Civil+Structural Engineer Magazine’s Inaugural YEA Winners
The inaugural YEA Awards were given to projects that demonstra- bly impacted sustainability and community improvement while also moving the AEC industry forward through groundbreaking innova - tion and the development of new technical processes. Some of these winning projects used alternative, environmentally-friendly materi- als as a part of the design process. Materials such as polycarbonate ringmail for shading and expansive timber for framing impact their local communities while also driving the AEC industry towards more sustainable building practices. Still, other projects are innovative in their ability to combine form and function. From shipping containers being repurposed as office units to a senior housing community that also provides housing for college students with children, the inaugu- ral YEA winners provide crucial support within their setting and a model for others to follow. Many of these winning projects are critical to the sustained health of their communities. Several of our winning projects feature water and stormwater solutions to communities that are in dire need. These solu - tions come in the form of ensuring water redundancy for a growing community, storing and managing water in a historically water-poor area, and enhancing water capacity to a growing industrial area. At the same time, whether through particular changes in design or long term planning considerations, these projects are models for further address- ing the needs of underserved communities. As we move forward into another new year, fraught with the endless challenges of the unknown, the inaugural YEA winners demonstrate the paths that we must take to move the AEC industry forward. And, as the builders and designers of the world around us, this will, in turn, move the world around us forward. As the engineers, architects, build - ers, designers, and carpenters of years past rose to meet the challenges of their age, these projects are cast in that same spirit, allowing us to rise to the challenges of an unknown future.
By Luke Carothers
This special issue of Civil+Structural Engineer Magazine marks the conclusion of our inaugural Yearbook of Engineering Achievement (YEA) awards and the announcement of our winners. Our first ever field of competitors for the award ran the gamut from water infrastruc- ture projects to new applications of ringmail as a shading material. The average size of firms being honored in this issue is just under 360 employees with the smallest winner having just six employees and the largest winner having over 1,000. Our inaugural YEA winners are projects that significantly impact not only the communities in which they are located, but also the AEC industry as a whole and our conver - sations about sustainability and equity. In the same way, these projects span not only the United States, but the entire world in location and impact. Out of the 11 projects selected as YEA award winners, 9 different states are represented, from the East Coast to the West Coast as well as the South and the Upper Midwest, with one project located in Dubai. These projects are residential and commercial buildings, pedestrian and transportation infrastructure projects, and water and stormwater infrastructure projects that serve a vital role in the communities they serve. In some cases, our winners are part of larger redevelopment projects, seeking to improve underserved communities over the long run. Other winning projects present innovative solutions to commercial and resi- dential issues in both urban and suburban communities. At an average cost of just under $20,900,000 per project, these winning submissions demonstrate a willing investment in both protecting and rejuvenating communities that need it most. There are numerous projects amongst our inaugural YEA winners that are parts, both large and small, of larger initiatives to improve particular areas and communities. In some cases, these projects are aimed at improving the quality of life in underserved areas while, in other cases, these projects provide critical infrastructure to growing communities.
YEA 2021 • Firms Represented: 11 • Projects Submitted: 34
• Average Cost of Project: $20,900,000 • Average Firm Size: 360 employees • States Represented: Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, California, Texas, Nebraska, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia • Countries Represented: United States and New Zealand (UAE)
LUKE CAROTHERS is the Editor for Civil + Structural Engineer Media. If you want us to cover your project or want to feature your own article, he can be reached at lcarothers@zweiggroup.com.
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February 2022 csengineermag.com
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