AECOMClient: District of Columbia Department of Transportation
The new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge completely transforms Washington, D.C.’s South Capitol Street corridor into an iconic and grand urban boulevard. Replacing a nearly 70-year-old structure to carry South Capitol Street over the Anacostia River, the new six-lane through-arch bridge contains three vehicle travel lanes in each direction. Generous 18-foot-wide pedestrian and bicycle paths on each side connect to a large pedestrian overlook where the arches meet the supporting concrete piers. The bridge is technologically advanced and designed for long-term durability, structural integrity, and sustainability, to continue a lasting tribute to Frederick Douglass.
Benesch/Modjeski and MastersClient: Iowa Department of Transportation
Spanning the Mississippi River, this $1 billion megaproject was borne out of the need for increased capacity and structural improvements to the I-74 corridor serving the cities of Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois, and Bettendorf and Davenport in Iowa. The massive 3,300-foot-long signature arch bridge and multi-use path form the centerpiece of the 7.8-mile corridor reconstruction project. The project highlight consists of two basket-handle, through-arch structures spanning the river. The crossing’s attractiveness is complemented by an intricate hybrid foundation design well suited to the area’s complex, seismically active geology.
HDRClient: South Carolina Ports Authority
The $1 billion, 135-acre project is the nation’s first completed greenfield container terminal in the last decade. As the flagship facility of the South Carolina Ports Authority, the Leatherman Terminal will feature some of the tallest cranes on the East Coast, as well as emission-reducing electric ship-to-shore cranes and a container yard large enough to accommodate 700,000 terminal equivalent units. The project also reduces impacts on the environment, with nearby Drum Island transformed into a natural oasis with more than 100,000 new native plants. The project team overcame unusual challenges such as 70 feet of unsuitable mud, an unimaginable quantity of buried materials, and potential exposure to World War II-era bombs left over from the site’s previous life as a U.S. Navy installation.
Muller Engineering CompanyClient: Jefferson County Open Space
The new gateway to Clear Creek Canyon and the Rocky Mountains unearthed a great treasure of historic and recreational promise previously hidden underneath. The 10-foot-wide Gateway Segment extends the Peaks to Plains Trail almost two miles into the canyon and includes two major trailheads with parking for almost 170 vehicles, as well as restrooms, shade shelters, and a shuttle bus stop. To maximize accessibility and environmental sensitivity, the trail was carefully routed between creek-side cliffs and riparian areas while keeping trail grades flat. A wooden irrigation flume from the 1930s was rehabilitated to create a secondary hiking trail, while historic stone walls from the 1870s Colorado Central Railroad were preserved and repaired.
PAEClient: First and Pine
Located in Portland’s historic Old Town district, the five-story, 58,000-square-foot mixed-use building is the world’s largest commercial urban “living building,” meaning the structure meets the most rigorous standards for sustainable design, construction, and performance. The structure features photovoltaic panels that produce 110 percent of the building’s electricity needs. All water is supplied from an on-site rainwater capture system that provides graywater treatment and nutrient recovery. The building also boasts a mass timber structural core that provides a 103 percent reduction in carbon emissions.
STV/Satterfield & Pontikes (joint venture)Client: Delta Air Lines
The new $4 billion state-of-the-art facility serves as Delta Air Lines’ regional hub for New York City and the tristate area. The project consolidates two outdated terminals into a 1.3-million-square-foot, LEED Silver facility with 37 gates spanning four concourses. The terminal’s new headhouse, along with a new road network, opened in June 2022, providing passengers with a seamless check-in process in light-filled open spaces and innovative technology. The rest of Terminal C is set to be completed by the end of 2024—almost two years earlier than originally planned.
Thornton TomasettiClient: Populous
The former historic KeyArena, which was originally built in 1962 for Seattle’s World Fair, is now the groundbreaking Climate Pledge Arena and home to the new Seattle Kraken National Hockey League franchise. The $930 million renovation and expansion created an 800,000-square-foot, mostly below-grade venue with seating for more than 17,000 fans. The project team was challenged to preserve and support a 44-million-pound roof and exterior curtain wall, while the underlying structure was demolished to create the new facility. The structural design also incorporated numerous sustainability elements to ensure stability in the event of an earthquake and holds the distinction of being the first net zero-certified arena in the world.