4
BUSINESS NEWS BOWMAN CONSULTING GROUP LTD. AWARDED $2 MILLION PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BY THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. announced that the Forest Preserves of Cook County awarded the company a $2 million, three-year contract for professional engineering services for districtwide transportation improvements. Bowman is pleased to partner with the following subconsultants on this project: Accurate Group, Inc.,
Applied Research Associates, Inc., GSG Consultants, Inc., Princeton Technical Services, Inc. and R.M. Chin & Associates. The contract includes both Phase II design engineering and Phase III construction engineering services for the Forest Preserves, which operates and maintains more than 300 parking lot access areas, 155 miles of paved trails and 70,000 acres of land in Cook County, Illinois. Project work will involve site inspections, pavement coring, surveys, coordination, engineering design,
plan and bid document preparation, construction cost estimating, permitting, and construction management services for rehabilitating parking lots, access roads and trails. “We look forward to this opportunity,” said Jeff Druckman, Bowman senior vice president. “We specifically assembled a highly qualified, multi-disciplined and diverse team to provide the Forest Preserves with the professional services they require.”
plan to hit the curve, you’ll be ready to swing as soon as it leaves the pitcher’s hand. 4. Rally the team. You can’t do it alone. In baseball you’re relying on the other eight guys out there with you on the field to win the game. And don’t forget the rally caps and cheers coming from the dugout, too. From the parks director and his team, surveyors, engineers, architects, and contractors, we all work together in unison toward the ultimate goal of getting the job done. This means communication and collaboration are key to bringing a project to life. At the end of the day, we have to remember that a run is a run, and a win is a win. A sacrifice bunt is just as good as a base hit, and creating teamwork within stakeholders helps everyone to check egos at the door and remember the point of the game. 5. Love the game. When I left the game, I thought my days with baseball outside of spectating were over, but who knew getting into civil engineering would get me right back into it? Designing parks and baseball fields where I spent the majority of my childhood life has been such a unique and unbelievable opportunity; it has kept that love of the game burning inside me. I got to dust off that old glove and slip right back into those stinky cleats. My college debut was a memorable one – from first pitch to last with a burst of adrenaline and no runs while I was on the mound. I’ll never forget it. These are the memories I hold on to as I design parks. I think of other young aspiring players making memories with their teammates, coaches, and fans. The rush of knowing scouts could be watching you. The playful cheers in the distance of little siblings on the playground and by the concession stand. Can you see it all now? A park is so much more than just grass and dirt. It’s memories. Life lessons. A lifestyle, even. Some families spend their whole summer at ballparks. That’s not to be taken lightly. If we swing for the fence, remember the fans, watch for curveballs, and rally our team, we will be successful. Because that’s what the game is all about. And I love it. Scott McNally, PE, is a site development department manager at Croy. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
SCOTT MCNALLY, from page 3
successful. I use this strategy in engineering as I prepare for a meeting, drawing from past experiences. Of course, if you’ve ever watched a baseball game, you know even the best players don’t hit a home run every time they’re up to bat. But they still step up to the plate. Don’t let the fear of striking out stop you from swinging. Mistakes happen, it’s part of all aspects of life, but if you run from it and always leave the bat on your shoulder, it will never take you anywhere. Learn from your mistakes and take another swing. 2. It’s all about the fans. There is a lot of pride in design, but I try to never set my goals for the project above that of my clients and end-users – because, in the end, it’s all about them. When I begin to work on a park project, or any project for that matter, I always envision how different users will interact with, and throughout, the space. To create a place that helps people create memories and feel welcomed, I recommend considering ways to incorporate creative placemaking into the design. For example, secluded areas for quiet conversations, wide pathways to accommodate a family, or lighting that creates a safe environment. Make your bathrooms easy to access and maintain. Or, design places with unique architecture, local public art displays, or distinctive signage that encourages photos and memories (and marketing for your community). 3. Watch out for curveballs. Greg Maddux is the best pitcher the world has ever seen. Did he throw fastballs all day? No! There will always be curveballs, and I like to identify those early and plan for them. To do this, meet with your client and develop a risk register to help avoid striking out on a job. Questions to ask during this phase include: What are their concerns? What could delay construction (permitting, land acquisition, public engagement, politics, etc.)? What may increase costs? At Croy, we work to develop plans early in the project process in case we encounter the unexpected: large amounts of rock, bad soil, or high construction costs. If you
© Copyright 2022. Zweig Group. All rights reserved.
THE ZWEIG LETTER OCTOBER 10, 2022, ISSUE 1460
Made with FlippingBook Annual report