2002 Eminent Conceptor | 2002 Honor | 2002 Special Achievment | 2002 Merit

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS are given for those projects worthy of special recognition of the engineer and the owner/client for achieving engineering excellence.

STUDIES, RESEARCH, CONSULTING ENGINEERING SERVICES

FISHPRO/COCHRAN & WILKEN, INC., CONSULTING ENGINEERS & SCIENTISTS
Big Spring Fish Culture Station Recirculation Study
Owner: Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
Subconsultants: The Conservation Fund's Freshwater Institute, WV;
Aquaculture Bioengineering Corporation, MI

On February 22, 2001, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) informed the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) that the Big Spring Fish Culture Station's NPDES permit had been withdrawn and either the facility would close or an alternative for wastewater treatment would need to be found. FishPro/Cochran & Wilken, Inc. (FP/CWI) was selected to evaluate the feasibility of operating the existing trout production facility (525,000 trout annually - 262 pounds peak biomass) using a water recirculating system that would greatly reduce or eliminate the need to discharge fish hatchery wastewater into a receiving water body classified as "Exceptional Value". Within a time frame of four weeks, FP/CWI completed the study and provided three options for implementing a recirculation system to the State. These options fully addressed the discharge problems of the existing facility and provided recommendations that would allow the facility to maintain / improve current levels of trout production with a reduced impact to the receiving water. The information complied from this project on recirculation systems is an invaluable tool to planning and designing a total integrated systems approach to water recirculation systems at this Fish Culture Station and other modern aquaculture facilities.

BUILDING/TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

MCDONOUGH ASSOCIATES, INC.
McCormick Place Conference Center, Parking Structure and Office Facility
Owner: Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
Subconsultants: Thompson, Ventulett, Stainbeck and Associates, Inc., Atlanta, GA;
VOA Associates, Inc., Chicago; DLK Architecture, Chicago; Primera Engineers; Chicago

The McCormick Place Conference Center, Parking Structure and Office Facility is the latest expansion to Chicago's premier convention complex. This visually exciting expansion consists of a 150,000 square foot conference center connected to the existing complex by two pedestrian bridges, a six-level, 90,000 square foot parking structure with 2,450 parking spaces and a five level 60,000 square foot office building to house the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA).

Even though this latest expansion sits along Martin Luther King Drive to the west of the existing McCormick Place complex, various design elements from the existing complex were incorporated in order to integrate the new facility with the rest of the Convention Center. These design elements included the use of similar materials as well as incorporating similar roof angles and wedge shapes. The extreme southern tip of the Conference Center features a 15 degree wedge with 30 foot spans and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Using a design/build approach allowed the construction and design teams the freedom to accommodate the changing demands of this complicated project while keeping the project on schedule and within budget.

BUILDING/TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

SHIVE-HATTERY, INC.
Davenport North High School Performing Arts Center
Owner: Davenport Community School District
Subconsultants: Kvernstoen, Kehl and Associates, Minneapolis, MN

The school district wanted a high quality space for students and audiences to congregate and interact for drama, band, choral and dance performances. The 31,000 square-foot addition has a 799-seat auditorium with a thrust stage, an orchestra pit and a 45-foot-high fly loft. The interior features a rich, warm color scheme that is complemented by acoustical treatments that add to the character of this showplace.

Adjoining the auditorium space is a spacious lobby capable of accommodating large group receptions, a blackbox/rehearsal classroom for smaller groups and a drama classroom. Other support spaces include a scene shop, wardrobe area, faculty lounge/workroom space, audio and visual control rooms and public restrooms.

The facility provides opportunities for students to perform plays, concerts and other culture events in a venue that rivals area college facilities. The Davenport community will also use the performing arts center for a variety of events.

STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

DAILY & ASSOCIATES, ENGINEERS, INC.
Candlewood Lane Bridge Stone Restoration and Improvements
Owner: City of Washington, IL
Subconsultants: Kenyon and Associates, Peoria

The Candlewood Lane Bridge restoration and improvements transformed an aging, dilapidated, unsafe bridge to a useful transportation connection between residential and recreational areas. The designation as a historic landmark added an attraction for the City of Washington, and allowed the City to pursue project funding from MPA.

The project features: Registration in the National Register of Historic Places; Close co-consulting with the Architectural Consultant, Kenyon & Associates, for achievement of technical and historical goals; Partial reconstruction of the double-arch, stone masonry bridge, built in 1894 with special attention paid to stone replacement materials; Safety improvements, including 1) Reconstruction of stone parapets; 2) Stone parapets raised from 18 to 30 inches -above minimum standards for increased pedestrian safety; and 3) Guardrail added to the approaches; Reopening of a vehicular bridge, closed or restricted for 4 years due to safety and geometric deficiencies.

STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

HNTB CORPORATION
Chicagoland Speedway
Owner: Raceway Associates, LLC
Client: Joie Chitwood, President, Chicagoland Speedway
Subconsultants: Bovis/HNTB Design Build - a joint venture, Chicago

Chicagoland Speedway features a 1.5-mile, D-shaped, tri-oval racetrack that offers grandstand seating for 75,000 fans and 32 luxury skyboxes. The facility hosts NASCAR, Indy Racing League and ARCA competitions. Drivers experience the track's 18-degree banking in the turns, 5-degree backstretch banking and 11-degree frontstretch banking. The frontstretch reaches out 1,700 feet, while the bowed backstretch extends to a length of 2,400 feet offering high speeds going into turn three. Given that the tallest building in the infield rises to only 14 feet, sight lines are unobstructed for all fans since the first row of seating is raised above that point. Within this 930-acre motor sports facility there are vehicular and pedestrian tunnels, concessions buildings, restrooms, fuel station, garages, emergency care facilities, press/media facility, office/maintenance buildings and a one million gallon water tower.

STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

HNTB CORPORATION
Fox River Trail Pedestrian Bridge
Owner: City of St. Charles

HNTB provided the City of St. Charles preliminary concepts, final design and construction services for the Fox River Trail Bicycle Path. This 2,040 feet long path crosses Illinois Route 31 and the Fox River. The path is 12 feet wide, contains 900 feet of bridge structure, 550 feet of sheet pile retaining wall and 200 feet of concrete retaining wall.

Attaining project goals of context-sensitivity, low cost and minimal maintenance, HNTB utilized readily available materials and innovative techniques to develop a path that connects the east and west sides of City of St. Charles. The existing railroad substructure was modified and now carries a new transportation system that successfully integrates elements such as the steel retaining walls, the standing seam roof and the prairie grass with the surrounding environment including the riverwalk and park.

WATER & WASTEWATER

BAXTER & WOODMAN, CONSULTING ENGINEERS
City of DeKalb Radium Compliance Water System Improvements
Owner: City of DeKalb
Subconsultants: Burnidge and Cassell Architects, Elgin, IL

In order to comply with current and anticipated IEPA maximum contaminant levels, the amount of radium in DeKalb's water supply needed to be reduced. This $13 million project included the design and construction of five radium removal water treatment plants, three new shallow wells with well houses, and raw water transmission mains between the three wells and two of the plants.

Project Goals:

• Provide safe, clean, aesthetically pleasing water to the community.
• Conform to state and federal water quality regulations.
• Achieve compliance with the radium water quality regulations, as soon as possible, but not later than the deadlines established in the U.S. District Court consent decree and by the IEPA.
• Minimize the cost impact of compliance on the consumer as much as possible.
• Achieve compliance in a manner that allows future growth of the water system at a reasonable cost.

TRANSPORTATION

CIORBA GROUP, INC.
Southbound Lake Shore Drive Viaduct over 47th Street
Owner: Chicago Department of Transportation, Bureau of Bridges and Transit
Subconsultants: Ross Barney & Jankowski, Inc, Chicago; Wang Engineering, Inc., Addison

The southbound Lake Shore Drive Viaduct over 47thStreet was built in the 1930's to enhance access to Chicago's lakefront Burnham Park. The steel framed structure was clad in Art Deco cast-in-place concrete with ornamental lights at its corners. Steep approach roadways met design standards of the era.

Decades of deicing salt exposure severely damaged the structure. Increased traffic volumes and speeds made the approach roadway profile and alignment substandard.

The Chicago Department of Transportation Bureau of Bridges and Transit retained Ciorba Group, Inc. to develop a comprehensive solution for the structural and roadway deficiencies. Services provided included preliminary and final design engineering.

A new structure was designed reusing many existing foundation piles and replicating original viaduct appearance using precast concrete and refurbished lights. Roadway profile, alignment, vertical clearance, lighting, drainage, and 47hStreet traffic signal improvements were also designed. The $5,600,000 improvement was substantially completed during Summer 2001.

TRANSPORTATION

CONSOER TOWNSEND ENVIRODYNE ENGINEERS, INC.
Loop Lighting: Renovation of Chicago's Downtown Streetscape
Owner: City of Chicago, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Highways
Subconsultants: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP; O'Brien & Associates, Inc.; M.F.A., Inc.;
Daniel P. Coffey & Associates, Ltd.

The Loop Lighting program began in 1997 after the successful State Street Renovation, which proved that a vibrant urban street required amenities for both pedestrians and drivers. The "Loop" is Chicago's Central Business District and historic heart of the City. Lake, Van Buren, Randolph Theatre District, Randolph West, Garfield Court, LaSalle and Dearborn Streets were the first to receive improvements that enhanced each street's character, including: special sidewalk paving, signing, cultural pylons, trees, planters and ornamental street lighting.

CTE was the prime consultant. Each street was approximately one mile long and included nine intersections. The Randolph Street project was extended one mile west to link with the Kennedy Expressway and provide continuity when leaving the Loop. In addition to urban design elements, the project addressed infrastructure needs such as: occupied vaulted storage spaces below sidewalks; electrical ducts; drainage structures; water mains; mechanical equipment; abandoned tunnels, and Chicago Transit Authority structures.

TRANSPORTATION

EDWARDS AND KELCEY
Toll Plaza 61 Reconstruction in Aurora
Owner: Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
Subconsultants: H.W. Lochner, Inc.; Knight Infrastructure; International Engineering Consultants

The reconstruction of Toll Plaza 61 in west suburban Aurora, Illinois, involved the design for rebuilding plaza buildings, ancillary structures, and the installation of electronic equipment and express lanes for the I-PASS toll collection system. The project includes 1.3 miles of Interstate Route 88 and crosses the scenic Fox River Valley. The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is the owner.

Notable elements are: 1) Leading a multi-discipline design team through a complex project on an expedited schedule; 2) Accommodates future widening west of the plaza, with either a new parallel Fox River bridge or a widening of the existing bridge; 3) Complex maintenance of traffic and toll services plans; 4) Safety improvements for I-PASS Express and other toll lanes' in a tightly constrained area; 5) Drainage design mitigated concerns about channel and wetland changes in an adjacent quarry; and 6) Developing new standards and technologies for toll plazas.

TRANSPORTATION

T.Y. LIN INTERNATIONAL GREAT LAKES, INC.
Ogden-Cicero Interchange Reconstruction
Owner: Illinois Department of Transportation, District One
Subconsultants: American Surveying Consultants; Alvord, Burdick & Howson; Wang Engineering, Inc.

Beginning in 1996, T.Y. Lin International partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation to perform Phase I and Phase II services for the reconstruction of the Ogden-Cicero Interchange, located in a western suburb of Chicago. The project included a Construction Feasibility Study, Traffic Staging Concept Plan, and preparation of contract plans and specifications.

The interchange consisted of an existing high level truss bridge carrying Ogden Avenue over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and Cicero Avenue (Illinois 50). The critical requirement of the railroad was that none of the tracks be taken out of service for any length of time. The project included a new seven-track railroad bridge spanning a relocated Ogden Avenue, removing the 60-year-old truss bridge, and relocating two local streets to better interface with Ogden Avenue.

TYLI also addressed a proposed drainage system, rehabilitation of an existing stormwater pumping station, demolition staging, new interconnected traffic signals, five retaining walls, two roadway bridges and the interface with public transportation systems.

TRANSPORTATION

STANLEY CONSULTANTS, INC.
Cicero Avenue at 127th Street and Tri-State Tollway
Owner: Illinois Department of Transportation, District One
Subconsultants: Nakawatase, Wyns & Associates; Testing Service Corporation; Kam Engineering

Since 1985, the intersection of Cicero Avenue (IL 50) at 127th street and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) has consistently been ranked by the Illinois Department of Transportation as one of the state's 10 most dangerous intersections. Improving this roadway was included as a high-priority project in the Governor's Illinois FIRST program.

The project included the reconstruction and widening of the Cicero and 127th Street intersection from five to nine lanes, the rehabilitation of three bridges over the Tri-State Tollway, construction of a new flyover bridge and the construction of three new Tollway ramps.

IDOT retained Stanley Consultants, Inc., to design the highly visible project upgrade with an extremely accelerated schedule. Preliminary drawings were delivered for review just three months after notice-to-proceed. Advance construction work began just seven months after project authorization. Extensive coordination between IDOT, ISTHA, and the Village of Alsip was maintained through the design project.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

STANLEY CONSULTANTS, INC.
University of Illinois at Chicago West Campus Cogeneration Plant
Owner: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Cogeneration has a double meaning at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In the traditional sense, it means the simultaneous production of heat and power in a single thermodynamic process. At the University it also means cost savings - up to $6.5 million annually.

University officials asked Stanley Consultants, Inc., to conduct a cogeneration feasibility study on the West Campus. Stanley Consultants then designed the 35 MW system the University selected, which includes three gas turbines and three reciprocating engines. Only the gas turbines have heat recovery steam generators (HRSG). Each HRSG produces 30,000 lb/hr unfired and 120,000 lb/hr fired.

The costs savings generated by the project is staggering. An annual savings of nearly $6.5 million is expected, with a payback period of 5.3 years or an internal rate of return (IRR) of 14.4 percent.