The Engineering Excellence Award winners are selected among submissions from more than 60 member firms and are judged by various criteria, including complexity, innovation, and value to society. Dewberry projects were awarded diamond, platinum, gold, and silver awards.

Diamond Award – Development and Testing of New York City’s Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines

The development and testing of New York City’s Climate Resiliency Guidelines earned diamond in the studies, research, and consulting engineering services category. The project went on to earn a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement at the 52^nd annual ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards.

Dewberry tested the applicability of the city’s preliminary guidelines on ten pilot projects across the city’s five boroughs. Using a multi-disciplinary team approach to evaluate risks and develop cost-effective and sustainable solutions to mitigation from the predicted increases in precipitation, heat, sea level rise, and coastal storm surge.

The pilot projects included various types of infrastructure with a variety of functional and operational requirements, including building infrastructure, complex critical facilities, roadways, and park space. The overall goal was to update the preliminary design guidelines with lessons learned from the pilot projects.

Platinum Award – Nazario U.S. Courthouse and Degetau Federal Office Building Renovation

The Federico Degetau Federal Office Building and Clemente Ruiz Nazario U.S. Courthouse renovation was awarded platinum in the building/technology category. As the prime contractor, Dewberry provided architectural and engineering design services, and construction administration services for the $70 million redesign and upgrade of the 320,000-square-foot federal office building and 48,000-square-foot courthouse into an energy-efficient, green building.

Electrical upgrades included the design for an upgraded electrical distribution system, replacement of a diesel emergency generator, and fire alarm system upgrades. There were also upgrades to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and upgrades to the 1,400-ton chillers and pumps. This project was a critical design task since both buildings remained occupied and in operation during construction.

Platinum Award – Design Services for Green Infrastructure for Newtown Creek DEP CSO Tributary Area

The design services for green infrastructure for Newtown Creek DEP CSO Tributary Area earned platinum in the waste and storm water category. As part of New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (NYCDEP) initiative to manage impervious stormwater runoff in priority Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) tributary areas, Dewberry was selected to manage impervious runoff in the tributary area, which discharges to Newtown Creek in Queens, New York.

Dewberry performed tributary drainage area analysis to determine potential right-of-way bioswales and stormwater greenstreets, and management and analysis of subsurface geotechnical investigations to develop custom solutions that improved project efficiency. One of the custom solutions was using GIS tools to automate the process of delineating tributary drainage areas.

Gold Award – Assemblyman Herman Denny Farrell Pedestrian Bridge, Resident Engineering and Inspection Services

The Assemblyman Herman Denny Farrell Pedestrian Bridge was awarded a gold award in structural systems. Dewberry performed construction inspection services for the new pedestrian bridge in Manhattan.

The firm also provided rock excavation for the construction of the bridge and ramp foundations, and a new street lighting system along the east and west ramps of the bridge. Other services included detailed inspection, onsite field testing of materials, and other construction activities.

Silver Award – LIRR Flushing Main Street Station ADA Accessibility Improvements

The Long Island Rail Road Flushing Main Street Station ADA accessibility improvements earned a silver award in transportation. Dewberry provided structural, geotechnical, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering services for the $10 million installation of two passenger elevators at the Flushing-Main Street Station.

The team worked to provide riders with ADA accessibility, create an inviting entranceway, and improve LIRR’s street presence. Additional platform area was created to provide access from the elevators to the existing platforms. Other upgrades included new machine rooms and stairs, platform lighting, ticket office improvements, and signage.