2008 Engineering Excellence Award Winners

Grand Award
Malcolm Pirnie
Birmingham, AL

Granular Activated Carbon Master Planning Project

Malcolm Pirnie’s evaluation of low cost treatment alternatives with granular activated carbon (GAC) for regulatory compliance will save The Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Birmingham (BWWSB) approximately $35,000,000 in construction costs, allow them to meet upcoming regulatory deadlines, and provide the foundation for an industry standard guidance manual on cost effective compliance strategies using GAC biofilters.  Infrastructure replacement and system expansion costs have limited the BWWSB’s ability to fund capital improvements to meet upcoming water quality regulations.  Malcolm Pirnie’s GAC Master Planning Project focused on leveraging previous studies, planned facility upgrades, and available treatment technologies to quickly and cost effectively achieve regulatory compliance.  This study included performance benchmarking, a review of planned capital improvements, a nation-wide survey of water utilities using GAC, best technology short-listing, a year-long pilot scale evaluation of alternatives, an evaluation of construction and operational costs, and a recommendation for implementation.  Although GAC has been used in filters for many years, none of the surveyed facilities used biologically active GAC for organics removal and regulatory compliance without the use of ozone.  Malcolm Pirnie’s GAC pilot study, comparing GAC biofilters (without ozone) and traditional dual media filters, proved their viability for achieving regulatory compliance with both low filtered water organics and effluent turbidity.  The study also found that with limited modifications to planned filter upgrades, the GAC biofilters could be incorporated into the existing treatment plants for relatively little capital cost.  Additionally, few operational changes would be necessary to manage the GAC biofilters, resulting in little to no additional operator training.  Given the growing demand on water utilities to replace aging buried infrastructure, supply water to growing populations, and limit water rate increases, the application of these results to utilities across the country has gained national interest.  A second phase of study is now underway with national and state regulatory agencies, universities, and a national research association to develop a standard guidance document for retrofitting water facilities with GAC biofilters across the country for cost effective regulatory compliance.

State Award
Sain Associates, Inc.
Birmingham, AL

Eastwood Village - Civil and Surveying Services

Sain Associates, Inc. was retained by both Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and MAP Development, LLC to provide civil engineering and surveying services for the redevelopment of the former Eastwood Mall area in Birmingham, Alabama into what is now called Eastwood Village.  The former Eastwood Mall area, which is approximately 50 acres in size, comprised of a +/- 800,000 square foot, 50-year old enclosed shopping mall with associated parking and multiple out parcels with various buildings, all of which required extensive investigations prior to design of the demolition of these structures and design of the new Eastwood Village shopping center. Eastwood Village opened in September 2007.  Sain's scope of services, originally initiated in 2000, included conceptual site planning, boundary and topographic survey, traffic study and signal warrant analyses, and all aspects of site development civil engineering design and permitting services to meet governing authority and owner/tenant criteria. Sain also retained subconsultants to perform due diligence investigations including geotechnical investigation; Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments; and Alabama Department of Environmental Management "Brownfield" coordination. This was a very complex project with challenges throughout the project duration from initial due diligence investigations to construction and final close-out. The site is bound on all sides by heavily-traveled City and State thoroughfares which required detailed analyses of traffic patterns and traffic signal usages. Improvements to these roadways were also included in Sain's scope of services. Based on the environmental studies, the former development contained contaminated soils and hazardous materials thus requiring Sain to address these issues. The relocation of existing utility mains (water, sanitary sewer, gas, telephone, and power) traversing the site was included in Sain's scope. Sain handled all of the permitting and approvals with all of the governing authorities for the site work elements of the project.  The Eastwood Village development revitalizes the Birmingham area by providing an economic boost with new retail and commercial opportunities.

Honor Award
TTL, Inc.
Tuscaloosa, AL

Prince Glover Law Firm - Alabama's First Load Transfer Platform

TTL was contracted by the Prince Glover Law firm to perform a geotechnical investigation for such a site located on the north bank of the Black Warrior River that was being considered for construction of their new office building.  Building construction was complicated by the fact that the site was underlain by 35 to 40 feet of soft alluvial river deposits in and in addition, the building would have to be constructed approximately 15 feet above existing site grades to stay above high river flood elevation.  Avter careful consideration of several alternatives, TTL chose to design and build a geosynthetically reinforced Load Transfer Platform (LTP).  An LTP generally consists of a grid of deep foundation elements used to transfer embankment fill and or structural loads to an underlying firm foundation material, and a platform which is constructed with geosynthetic reinforcement and dense aggregate base material.  Conventional soil fill is then placed over the platform to raise the site to the desired elevation.  Because construction of the LTP allowed for compacted earth fill to be utilized, the building supported on a conventional shallow foundation system.  This was the first LTP ever designed or constructed in Alabama