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The one highest award given each year, the Eminent Conceptor Award, recognizes an engineering achievement which demonstrates a high degree of merit and ingenuity, contributes to the advancement of the private practice of engineering, and enhances the economic and social welfare of the general public.
EARTH TECH, INC.
ALFRED BENESCH AND COMPANY
CONSOER TOWNSEND ENVIRODYNE ENGINEERS, INC.
MCDONOUGH ASSOCIATES, INC.
TENG & ASSOCIATES, INC.
T.Y. LIN INTERNATIONAL
Wacker Drive Viaduct Reconstruction Project
Owner: Chicago Department of Transportation
Subconsultants: DLK Architecture, Inc.; Muller Muller Architects; Johnson Lasky Architects;
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
 In the spring of 1996, the City of Chicago completed an extensive inspection of the structural condition of the Wacker Drive Viaduct. Based on the results of this inspection the structure was posted for a 15-ton load limit. With the upper level deck failing, the City would be forced to close the entire lower level to traffic to locate proper shoring. Replacement of this unique structure was the only viable option.
After 75 years of faithful use, the east-west segment of Wacker Drive, extending 4,100 feet between Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, including 540 feet of South Water Street connecting Wabash Avenue and Michigan Avenue, was well beyond its expected useful life and fell short of modern roadway design.
The design team's challenge was to reconstruct a historic roadway structure to modern standards while retaining the elements that made the structure historic without impacting buildings or affecting Loop traffic.
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