NEW YORK — Engineering News-Record New York (ENR-NY) has recognized five projects from WSP, a leading engineering, environment and professional services consultancy, with its Best Project regional award. A sixth project received the magazine’s Award of Merit.
WSP projects recognized with the Best Project Award include The Spiral, Office/Retail/Mixed Use category; Tiffany Landmark, Renovation/Restoration; Watergate Wetlands Restoration, Water/Environment; Penn Station Long Island Rail Road Concourse Renovation, Airport/Transit; and Quest Diagnostics Laboratory Construction, Higher Education/Research. The award of Merit was presented to Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal in the Airport/Transit category.
“Achievements like these are a credit to the men and women at WSP, who partner with our clients to achieve great outcomes, not only in this region but across the U.S.,” said Jerry Jannetti, president of the East region at WSP. “These are high-profile, transformative projects that set the standard for design and innovation, and will have a tremendous impact on the city, its visitors and its citizens.”
The Spiral (New York City)
Located at 66 Hudson Boulevard, this striking 1,041-foot-tall skyscraper earns its nickname from the signature cascading terraces that spiral up the building’s exterior, from level seven to the roof. The unique design demanded a high-strength, hidden steel-framed structure that was incredibly complex and completely invisible. Every floor has a flexible double-height atrium space, which opens out onto one of a series of landscaped terraces. Because of this unique design, no two terraces are in the same place, and none is overlooked by any other. The building design enables open, flexible spaces that are long and free of columns. WSP was the structural engineer for the project.
Tiffany Landmark (New York City)
WSP was involved in this project from the initial studies to determine what could be done to upgrade the iconic century-old building, initially serving as the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineer. It eventually developed into a full-gut renovation that included the firm’s structural, planning, geotech, and façades groups, too. Interior renovations included a complete redesign of Tiffany’s retail spaces, a new three-story glass event space on the roof, elevator refurbishments, an upgrade of the legendary Blue Box Café, and custom art and display cases. One of the biggest challenges was to ensure the existing structure could support the additional loads and reframing work while meeting strict New York City building codes.
Watergate Wetlands Restoration Project (New Jersey)
WSP provided multiple services to advance an existing conceptual design to restore the wetlands and natural function of Van Campens Brook at the 114-acre Watergate Recreation Site. The project focused on about 20 acres of wetland habitat, plus the restoration of 7.6 acres and enhancement of a further 55.5 acres of upland habitat. Work included removal of artificial dams and man-made ponds; re-establishing palustrine wetland habitat; reconstructing and enhancing sections of the brook; relocating 1.6 miles of distribution line; and reconnecting the brook with its floodplain. WSP performed pre-design studies to understand the ecological, biological and physical processes of the regional landscape, maximizing ecological and functional uplift of the site while avoiding adverse impacts on rare and threatened species.
Penn Station Long Island Rail Road Concourse Renovation (New York City)
WSP provided a suite of services for this $700 million project, which significantly improved passenger circulation and eased congestion at Manhattan’s Penn Station. In addition to constructing the new East End Gateway entrance, the project included the addition of three state-of-the-art escalators and a staircase, which doubled the ingress and egress capacity between street level and the LIRR concourse. It also improved circulation to the LIRR and city subway lines. Phase Two included raising the ceiling height, the addition of modern lighting and installation of new systems for improved air flow and more fresh air. An innovative developer/design-build approach to the project also helped speed up construction.
Quest Diagnostics Laboratory Construction (Clifton, New Jersey)
WSP provided engineering design services, including MEP and fire services commissioning, for Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services. Quest constructed a new 250,000-square-foot laboratory to integrate the company’s Northeast regional operations. The laboratory features two distinct automated lines for clinical testing and a bridge design that enhances efficiency. The automated facility also uses barcode tracing solutions to track and store specimens, making it easier for healthcare providers to request follow-up tests or further analysis in real-time. WSP’s design team evaluated HVAC in existing Quest labs to determine if those systems functioned properly, using that information to optimize the new facility design.
Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal A (Newark, New Jersey)
WSP provided construction management and inspection services to help deliver a more spacious, modern terminal at one of the busiest U.S. airports. In addition to the new three-level terminal, the project included airfield modifications, a new parking facility and a redesigned landside roadway network. Designed as a common use terminal, all 33 gates can handle larger aircraft from multiple airline carriers. The terminal is also open, modern and spacious, with high ceilings and windows that allow more natural light into the facility. New check-in, security and baggage claim areas are designed to handle more passengers and improve the efficiency of their travel by getting them where they need to go more quickly and efficiently.
ENR-NY, which recognized 27 projects in 13 categories from the region, will present the awards on Nov. 17 at its awards ceremony in New York, where the winner of the New York’s 2023 Project of the Year also will be announced.
About WSP in the U.S.
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering, environment and professional services firms. Recognized on Fast Company’s Brands that Matter List for 2022 as a top Community-Minded Business, WSP in the U.S. brings together engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals who are dedicated to collaborate in the best interests of serving local communities. WSP designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With approximately 16,000 employees in 300 offices across the U.S., WSP partners with its clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com
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