CDM Smith Projects Honored at 2016 American Council of Engineering Companies Awards Gala
BOSTON—CDM Smith is honored to be recognized with one Grand Award and four Recognition Awards in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2016 Engineering Excellence Awards competition.
The DC Water Biosolids Management Program, which won a Grand Award, sought to tap potential energy sources at DC Water's Blue Plains wastewater treatment facility in Washington, D.C. When its original concept proved uneconomical, DC Water selected the innovative CAMBI® thermal hydrolysis process to enable its system to more easily capture methane from biosolids that are produced as the facility treats its wastewater, and then feed it to turbines to generate clean energy. The joint venture of leading wastewater treatment plant design-build experts, CDM Smith and PC Construction, was selected to implement this challenging project. The project faced many hurdles including implementing a brand new technology, figuring out how to fit all of the components into a tight space, and keeping within schedule and budget. Despite the complexities, the CAMBI® system was successfully installed and is now producing enough gas to generate 10 megawatts of net energy, about a third of DC Water’s current power supply. The plant also produces exceptional quality biosolid products, which are blended with soil and used throughout its landscaping, as well as elsewhere in the District of Columbia. As a result of the project, DC Water now has a unique facility that optimizes its resources while also generating new ones.
The Alumni Drive Improvements project for the University of Kentucky won a National Recognition Award. Providing access to Commonwealth Stadium and the University of Kentucky Arboretum, Alumni Drive’s 1.4 miles were reconstructed in 16 weeks—opening one day earlier than scheduled—while maintaining access to adjacent construction, daycare, housing and parking facilities. This project included complete pavement replacement and expansion of the existing two-lane roadway to safely accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and 19,000 vehicles daily. The green roadway was designed in just 3 months and was widened to include bicycle lanes, a non-mountable median, a multi-use trail, and LED street lights. Two existing stop-controlled intersections were converted to roundabouts, increasing efficiency and reducing vehicle emissions. A specialized design feature allows bicyclists to either merge into traffic or use a slip lane to join the multi-use trail to traverse the roundabouts.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT) Rapid Bridge Replacement (RBR) project received a National Recognition Award. By the end of 2017, PennDOT will replace 558 structurally deficient bridges across the state thanks to a groundbreaking public-private partnership (P3) with developer consortium Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners. The deal is among the fastest ever procured in the United States. CDM Smith provided technical advisory services to PennDOT, developing a bridge screening process to identify high-value replacements for the RBR program and helping the department craft a strong P3 procurement. This project was named Best Transport Project at P3 Awards 2015 and was one of Public Works Financing’s top 10 Transport Deals of the Year.
The Red/Purple Modernization (RPM) Corridor Program also won a National Recognition Award. Through the RPM, Chicago Transit Authority is reconstructing and revitalizing 9.6 miles of the 100-year-old Red and Purple rail lines—two of the busiest lines in the country. CDM Smith, the lead firm in the CWC Transit Group joint venture team, completed the environmental documentation and conceptual engineering for two projects in the program’s first phase: the modernization of four stations along the north Red and Purple lines, and a bypass and upgrade/straightening of tracks where the Red, Purple and Brown lines converge. Once completed, the RPM program will represent the largest capital project in CTA history, expanding capacity, improving access to jobs and supporting local economic development. Construction and implementation of phase one alone is expected to be $1.9 billion.
Washington, D.C.'s Tingey Street Diversion Sewer project (TSDS) received National Recognition Award honors. The redevelopment of The Yards area of the Anacostia River waterfront in southeast Washington, D.C., required water system upgrades to accommodate dramatic mixed-use growth. Once an industrial area that was part of Washington’s Navy Yard, The Yards now includes residential buildings, office complexes, green spaces, retailers, restaurants, and Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals baseball team. The TSDS was a key element of the water upgrades needed to support growth in The Yards. CDM Smith provided a design-build solution for the TSDS that delivered the project faster and at a lower cost than originally anticipated. By innovatively reworking the project plan to eliminate one of the anticipated two jacking pits, CDM Smith simplified the project, mitigated construction disruptions and community impacts, and delivered the project more effectively. Ultimately, the project was completed 10 percent below budget and several months ahead of schedule.
CDM Smith provides lasting and integrated solutions in water, environment, transportation, energy and facilities to public and private clients worldwide. As a full-service engineering and construction firm, we deliver exceptional client service, quality results and enduring value across the entire project life cycle.