December 18, 2014 – CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts – Kleinfelder announced today that Engineering News-Record Northeast (ENR Northeast) has named the Alewife Stormwater Wetlands the “Best Water/Environment Project of 2014.” The project was honored at the ENR Northeast Best Projects breakfast, held on December 16, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.
A high-level jury of engineers, architects and scientists representing ENR’s 10 regional editions selected the project for the award its advanced design, innovative technical delivery, and excellent health and safety standards throughout the three-year project.
The Alewife Stormwater Wetlands — opened to the public in October 2013 — stores, attenuates and treats stormwater before discharging to the Little River. In addition, the wetland restores the area’s natural hydrology, protects and enhances wildlife habitat, and improves recreational, educational and other cultural opportunities found in the area. Below the park’s surface, a nearly 3,000-foot long concrete culvert conveys stormwater to the 3.5-acre engineered wetlands. The wetlands, planted with over 124,000 native plants, enables water to be separated and naturally cleaned prior to distribution into the Alewife Brook and Little River while acting as a safe haven for migrating birds and the alewife and blueback herring-both threatened species.
“Peer recognition is a great honor for the entire project team,” says John Struzziery, Kleinfelder’s senior program manager and the project’s technical services manager. “This project demonstrates how innovative approaches to science, engineering, and ecology can solve infrastructure challenges, enhance the environment, and improve communities by providing open-space resources for wildlife and the public to enjoy.”
Since it opened in 2013, the project has also been awarded the Project of the Year in the environment category from the American Public Works Association (APWA), a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and the Engineering Excellence Gold Award from ACEC Massachusetts (ACEC-MA).
To watch a video about the award, winning project please click here.
To learn more about Kleinfelder, visit www.kleinfelder.com
