2021 Engineering Excellence Award Nominees.

• Position: ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING SPECIAL SECTION

The theme of Engineers Week 2021 is "Imagining Tomorrow," which speaks to the fact that engineering is a field of optimism: problems can be solved, safety can be heightened, functionality and efficiency can be improved.

The purpose of the Engineering Excellence Award is to increase the public's awareness of how engineering improves our communities and to recognize firms and projects of distinction. This year's Engineering Excellence Award nominations demonstrate the broad range of regions and industries that rely on engineering, from airport improvements on Alaska's Arctic coastal plain to structural evaluations of the Anchorage School District's ninety-one buildings.

Regardless of which project ultimately receives top honors, the way that Alaska's engineers are imagining tomorrow make the 49th State a better place to live, learn, and travel.

Anchorage School District Earthquake Response

After the November 2018 magnitude 7.1 earthquake near Anchorage, the Anchorage School District (ASD) was unsure about the safety of all its buildings--were they still safe to occupy? Reid Middleton was prompt in providing Detailed Structural (ATC-20) evaluations for all ninety-one of ASD's facilities. Coordinating closely with ASD, and using all forms of communication (including in person, email, text messaging, and phone calls), Reid Middleton partnered engineers one-on-one with ASD facilities staff and started the systematic Detailed Structural Evaluations the day of the earthquake. Using this teamwork, Reid Middleton and the District were able to accomplish the Detailed Structural Evaluations of all ninety-one facilities within seven weeks.

Reid Middleton assembled photos and reports for each facility and provided a GREEN, YELLOW, or RED tag to clearly communicate the current school condition at each building. Where required, the firm worked with the contractor to erect shoring to stabilize broken walls. Reid Middleton also provided multiple site visits to some facilities to re-evaluate damage after the hundreds of aftershocks experienced during this period. After immediate repairs were complete, all but two RED tagged facilities were able to reopen and resume the critical daily schooling and community service functions each facility provides.

Kelsey Dock Interpretive Center Pavilion

The Kelsey Dock Interpretive Center pavilion is a 4,000-square-foot weather shelter that houses an information center and restrooms. The pavilion was designed for the city...