ACEC New York Honors HNTB With Multiple 2026 Awards

HNTB

NEW YORK CITY - HNTB received five Engineering Excellence Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York.

The awards recognize engineering achievements that demonstrate a social impact, value, and innovation. The projects, detailed below, were recognized at the annual ACEC New York EEA Gala on April 18.

HNTB’s New York office leader and senior vice president Michael Mangione said, “These awards reflect the dedication and ingenuity of our teams in solving complex challenges and delivering impactful infrastructure for New Yorkers. . . We’re proud to partner with agencies like the MTA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to advance mobility, accessibility and sustainability across the region.”

Diamond Award for Accelerated and Innovative Delivery of Central Substation 2

The project is part of the $19 billion JFK International Airport Redevelopment Program and delivered JFK’s first 15-kilovolt distribution substation. This project utilized a design-build approach to allow for early procurement of long-lead equipment. It also used a two-in-one energization technique. By doing so, power delivery to the new terminals was delivered in a timely fashion, thereby establishing a precedent for future substation designs. The finished substation features sustainable designs, including a green roof, and LEED Silver certification. As part of this award, the project is also a finalist for the national ACEC competition.

RK-93 Design Build Services for Reconstruction of Randall’s Island Ramps

As one of two projects that received Platinum awards, this project totaled $108 million and sought to deliver five new ramps at RFK Bridge, providing ADA-compliant shared-use paths to Randall’s Island Park. Along with improved access, the project used reduced-carbon concrete and sustainable drainage systems. The project was also completed ahead of schedule.

The QR and RM ramps, featured in the left-hand image, create “centralized park access while improving island circulation and eliminating substandard merging and a left-hand exit,” says HNTB.

Scoping and Preliminary Design for VN-84B Rehabilitation and New Construction of Brooklyn Verrazzano’s Bridge Ramps

As the second project to receive a platinum award, this project replaced left-hand exit ramps to the Belt Parkway. Now, there are right-hand exits. Additionally, the remaining original deck on the Brooklyn ramps have been replaced. More than half of deck joints were eliminated to improve seismic performance with isolation bearings. After completion of the project, there is better traffic flow in the region and better efficiency in terms of safety and long-term maintenance.

MTA’s ADA Accessibility Upgrades and Station Improvements

The project to improve eight stations across Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens cost a total $352.5 million to deliver accessibility upgrades. The eight stations received 11 new elevators, five replacement elevators, and state-of-good-repair improvements. Crews worked to redesign elevator placements to avoid having to relocate utilities as well as develop a two-week bypass strategy when reconstructing platforms. Additionally, the project met and exceeded projected DBE participation goals. As such, the project earned a Gold Award from ACEC New York.

Climate Action Integration into MTA Capital Programs

As part of MTA’s Capital Programs, the project sought to develop a “comprehensive climate vulnerability assessment and sustainability strategy for MTA Construction & Development,” says HNTB. As part of the strategy, there includes a custom geoprocessing model, Transit Avoided Carbon methodology, and alignment with environmental policies. These are included in the 20-Year Capital Needs Assessment and 2024 Climate Resilience Roadmap.