The American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina (ACEC-SC) held the 29th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala Feb. 3, 2015 at the Columbia Museum of Art. ACEC-SC honored the South Carolina engineering community and some of the best engineering projects completed between Nov. 1, 2012 – Oct. 31, 2014.
This year, ACEC-SC had 10 award winning entries which were evaluated and scored by a panel of judges. Each judge separately reviewed each project using the following criteria: original or innovative application of new or existing techniques; future value to the engineering profession and perception by the public; social, economic and sustainable design consideration; complexity; and exceeding owner/client needs. The top project earned the ACEC-SC Palmetto Award and the top four entries were eligible for the ACEC National Engineering Excellence Awards.
The judges were Joey Derby, County Engineer for Lexington County, Robert W. King, Jr., Retired and Mary Katherine Watson, PhD, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Citadel.
The night began with the 2014 ACEC-SC Service to the Profession Award. This year, ACEC-SC’s recipient is Mr. M Stevenson Smith, PE. To view his accomplishments and contributions to the engineering community, please click here.
Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc. (JMT) (Charleston, SC) and S&ME, Inc. (Mt. Pleasant, SC) captured the Palmetto Award for S-8-9 Emergency Bridge Replacemnt of CSX RR for the South Carolina Department of Transportation in the Structural Systems, $2 Million – $10 Million category. This project is also a 2015 ACEC Finalist. In April, 2014 a CSX train derailed and impacted the pile bent foundations of the Cypress Gardens Road (S-8-9) Bridge. When SCDOT personnel arrived on site, they determined that the 78 year old bridge was damaged beyond repair. The existing roadway and bridge did not meet current SCDOT and CSX design and safety standards and the requirements and upgrades to improve standards presented significant design challenges. Along with Cape Romain Contracors, JMT and S&ME’s performance ultimately resulted in a quality design that was very constructivle, met the SCDOT’s project criteria and enabled the project to be contructed on a fast track scheule that resulted in early completion.
The ACEC Finalist were:
• Civil Engineering Consulting Services, Inc. (CECS), (Columbia, SC), “I-20 Widening – Traffic Control”, for the SC Department of Transporation in the Studies, Research and Consulting Category, Over $10 Million. This project was also awarded the Engineering Excellence Award and the Small Firm Award.
• Davis & Floyd, Inc., (Charleston, SC) “Wind Turbine Drivetrain Test Facility” for Clemson University Restoration Institute in the Building/Technology Systems Category, Over $10 Million. This project was also awarded the Engineering Excellence Award.
• Thomas & Hutton, (Mt. Pleasant, SC) “Colleton Solar Farm” for Tig Sun Energy I, LLC, in the Energy Category, $2 Million – $10 Million. This project was also awarded the Engineering Excellence Award.
The following other top projects received Engineering Excellence Awards:
• GWA, Inc., (Columbia, SC) “AgFirst Operations Facility” for AgFirst Farm Credit Bank in the Building/Technology Systems, $2 Million – $10 Million.
• HDR, (North Charleston, SC) “US 78 Bridge Replacement” for the SC Department of Transporation in the Transporation Category, Over $10 million
• Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., (North Charleston, SC) “I-526 Corridor Analysis for the SC Department of Transporation in the Studies, Research and Consulting Category, $500,000 to $2 Million.
• Terracon Consultants, Inc. (North Charleston, SC) “Nexans Cable Manufacturing Plant” for Nexans High Voltage in the Industrial & Manufacturing Processes and Facilities, Less than $500,000.
This year’s ACEC-SC State Finalists were:
• GWA, Inc., (Columbia, SC) “UH/CH Infrastructure Relocation for the Medical University Hospital Authority in the Building/Technology Systems Category, Over $10 Million.
• Thomas & Hutton, (Mt. Pleasant, SC)“Forest Acres Drainage Improvements” for the City of Charleston in the Studies, Research and Consulting Category, $500,000-$2 Million.
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