Three Local Construction Projects Receive Accolades

Engineering News-Record (ENR)* recently announced its 2016 Mid-Atlantic Region Best Projects, and the winners included three local projects.  Included among the winners were the Hulton Bridge Replacement, the Flight 93 National Memorial Plaza and Visitor Center and The Tower at PNC Plaza.

The Hulton Bridge Replacement was selected as an Award of Merit winner in the Highway/Bridge category.  The $64.8M Bridge project, completed by Brayman Construction in October 2015 replaced the original structure that was built in 1908.  The new bridge is a 1,633 ft. long, 4-lane, 5-span steel girder bridge that connects Harmar Township and Oakmont Borough.  Brayman faced construction challenges that included cold winter temperatures and U.S. Coast Guard limitations on closing the channel, but used innovative strand jacking to erect all five girders simultaneously to complete the project before the 2016 U.S. Open (which was hosted at Oakmont Country Club).  

The Flight 93 National Memorial Plaza and Visitor Center in Stonycreek Township, Pa was awarded Best Project in the Landscape/Hardscape Category.  The $25.3M Flight 93 project includes large cast concrete walls, a black granite walkway, the Memorial Plaza and Wall of Names, 40 Memorial Groves (one for each of the passengers and crew) and a Visitors Center and Wetlands Bridge.  The project was completed in September 2015 and obtained LEED Gold Certification through 100% open space being vegetated, 49% energy cost savings and 21% total building materials content use of recycled materials among other sustainability measures.

The Tower at PNC Plaza was awarded Best Project in the Office/Retail/Mixed-Use Category.  The $310M Tower project, completed by PJ Dick in October 2015, is 33 stories and 802,000 square feet of LEED Platinum Certification new construction.  The project utilized innovative design features including a solar chimney to facilitate natural ventilation and reduce energy consumption, rain water collection and reuse systems to reduce water use, and geothermal wells and occupancy-based heating and cooling systems to reduce energy consumption.  Over 400,000 square feet of glass and 11,000 tons of structural steel went into building the Tower project in downtown Pittsburgh, dubbed the “Greenest Skyrise in the World.”

The projects were evaluated by eight chosen industry professionals according to set criteria including the project team’s ability to overcome challenges; the project’s contribution to the industry and community; safety; and construction and design quality.  The projects had to be completed between May 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016 to be evaluated in the competition.  Congratulations to our local contractors and projects for highlighting the innovative and high quality construction being completed in Western Pennsylvania.   

For more information, please visit our Our Thoughts On blog or contact Schneider Downs.

*  - ENRMidAtlantic October 24, 2016