Engineering Inc. - May/June 2008 - (Page 31) honorAWArds h Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Facilities, El Paso, Texas CDM—Cambridge, Mass./Moreno Cardenas—El Paso, Texas Groundbreaking engineering has produced North America’s largest inland desalination plant to provide an abundant drinking water source to the arid El Paso region. The 27.5-million-gallon-per-day plant taps vast brackish water from beneath the desert floor and converts it into drinking water using reverse osmosis membranes. A solar-fueled deep-well injection system also deposits concentrated waste steam more than 3,500 feet underground with no adverse environmental impact. The project now serves as a model for other communities seeking sustainable options to meet long-term water supply needs. h Bradford Woods Wastewater Treatment System, Bloomington, Ind. Natural Concepts Quality Water Engineering LLC/American Structurepoint, Inc.—Indianapolis, Ind. An environmentally friendly alternative to a traditional wastewater treatment plant has become an innovative complement for the 2,500-acre Bradford Wood nature preserve, Indiana University’s leading international outdoor education park. Aligning the need to replace an aging wastewater treatment system with the center’s dedication to environmental sustainability required the project team to design a wetlands-based system mimicking the purification process of a natural wetlands. The system includes a subsurface-flow constructed wetland, a vegetated re-circulating gravel filter, and a soil absorption system. In addition to a cost-effective alternative to wastewater treatment, the project also has become a valuable teaching and research tool for the university. h Chao Phraya River Bridge, Bangkok, Thailand PB—New York, N.Y. A majestic new gateway to the city of Bangkok is also Thailand’s longest bridge—longer than any cable-stayed bridge in the U.S. The highly efficient 120-foot-wide superstructure includes two gleaming 613-foot-high A-shaped towers, each topped with a 26-foottall gold-colored Thai-styled spire. For longevity and simplicity of maintenance, the design eliminates several commonly used but frequently troublesome bridge components. Labor intensive bearings were replaced by easy-to-service bumpers; in addition, tie-down devices such as steel rods, which require extensive inspection and maintenance, were replaced by concrete counterweights. h Saving St. Anne’s, Grand Forks, N.D. Stanley Consultants—Minneapolis, Minn. The century-old St. Anne’s home for senior citizens—listed on the National Register of Historic Places—was targeted for demolition until creative engineering reversed its fate. In response to flood devastation, the construction of more than 30 miles of new levees and floodwalls was mandated for the Grand Forks area, forcing many structures such as St. Anne’s— which stood in the floodwall’s path—to be either relocated or demolished. Alternatively, the project team designed an innovative eight-foot floodwall that wraps around every intricate corner of St. Anne’s, but does not actually touch the building’s exterior and connects with the new municipal floodwall. The innovative design saved St. Anne’s from demolition, safeguarded the building, and is part of the community’s new flood protection system. MAY / JUNE 2008 ENGINEERING INC. 31
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