2008 Eminent Conceptor | 2008 Honor | 2008 Special Achievment | 2008 Merit

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS are given for those projects worthy of special recognition of the engineer and the owner/client for achieving engineering excellence. This year eight Special Achievement Awards were given in four categories:

BUILDING/TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

JACOBS EDWARDS AND KELCEY
The Peoria Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)
Owner: Illinois Department of Transportation, District 4
Consultants: Alfred Benesch and Company

During preliminary design of the reconstruction of Interstate 74 (I-74) through the heart of Peoria, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) were identified as an important tool for regional traffic management. In response, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) District 4, selected Jacobs Edwards and Kelcey to plan and design a series of technological tools for deployment across the project corridor to provide traffic managers, emergency responders, and the traveling public with timely, accurate, and useful travel information.

The resulting ITS elements consist of the following: Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras overlooking critical segment; Dynamic message signs (DMS) near key decision point; Permanent and portable vehicle detection to identify congestion; A highway-rail information system to detect train blockages; A ramp queue detection and warning system; The IDOT District 4 Communications Center, Peoria's central traffic management facility; A diverse communications network to collect and distribute system data.

HDR ENGINEERING, INC. (FORMERLY COCHRAN & WILKEN, INC)
The Historical Renovation of the Illinois House and Senate Chambers
Owner: State of Illinois Office of the Architect of the Capitol
Client: Vinci / Hamp Architects, Inc.
Consultants: Vinci Hamp Architects, Inc.; Randy Burkett Lighting Design, Inc.;
Shiner & Associates; Evan Lloyd & Associates

The invisible presence of electronic automation and technology was imperative to retain the historic nature of the 120-year-old Illinois House and Senate Chambers, while bringing the function of the Chambers into the 21st century. HDR Engineering, Inc. worked hand-in-hand with Vinci | Hamp Architects, Inc. and the Office of the Architect of the Capitol to successfully blend a state-of-the-art electrical system into this historical structure with the following unique aspects: Innovative Voting System; Custom designed, non-proprietary; Industrial automation techniques for reliability, accuracy; Considered prototype for other states; Discreet Installation of Technology; Invisible presence of speakers, cameras, cabling and electrical wiring;

Historic fixtures reconfigured, blended with new historical-looking fixtures; Lighting scenes enhance interior features; Lay light backlighting provides skylight effect; Compressed Construction Scheduling; Nine months for demolition and construction completion; All systems required to be completely functional and reliable on opening day; Precise coordination with other disciplines required to meet schedule.

CTE
Chicago Lock Control House
Owner: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Chicago District
Consultants: Project Time & Cost, Inc.; American Surveying & Engineering, P.C.;
Ground Engineering Consultants, Inc.

The Chicago Lock is the gateway from the Great Lakes to the inland navigation system of the United States, allowing for safe passage of boats navigating the two to five-foot water level difference between Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Located in downtown Chicago, adjacent to Navy Pier, the Chicago Lock is one of the heaviest-used navigation locks in the country, annually transporting more than 50,000 commercial and recreational boats, 900,000 passengers, and 200,000 tons of freight.

The existing lock facility is more than 70 years old. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, undertaking a major rehabilitation of the lock, hired CTE to plan and design a new Lock Control House.

CTE planned and designed a 5,800-square-foot building that not only allows the lock operator to safely control the lock gates, but is a visually- stunning, nautical-themed addition to Chicago's lakefront that incorporates many sustainable features into its design.

STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

WILLETT, HOFMANN & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Captain Swift Timber Covered Bridge
Owner: Princeton Township / Bureau County / City of Princeton, Illinois
Consultants: Teng & Associates, Inc; Clark Dietz, Inc.

The Captain Swift Timber Covered Bridge was built entirely out of wood using 1800s concepts, yet it has two lanes, is HS-20 rated, has a 16'-3" vertical clearance, a 28 foot minimum roadway width and is the only two lane covered bridge in Illinois. The bridge takes you on a journey to the past with its all timber approach guardrail, stamped red brick approach pavement, concrete abutments utilizing a limestone form liner and cedar shake shingles. The result is that while it has the look and feel of a 19th century timber covered bridge, the Captain Swift Timber Covered Bridge was designed to 21st century safety and traffic standards with a unique blending of modern materials, historical accuracy, and an innovative design.

TENG & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Hungry Hollow Tied Arch Bridge
Owner: City of Danville
Consultants: Midwest Engineering Services, Inc.

The new Hungry Hollow Tied Arch Bridge is a feature bridge for the City of Danville replacing the last truss bridge in the local area. Located at the end of scenic Hungry Hollow Road, the bridge is the entry point to the city of Kickapoo State Park and Kennekuk County Park users. The bridge spans the North Fork of the Vermilion River which is a scenic waterway navigable by shallow boats or canoes. Provisions for a boat launch adjacent to the new bridge were incorporated into the work to provide recreational boating access to the river. The bridge features a 171 ft. steel through tied arch main span on a 30 degree skew flanked by 46.5 ft simple span composite multi-beam approach spans. This configuration was chosen by the City from several alternatives for the aesthetics of the arch in relation to the site and to minimize superstructure fabrication and construction costs.

WATER AND WASTEWATER

BAXTER & WOODMAN, INC. CONSULTING ENGINEERS
Water Treatment Plant
Owner: Village of Park Forest
Consultants: FGM Architects, Inc.; Carollo Engineers

Baxter & Woodman, Inc. provided planning, design and construction services for a new lime/soda ash water softening plant.

The water supply and treatment system of the Village of Park Forest faced several issues. The existing treatment units at the Water Treatment Plant were old and overloaded, and their treatment effectiveness continued to deteriorate in spite of extensive maintenance. The most pressing issue was that the existing Water Treatment Plant was outdated, making it unable to comply with a rapidly changing regulatory environment. The current method of liquid waste disposal was no longer allowed and had to be brought into compliance with the applicable regulations.

A new plant was designed using modern day technologies to efficiently soften the water and manage the solids produced in a lime- soda ash plant. Baxter & Woodman coordinated with Carollo Engineers to design the project in an abbreviated time frame in order to ensure it as a candidate for participation in the Illinois Safe Drinking Water Act Revolving Loan Fund.

REZEK, HENRY, MEISENHEIMER AND GENDE, INC.
Lakes Region Sanitary District South Trunk Sewer
Owner: Lakes Region Sanitary District
Consultants: Bleck & Bleck Architects

The Lakes Region Sanitary District South Trunk Sewer provides sanitary sewer service to over 2,500 acres in the Village of Volo and unincorporated Lake County. The ultimate design population for the system is approximately 26,000 population equivalents. In order to accommodate varying service schedules, the project was split into two construction contracts (North and South Sections). The project consisted of the construction of two regional wastewater pumping stations, 5,700 feet of gravity sewer and 30,550 feet of forcemain. To accommodate the variation in flows over the life of the facilities, the pumping systems were supplied with variable frequency drives and dual forcemains. Construction methods included open cut construction, cased horizontal augered borings and horizontal directional drilling. To aid in operation and maintenance of the long forcemain sections, state of the art "pigging stations" were designed and constructed at each of the lift station sites.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

WIGHT & COMPANY
Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center
Owner: Village of Glenview
Consultants: Larson Engineering of Illinois; Conservation Design Forum (CDF);
Phoenix Architects; Pepper Construction

The Village of Glenview requested a building design sensitive to the natural surroundings of the interpretive center. The design team responded to the Village's request by setting a project goal of LEED Platinum certification from the USGBC.

Wight re-envisioned the local master plan and removed planned parking to reduce site impacts. Wight coordinated a sustainable design which included 100 percent of on-site stormwater management, heat island effect reduction, light pollution reduction, water efficient landscaping, water use reduction, renewable energy use, low toxin emitting material use, day lighting, effective ventilation, recycled material use, 92 percent energy efficiency, and a green roof. The environmental considerations continued during construction when site disturbance was minimized and construction waste management took place.

As a result the Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center leaves a small footprint while serving as an educational resource to teach visitors about the value of the prairie, its history in Illinois, and the importance of protecting and preserving it.