state and local partners to take responsibility for making and maintaining flood maps.
| Wilson and Co. Inc won an Honor Award in the Transportation category for its COSMIX project. |
Category H: Transportation
Wilson & Company Inc., Colorado Springs, CO
"COSMIX, Colorado Springs, CO"
Client: CDOT, Region 2, Colorado Springs, CO
Contractor: Rockrimmon Constructors
Wilson & Company enabled CDOT to accomplish $550 million of improvements for only $150 million with a "Fixed PriceāBest Design" procurement approach for COSMIX design/build improvements to Interstate 25.
Category K: Energy
EMC Engineers Inc., Lakewood, CO
"Manitou Springs School District 14 ESPC"
Client: Manitou Springs School District 14, Manitou Springs, CO
EMC performed 24 construction projects in nine buildings, delivering energy savings using an Energy Savings Performance Contract with matching grant money form the Colorado Department of Education.
Category B: Building/Technology Systems
Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers Inc., Vail, CO
"Aspen Middle School"
Client: Hutton Ford Architects P.C., Denver, CO
Contractor: GE Johnson Construction Co., Colorado Springs; RK Mechanical Inc., Denver; Encore Electric,Englewood
This L-shaped addition wraps around an existing school with energy-efficient mechanical and electrical design surpassing code requirements.
One project was singled out for the Best Graphics Award.
Category G: Water Resources
Ayres Associates, Fort Collins, CO
"Calming the Waters: I-35W Bridge Hydraulic Analyses"
Client: Figg Bridge Engineers, Tallahassee, FL
Contractor: Flatiron-Manson joint venture
Ayres completed the scour and hydraulic analyses within two weeks so foundation design and construction could move forward on replacing the collapsed I-35W Bridge in the Twin Cities.
