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WATER TREATMENT: New Saco River Water Drinking Water Resource

13-July-2022

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) has awarded Maine Water Company’s Saco River Drinking Water Resource Center the Envision Silver Award for sustainable infrastructure. The center treats and filters water from the Saco River in Biddeford, Maine so that 40,000 people in the communities of Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Pine Point have a reliable supply of high-quality drinking water that meets all state and federal drinking water standards.

This award recognizes the success of the project team in achieving sustainability goals in these areas:

— Leadership in sustainability
— Use of renewable energy
— Protecting surface and groundwater sources
— Wetland restorage
— Preparing for long-term adaptability

On behalf of Maine Water employees and the company, we are pleased to be the first project in New England to receive a Silver Level Award from ISI. When it became clear that our 1884 drinking water plant needed to be replaced, we were intentional about demonstrating our long-held commitment to the environment and sustainability. The Saco River Drinking Water Resource Center will be a source of high-quality drinking water for decades and generations to come and will do so responsibly. We thank our partners Hazen and Sawyer and MWH who shared our passion and commitment to the project and its sustainability.

View the full announcement in our Project Directory.

BRIDGE PROJECT: Sixth Street Viaduct

13-July-2022

Photo courtesy of Skanska-Stacy and Witbeck (SSW).

The Sixth Street Viaduct, the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles, has earned an Envision Platinum award for sustainability, specifically for addressing community needs, adding significant public space and amenities, and improving community safety and resiliency.

The $588-million project is funded by the Federal Highway Transportation Administration, the California Department of Transportation, and the City of Los Angeles. The City’s Bureau of Engineering, under the leadership of City Engineer Gary Lee Moore and in partnership with the City’s Bureau of Contract Administration, led the development of the new Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project.

The new bridge was designed by HNTB Corp, with HNTB the Engineer and Architect of Record, in collaboration with Los Angeles architect Michael Maltzan Associates and Danish architect Dissing+Weitling. Construction of the bridge was delivered through CMGC and led by a joint venture of contractors Skanska-Stacy and Witbeck (SSW).

“The Ribbon of Light,” as the viaduct has been dubbed, opened with a July 9th public celebration held on the viaduct followed by full opening to traffic on July 10th, 2022.

Verified Sustainability Achievements

—Providing much-needed public space and amenities.
—Improving community safety and incorporating alternative modes of transportation into the project’s design.
—Rebuilding an iconic structure.
—Supporting long-term sustainable growth and development.
—Incorporating resiliency into the design.

Quote

“The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering is proud to deliver the largest bridge project in the city’s history,” said Gary Lee Moore, City Engineer. “The new viaduct looks to the future and will unite the community with a multi-model structure that will be a destination point for both residents and visitors. This project is an example of what future infrastructure projects should strive to achieve through collaboration with stakeholders and the delivery of a project that improves community mobility, quality of life, safety and resilience. The Sixth Street Viaduct has achieved these sustainable goals, as shown by the Platinum Envision award.”

View the full announcement in our Project Directory.

STORMWATER: Long Beach Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment Facility

14-April-2022

The Long Beach Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment Project (LB-MUST) is a comprehensive and innovative regional project.

It will intercept and treat dry weather runoff, and first-flush storm flows generated within the City of Long Beach before discharging to the Los Angeles River and Estuary. The centralized downstream advanced treatment facility has a planned capacity capable of collecting and diverting approximately 41% of the City’s 12,200-acre watershed.

The LB-MUST is a prime example of a project in the Lower Los Angeles River Watershed that provides incentives for water agencies throughout each watershed to collaborate in managing the region’s water resources and setting regional priorities for water infrastructure and improving the region’s water self-reliance. This is a multi-benefit infrastructure project that achieves many essential goals such as:

— Advancing local hire and job training goals.

— Using nature-based solutions.

— Providing benefits to disadvantaged communities and economically distressed areas.

— Providing inspiration and education to other agencies and the community, such as delivering multi-benefit solutions to address community challenges.

Colin Averill, PE, Civil Engineer, City of Long Beach Public Works, Engineering Bureau: “Long Beach continues its commitment to improving water quality by delivering an innovative project to treat stormwater and urban runoff with capacity for a substantial portion of the City’s watershed. Sustainability extends beyond the project limits with water reuse, community, and environmental benefits that will support expanded greenspace along the LA River.”

View the full announcement in the Project Directory.

PORT INFRASTRUCTURE: Centerm Expansion & South Shore Access Project

31-March-2022

The Centerm Expansion Project and the South Shore Access Project at the Port of Vancouver have obtained an Envision Platinum Award for Sustainability.

This design-build project centers on terminal expansion and improvements which will increase container and vessel handling capacity, but includes off-terminal improvements to the adjacent road and rail network. The combined project will help meet the increasing export and import demand for containers shipped through the Port of Vancouver.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is concurrently delivering these improvements with project partner WSP Canada, Inc. (the lead Envision Firm); AECOM; Centennial Expansion Partners (CXP), a joint venture between Dragados Canada, Jacob Brothers Construction, and Fraser River Pile & Dredge Inc.

This award recognizes the success of the project team in achieving sustainability goals in these areas:

— Prioritizing the needs and goals of the local communities through meaningful investments.
— Meaningful and credible stakeholder engagement.
— Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions
— Sustainable siting and innovative marine restoration.

View the full announcement in our Project Directory.

ROADS & HIGHWAYS PROJECT: NMDOT I-25/University Avenue Interchange Improvements

24-March-2022

New Mexico Department of Transportation’s I-25/University Avenue Interchange Improvements Project became the first project in the State to earn an Envision Rating for Sustainable Infrastructure

This $35 million project, which began in January 2020 and finalized in October 2021, was a joint initiative between the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), the City of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University (NMSU), and other local stakeholders.

The I-25/University Interchange serves as the main access point to several local communities and the NMSU campus, all of which have seen significant growth in recent years.

The purpose of this project was to:

— Add capacity to the I-25 southbound off-ramp at University Avenue.

— Reduce congestion, weaving, and backups onto off-ramps.

— Incorporate roundabouts to improve traffic flow.

— Encourage multi-modal transportation options for cyclists and pedestrians.

View the full announcement in the Project Directory.

SUBWAY INFRASTRUCTURE: Vendôme metro station project

17-March-2022

The new entrance building to the Vendôme metro station project in Montréal, Québec was awarded a Gold Envision Rating for sustainable infrastructure. Built in partnership with the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), exo, and the McGill University Heath Centre (MUHC); this project was designed to provide universal access to the Vendôme intermodal hub from the MUHC.

The project consists of developing a new entrance to the Vendôme metro station and a pedestrian link between Maisonneuve Boulevard, the Vendôme intermodal hub, and the MUHC. The new Vendôme station infrastructure, including the entrance, train station platforms, a pedestrian tunnel leading to the hospital complex, and walkways, are equipped with elevators and universal accessibility devices, such as enlarged motorized butterfly doors and swing gates.

The aims of this project are to:

— Improve traffic flow and capacity within the station to meet the increasing number of users.
— Connect the MUHC to the Vendôme intermodal hub.
— Make the station universally accessible.
— Improve the operational efficiency of the station.

View the full announcement in the Project Directory.

–French Translation–

Le projet de nouvel édicule de la station de métro Vendôme à Montréal, au Québec, s’est vu décerner la distinction Envision Or pour son infrastructure durable.

Il s’agit du deuxième projet Envision pour la STM. Leur premier était le projet de Garage Côte-Vertu qui a reçu Envision Platine en septembre 2021.

Le projet de nouvel édicule de la station de métro Vendôme à Montréal, au Québec, s’est vu décerner la distinction Envision Or pour son infrastructure durable. Construit en partenariat avec la Société de transport de Montréal (STM), exo et le Centre universitaire de santé McGill (CUSM), ce projet a été conçu pour offrir une accessibilité universelle au pôle multimodal Vendôme depuis le CUSM.

Il comprend la construction d’un nouvel accès menant à la station de métro Vendôme et un lien piétonnier entre le boulevard De Maisonneuve, le pôle multimodal Vendôme et le CUSM. Le nouveau bâtiment d’accès à la station de métro facilite grandement les déplacements pour toutes les clientèles, notamment celle à mobilité réduite. Les quais de la gare exo, le tunnel piétonnier menant vers le Centre universitaire de santé McGill, ainsi que les aménagements de surface sont pourvus d’ascenseurs et de dispositifs d’accessibilité universelle, tels que des portes-papillon motorisées élargies et des portillons à vantaux.

Le projet vise à :

— améliorer la circulation à l’intérieur de la station et sa capacité d’accueil pour tenir compte du nombre croissant d’usagers;
— relier le CUSM au pôle multimodal Vendôme;
— rendre la station universellement accessible;
— améliorer l’efficacité de la station sur le plan opérationnel.

Consultez l’annonce complète dans le répertoire des projets.

WATER DISTRIBUTION: Clearwell 9 Replacement Project

12-January-2022

The City of Evanston’s $20M Clearwell 9 Replacement Project includes the replacement of a five million gallon treated water storage reservoir with a new similarly sized facility, a new overflow, a new submersible pumping system, and site piping modifications. A parking lot was also converted into green space as part of this project.

The original Clearwell had been operational since 1934. After decades of serving the community, the project deteriorated, which prompted the city of Evanston to determine its long-term needs for treated water storage. A lifecycle cost analysis was undertaken to determine the best course of action for the facility: repair it or replace it. The study concluded that it would be most cost-effective to replace the Clearwell. In addition to a badly deteriorated roof, the characteristics of the existing pumps in the system were such that the bottom several feet of the reservoir could not be pumped out. This meant the city of Evanston was not able to utilize the full stored volume of water.

Many factors contributed to this project’s Envision award, including improving views, enhancing community aesthetics, adding new public space, engaging stakeholders, and protecting the natural world.

Learn more about the sustainability of this project in the Project Awards Directory.

BRIDGE PROJECT: Gordie Howe International Bridge

2-December-2021

The Gordie Howe International Bridge will provide an essential international crossing between Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Detroit, Michigan, in the United States. This is a once-in-a-generation undertaking that will deliver significant and much-needed transportation improvements for international travelers and will provide jobs and economic growth opportunities, among other benefits. The Project earned Envision Platinum.

The Windsor-Detroit trade corridor is considered the busiest commercial border crossing between Canada and the United States, accounting for more than 25 percent of all surface trade between the two countries. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will provide for redundancy at the critical trade corridor with improved border processing and highway-to-highway international connectivity. It also addresses future needs and will provide six lanes to meet anticipated growth in traffic over the years to come.

This project is being delivered through a public-private partnership (P3), a model where the private- and public-sector partners assume an appropriate share of the risks and where the private-sector’s expertise, efficiencies, and innovations are utilized in the delivery of this large-scale project. The P3 model is also good for taxpayers. An independent value-for-money analysis concluded that the P3 model will result in project savings of more than $560 million, a 10.7% difference compared to more traditional procurement methods.

Learn more about the sustainability, resiliency, and equity of this project in the Project Awards Directory.

LAND/ENVIRONMENTAL: Omaha Riverfront Revitalization Project

28-October-2021

The Riverfront Revitalization Project (known locally as The RiverFront) is the first in Nebraska to earn an Envision® award for sustainability, and to the team’s credit, they earned a Platinum sustainability rating.  The project will transform downtown Omaha along the Missouri River by connecting three parks near the city’s downtown core, including the Gene Leahy Mall (GLM), Heartland of America Park (HOA), and Lewis and Clark Landing (LCL).

The project’s goal is to create an iconic riverfront with a variety of functional spaces that will be a catalyst for downtown growth and community connectivity —creating a regional destination that will attract residents, visitors, and businesses to the area. Each park is integral to The RiverFront.

Project Context

Gene Leahy Mall

The GLM is transforming a 14.5-acre site by draining most of the old lagoon and raising it to street level, and ensuring that it can support land-based amenities and activities. Construction is already in progress to install extensive landscaping, including trees, flower gardens, and native plants. Amenities in the western portion of the park include a sculpture garden, art plaza, canopies picnic area, event lawn, playground, performance pavilion, and a plaza. The east and west portions of the park are divided by a pedestrian promenade, which will improve pedestrian access to and from the adjacent entertainment districts. Amenities in the eastern side of the park also include the following:

– a slide terrace
– the Cascade interactive water feature
– a pond and cove water feature
– a dog park
– overlook gardens, and
– an event lawn.

GLM connects to the HOA via 8th Street, which is being reconstructed as well to allow for easier pedestrian access between the two parks.

Heartland of America Park

This 21.8-acre park is being regraded to include walking paths, lawn space for activities, a skate ribbon that will accommodate rollerblading in summer and ice skating in winter, and botanical gardens. An existing 10.7-acre lake and fountain will continue to be part of the revitalized park. The project includes extensive landscaping, including trees, native grasses, and flower gardens. Additional amenities and improvements include:

– a lounge garden and prairie gardens
– an event plaza
– Farnam Promenade and Pier
– bocce courts
– an amphitheater, and
– additional play areas with slides and seesaws.

An existing pedestrian bridge connection between HOA and LCL is being incorporated into the design.

Lewis and Clark Landing

This 25-acre park already had walking paths, recreational trails, a marina, a boardwalk, and sculptures. The project is enhancing the area and adding community amenities, including:

– a destination play area
– an urban beach
– plazas
– volleyball courts
– prairie gardens.

Trees, native grasses, and planting enhancements will be added throughout the park. The existing marina and sculptures will remain, and Riverfront Drive is being realigned to allow for easier access from the park to downtown Omaha. A multi-use trail will be located on the west side of Riverfront Drive to extend the trail system to the downtown area.

KEY SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVEMENTS

Innovation and exceptional performance. This project scored exceptionally well in the Envision Quality of Life credit category, earning the highest level of achievement possible for eight credits, and earning an additional eight “bonus points” for innovations, and going above and beyond Envision credit requirements. For example, this project earned special recognition for implementing a best-in-class children’s environment, restoring community assets and local character, implementing a digital media initiative at the Gene Leahy Mall that will showcase specialized lighting displays during national holidays and local events, and managing public opinion and perception about building a recreational amenity on a capped brownfield.

Stimulating sustainable growth and development by employing a large percentage of local workers throughout design and construction.

Rehabilitating, restoring, and repurposing existing community assets, both in the natural world and in the built environment to improve community attractiveness for businesses, visitors, and residents. Thus, improving Omaha’s prospects for continued sustainable economic growth and development well into the future.

Improving community mobility and access by improving connections between the three parks; setting aside open space at the heart of Omaha’s downtown to prevent urban sprawl; providing ample opportunities for residents to gather (both informally and for programmed events and activities); by adding bike lanes and bike sharing facilities, and by adding pedestrian sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian bridges, and walking paths.

Fully preserving the character-defining features of several significant historic and cultural resources and incorporating them into the design of the revitalization project, including the Burlington building (an historic architectural resource), the Nash Block building (another historic architectural resource also known as The Greenhouse), the Gene Leahy Mall slides and stone arch (important cultural resources for the community).

Adding a significant amount of public space and a wide variety of amenities as part of this project and improving their safety and connectivity to maximize enjoyment. Community stakeholders, including the public, are overwhelmingly supportive of the additions, which include sculpture gardens, event lawns, art plazas, playgrounds, performance pavilions, and an amphitheater, interactive water features, an area for remote control boats, a dog park, swings, river overlooks, boardwalks, an urban beach, and more.

Preserving undeveloped land and remediating a brownfield. To preserve undeveloped land, one-hundred percent of the project has been located on previously developed areas. The Lewis and Clark Landing, representing approximately 41% of the site, is located on a brownfield site where a lead smelting and refinery company operated for decades. A response action to install a geosynthetic clay liner was started in the late 1990s to cap the contaminated soils and was fully completed in 2016.

SOUNDBITES

 

Roger Dixon, President & CEO, the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority: “The RiverFront project stands out, not only for its dedication to transforming and reactivating space, but for its commitment to the reuse and recycling of materials when possible. From day one, details in design and process have been pillars of this endeavor, which resulted in a first of its kind recognition in Nebraska. Our community can be proud that an already award-winning park is coming to life in the heart of downtown Omaha.”

 

Kristi Wamstad, Verification Director, ISI: “This is the very first project in Nebraska to earn an Envision award, and, wow, did the project team think big! Look at all of the amenities; a person would be hard-pressed to find something not to enjoy. What is also fantastic is that the project team is preserving undeveloped land by only building on previously developed areas. Kudos to the project team for spectacularly transforming the space and earning an Envision Platinum award.”

WASTEWATER: Big Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility

21-June-2021


The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) proudly announces the most recent recipient of the Envision Bronze award for sustainable infrastructure is the City of Westminster’s Big Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility (BDCWWTF). This is the City of Westminster’s first Envision award.

The City of Westminster, located just north of Denver CO, owns and operates the BDCWWTF which is located in the northeastern most area of the City’s wastewater collection system. The BDCWWTF is designed for biochemical oxygen demand removal, nitrification and denitrification, and limited phosphorous removal. The facility has undergone several major upgrades over its 30-year operational life so far, with the most recent expansion in 2009. A few years ago, the City of Westminster commissioned a Solids Handling Master Plan (Plan) for the facility. This Plan led to the Solids Dewatering and Campus Wide Improvements project at the facility, which was the subject of the Envision verification. This project provides the City with new solids dewatering equipment and facilities, an improved central handling system, enhanced nutrient removal, biosolid beneficial use optimization at the City’s farm, operational optimization, and campus-wide improvements throughout and around the facility.

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