News
February 9, 2017Chazen Selected for Prestigious Engineering Awards
The American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC) selected The Chazen Companies (Chazen) for two 2017 Diamond Awards, the highest level achievable, in Engineering Excellence and will be honored at the 50th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala in April.
The Engineering Excellence Awards are presented to projects that encompassed both the public and private sector in different categories. Each year, over 60 member firms submit projects that are judged on a rigorous set of criteria, which includes complexity, innovation and value to society. Awards are distributed based on the average scores by a panel of industry experts and are assigned one of four levels: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.
Chazen’s Kaal Rock Connector Feasibility Study won the Diamond Award in the category of Studies, Research and Consulting Engineering Services. The Kaal Rock project was commissioned by The Poughkeepsie Alliance to assess the feasibility of constructing a walkway around Kaal Rock Point called the Kaal Rock Connector. The one major technical challenge is a large rock outcrop that extends out from the shore into the Hudson River on City parkland, cuts the waterfront and proposed greenway in two. The team studied the site, geology of the rock and past design efforts and developed a walkway geometry that was best suited for the site. Chazen offered a public park design that integrates the walkway into the site, creates a quiet wooded oasis, allows users to experience the face of Kaal Rock and provides a “million dollar” view of the Hudson River. The project recently received a $500,000 Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) grant to advance the design.
“A connector path or trail over or around Kaal Rock has been talked about for decades,” said Mark Kastner, President, The Chazen Companies. “Chazen is proud to have developed a study to identify a plan to make this dream a reality. The Kaal Rock connector bridge will be a signature feature of our home city.”
“The Poughkeepsie Alliance is proud to participate in a public/private partnership with The City of Poughkeepsie and The Chazen Companies on this transformative project,” said Paul Calogerakis, chair, Poughkeepsie Alliance. “The Kaal Rock Connector is a crucial element in the overall goal of connecting the waterfront and enhancing accessibility. The feasibility study was a first step to securing the $500,000 of State funding needed to bring the project from a line in a planning document to an executable design. Poughkeepsie Alliance looks forward to continuing our work with the City, Scenic Hudson and the community through the next phase of the project, where the final design will be set.”
The second Diamond Award was selected for Chazen’s work with RSR Corp., for the Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) project in the category of Industrial and Manufacturing Process and Facilities. Chazen supported RSR from planning through construction for the WESP. The WESP technology removes pollution from the air using electricity and moisture. Chazen utilized 3D laser scanning to create a computer model of the existing equipment and structural components and used the model to design new structures, maintain existing clearance for access and forklift traffic below to provide accurate measurements to the steel fabricators. Chazen also designed a thirty-six feet wide, nine-feet deep and eighty-feet long steel truss to position new ductwork and carry workers across the railroad spur while still providing the necessary clearance for boxcars below.
