Project Awards – Page 3 – Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure

Tampa International Airport Master Plan Phase I Project Awarded Envision Verified

8-August-2023

The Tampa International Airport Master Plan Phase I Project, led by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA), has earned an Envision Verified award for sustainable infrastructure. This project enhanced community mobility, emphasized mitigation against climate change impacts, and advanced many other sustainability goals across multiple Envision credit areas. Phase I was completed in 2018 after three years of work at Tampa International, which is the 23^rd-largest US airport, serving nearly 22 million passengers annually (2023 figures).

QUOTES:

Jeff Siddle, Vice President of Planning & Development:

“This Envision-verified certification for Tampa International Airport’s Master Plan Phase 1 is a tremendous achievement for Tampa International Airport. All of TPA’s leadership is proud of this organization’s planning and development processes and its focus on our sustainability program. TPA is known for its consistently excellent customer experience, but we also want to give our travelers the peace of mind that we are devoted to protecting our surrounding natural resources and maintaining them for the future.”

Eric Caplan, Sustainability and Resilience Program Director:

“Earning this honor for these critical projects was a difficult feat, particularly because we launched our certification efforts after the completion of these projects rather than during the development process per industry standard. This is a testament to how we’re able to effectively display our commitment to sustainability through detailed documentation, and it highlights just how well we organically integrate best practices into our processes.”

Read the full announcement.

WASTE PROJECT: BioPiattaforma di Sesto San Giovanni

28-June-2023

An innovative waste-to-energy plant in the Milan-area municipality of Sesto San Giovanni is the latest project to be awarded Envision Platinum in Italy, through ISI’s Italian partner ICMQ. With two production lines that combine waste treatment and water purification, the BioPiattaforma plant establishes a more sustainable, environmentally friendly process based on circular economy principles and the goal of regional self-sufficiency in waste management.

Read the project profile.

BioPiattaforma di Sesto San Giovanni Project Awarded Envision Platinum

28-June-2023

An innovative waste-to-energy plant in the Milan-area municipality of Sesto San Giovanni is the latest project to be awarded Envision Platinum in Italy, through ISI’s Italian partner ICMQ. With two production lines that combine waste treatment and water purification, the BioPiattaforma plant establishes a more sustainable, environmentally friendly process based on circular economy principles and the goal of regional self-sufficiency in waste management.

Read the project profile.

Phase II of Broad Channel Infrastructure Project Receives Envision Verified Award from ISI

23-May-2023

Streets in Broad Channel Phase I were raised to reduce their vulnerability to climate change and received new storm sewers, curbs, shared sidewalks, signs and crosswalks

(Long Island City, NY – May 23, 2023) NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley announced today that Phase II of an infrastructure project in Broad Channel, Queens, which is raising streets and adding new storm sewers to reduce flooding in an area that is frequently inundated by Jamaica Bay during high tides and storms has been selected to receive an Envision Verified Award for sustainability from ISI.

Phase II of the work will provide upgrades to residents on West 14^th Road, West 15^th Road, West 16^th Road and West 17^th Road. Construction includes the installation of new bulkheads at the end of each street to address eave attenuation and flood mitigation; rising each street’s centerline; shared streets; signage and striping that that will enhance safety by providing pedestrians the right of way; and the addition of new storm sewers and replacement of sanitary sewers and water mains.

Read the full project announcement here.

ROADS & HIGHWAYS PROJECT: Caltrans U.S. 101 Project

18-May-2023

The Caltrans U.S. 101 Project has become the first Envision-rated project to successfully complete the post-construction review stage of Envision verification. Retaining its Envision Silver Level awarded in 2021, the Caltrans U.S. 101 Project creates 22 miles of express lanes from the San Mateo County/Santa Clara County line to I-380 in South San Francisco. The project improves traffic conditions and travel times for motorists along the major commute route between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, advances air quality and quality of life goals and delivers a sustainable and efficient transportation network.

Post-construction review is the final Envision verification stage to confirm that commitments (i.e., pending credits) submitted during design were carried out successfully through construction to maintain the Envision Award.

QUOTES:

“Caltrans is committed to the four P’s – People, Programs & Projects, Partnerships, and Planet. We are proud to promote a sustainable method to construct 22 miles of express lanes in each direction on Highway 101 to reduce traffic congestion and encourage carpooling. We have also implemented a first-of-its-kind equity program which will serve historically underserved communities in San Mateo County,”

— Mohammad Suleiman, Caltrans Project Manager

“Retaining Envision Silver through this last stage of the third-party Envision verification process is truly an achievement that the project owner and project team should be proud of, as it affirms that commitments made during the initial design review were carried forward during the construction phase. With this milestone, it is worth celebrating the many sustainability achievements that have been demonstrated on this project.”
— Melissa Peneycad, ISI Managing Director

Read the full project profile.

ISI has awarded Envision Platinum to Alliant Energy’s Wood County Solar Project

18-April-2023

A project that is part of Alliant Energy’s plan to add nearly 1,100 MW of solar power is the latest infrastructure project to be awarded Envision Platinum, highlighting its contributions to sustainable development and clean and renewable energy.

Located in Saratoga, Wisconsin, the Wood County Solar Project, built by EPC contractor Burns & McDonnell, will produce approximately 300 GWh of electricity annually. Pre-project analysis carried out by Alliant Energy underlined the long-term economic, community, and environmental value of developing new utility-scale solar while retiring its coal-fired facilities in Wisconsin. This project is part of Alliant Energy’s solar program that includes adding nearly 1,100 MW of solar power into Wisconsin’s power grid by the summer of 2024.

Quotes:

“Guided by our purpose to serve our customers and build stronger communities, we are proud to be recognized with the Envision Platinum award for our Wood County Solar Project. We know it’s important to build projects with sustainability in mind because of what it means for our customers. We’re able to create a healthier environment while producing reliable, clean energy for the next 30 years.”
— Barbara Tormaschy, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Regulatory Strategy at Alliant Energy

“ISI congratulates Alliant Energy and the project partners on achieving Envision Platinum for an outstanding project that advances clean and renewable energy in Wisconsin. The independent, third-party verification process using the Envision Framework determined that this project attained the highest award level possible, with significant accomplishments that will benefit the local community and environmental sustainability for decades to come.”
— Melissa Peneycad, ISI Managing Director

In the full project announcement, learn more about the verified results of this project, which included accomplishments tied to protection of wetlands and habitats, well-planned resource management, beneficial use of timber, and greater infrastructure integration and efficiencies.

Holland Area WRF Anaerobic Digester Project Earns Envision Gold

2-February-2023

The Holland Area Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) operated by the Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW) received an Envision Gold rating for sustainability for an anaerobic digester project. This project adds an anaerobic digester for solids reduction and biogas collection, treatment and cogeneration at the Holland Area Water Reclamation Facility WRF operated by HBPW.

In response to reduced landfill options for dewatered solids disposal, limitations on land applications of biosolids, and limitations on the volume of solids that can be stored at the WRF, anaerobic digestion provides a more sustainable option. The anaerobic digester at the WRF is expected to reduce the amount of wastewater solids from the water reclamation process by approximately 50%. The digestion process reduces solids by converting a portion of those solids to biogas. The generation of this biogas in turn allows the WRF to produce electricity and heat from the wastewater being treated. The facility will treat the wastewater solids to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Class A biosolids standard, which allows many options for beneficial reuse including fertilizer. Anaerobic digestion also reduces the odor potential of the wastewater solids.

HBPW has demonstrated a continuous commitment to getting the best out of major infrastructure. This is the utility’s second Envision rating. In 2016, Holland Energy Park was the first base load power generating plant to receive an Envision rating.

QUOTES

“Envision goes beyond the basic efforts of project management and development, into areas that benefit the community in a holistic way,” explained Dave Koster, HBPW General Manager. “Our goal is to bring as much value to those impacted by the project as possible.”

“Options for disposing of biosolids are increasingly difficult to find and the costs are raising. The anaerobic digester allows us to address these challenges in a sustainable way,” said Joel Davenport, HBPW Operations Manager.

Melissa Peneycad, ISI’s managing director, noted: “HBPW and the project partners engaged with the community to ensure its needs and goals were understood and incorporated to the greatest extent possible, and the result is a transformative development for sustainability at the Holland Area WRF that will benefit the community for many years to come. Congratulations to the entire project team on the success of this project.”

“The Envision framework digs into details that ensure that the design and construction will benefit the community for the long haul,” said Sam Bender, HBPW Water & Wastewater Process Engineer. “It is an honor to work through this process knowing that what we build today will continue to have a positive impact far into the future.”

SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVEMENTS

The Envision verification process recognized achievements on this project related to:

use of renewable energy to meet current and future demand.
demonstrated leadership commitment to sustainability
protecting surface and groundwater quality; and
alignment with community quality of life goals

View the full announcement in our project directory.

‘Pushing the Boundaries of What Sustainability Means for Airports Infrastructure’

4-January-2023

The Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) has earned an Envision Platinum award for their Runway 5R-23L & Taxiway D Strengthening and Capacity Enhancement Project at Indianapolis International Airport (IND).

IND is a medium hub primary commercial service facility located on approximately 7,700 acres seven miles southwest of downtown Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana. Home to the second-largest FedEx Express Hub in the world, IND is a crucial link in the movement of freight across the globe. This Project centers on Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D, critical facilities located on the airport’s southeast side. Known as the “south parallel,” Runway 5R-23L is a 150-foot-wide-by-10,000-foot-long runway. It supports most cargo operations at the airport, along with a significant amount of commercial airline traffic.

The project’s Envision-verified achievements center on contributions to the local economy and workforce development, engagement with partners to specifically guide those contributions, use of a life-cycle economic analysis to support decision-making, renewable energy measures, and novel uses of technology to reduce carbon emissions.

“The Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D Reconstruction exemplifies the Indianapolis Airport Authority’s commitment to meeting our operational needs without compromising the natural environment,” said Mario Rodriguez, IAA executive director. “From day one, we have kept the community front of mind and worked with a diverse set of individuals to deliver a meaningful project that emphasizes the airport’s public value to our stakeholders, passengers, and community.”

“The Indy airport is committed to sustainable and resilient development, maintenance, and operations,” said Jarod Klaas, IAA senior director of planning and development. “We accomplish this with the help of our team members, project partners, and the support and guidance of the Federal Aviation Administration.”

“This project has pushed the boundaries of what sustainability means for airport infrastructure,” said Todd Cavender, IAA director of environment and sustainability. “Our focus on public value enabled us to think creatively and work with industry partners to maximize environmental, social, and economic outcomes for all involved.”

“We are pleased to announce an Envision Platinum Award for Indianapolis International Airport’s Runway 5R-23L & Taxiway D Strengthening and Capacity Enhancement Project.” said Melissa Peneycad, ISI managing director. “The project team recognized the potential for job creation with the project but went much further, collaborating with local partners to address opportunity gaps and proposing an even stronger community impact. The project also builds in several environmental accomplishments, and notably, it represents the first-ever FAA-approved design for an airfield project using carbon capture technology.”

Read the full announcement Read our Envision for Airports Executive Brief

Ship Canal Water Quality Project in Seattle Earns Envision Platinum Rating

13-December-2022

The Ship Canal Water Quality Project includes a 2.7-mile, 18-ft and 10-in internal-diameter tunnel that will extend from Ballard to Wallingford. Left: Ballard Tunnel Segment. Right: Wallingford Shaft Site. Photos supplied in December 2022 courtesy Seattle Public Utilities.

Seattle Public Utilities’ Ship Canal Water Quality Project has been awarded Envision Platinum for sustainability. This project had verified achievements across several areas of the Envision framework, and in particular, it will bring significant water quality improvements to prevent 75 million gallons of polluted stormwater and sewage from entering the region’s waterways on average each year.

Public Utilities and King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division are completing an underground storage tunnel to reduce the amount of polluted stormwater runoff and sewage that flows in the Lake Washington Ship Canal, Salmon Bay, and Lake Union from the sewer system.

In some parts of Seattle (as with many other places), stormwater and sewage share a set of pipes — a combined sewer system which, during heavy storm/rain events, overflows when pipe capacity is exceeded. Untreated sewage and stormwater then flow directly into the Ship Canal, posing public health concerns and harming fish, wildlife, and the environment. The Ship Canal Water Quality Project is crucial for keeping the waterways clean and protecting human health and the environment over the long term.

This project is funded in part by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Environmental Protection Agency through the State Revolving Fund and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans. The project’s 2.7-mile, 18’10”-diameter tunnel will be able to capture and temporarily hold more than 29 million gallons of stormwater and sewage during heavy rains. As the heavy rains subside, flows will be sent to King County’s West Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Magnolia for treatment.

View the full announcement in our Project Directory.

Downtown Redmond Link Extension Earns Envision Platinum Award for Sustainability

8-December-2022

Downtown Redmond Station construction progress October 11, 2022. Photo courtesy Sound Transit.

Sound Transit’s new light rail project that will bring service to downtown Redmond, Washington, has been awarded an Envision Platinum Award, with sustainable achievements across five areas of Envision. Sound Transit is building the extension with parters who include Jacobs (Lead Design Firm), Stacy and Witbeck/Kuney, a Joint Venture; WSP, Hatch LTK, Hensel Phelps, and Modern Railway Systems.

The Downtown Redmond Link Extension Project (DRLE) is a 3.4-mile light rail extension that includes new surface and elevated guideway structures, stations at Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond, a parking garage, and associated utility, drainage, environmental, and roadway improvements. Currently under construction, this project will extend Sound Transit’s 2 line from the future Redmond Technology Station providing residents and commuters in Redmond with direct light rail service to Overlake, Bellevue, Mercer Island, downtown Seattle, the University of Washington, Northgate, Lynnwood, SeaTac Airport and Federal Way.