Return to 2009 Award Winners and Finalists
Sustaining Our Environment Winner
The following project best illustrates how infrastructure can help reduce our ecological footprint, increase bio-capacity, and facilitate the wise use of nonrenewable resources. This category’s nominated projects mitigate ecological impact through sustainable design methods and a holistic integration of both the natural and human environment to reduce the need for nonrenewable resources.
Parsons Brinckerhoff and Olsson Associates
Antelope Valley
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
The City of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska, and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District identified three goals for Antelope Valley: community revitalization, stormwater management, and transportation improvements. The $246 million project has created new and improved infrastructure including housing, parks, and recreation facilities; storm sewer improvements; and a roadway system designed for 2025 traffic volumes.
All participants standardized on MicroStation and GEOPAK throughout the project’s lifecycle, which enabled the project team to create and distribute project-specific workspace environments and standards. Using Bentley products promoted interoperability, data sharing, and workflow efficiency among clients, design teams, and other stakeholders. The ability to use GIS background files for utilities, right-of-way corridors, and aerial imagery during preliminary design made the transition to final design much easier. Having project standards in an accessible format made their enforcement effortless and fostered an efficient means for updates and changes.
After 10 years, Antelope Valley is in the final stages of construction. Community redevelopment is ongoing in a once-blighted area. By removing 50 acres of the university campus from the 100-year flood plain, a flood event will be contained to the banks of the new channel. In addition, various low impact development concepts were utilized throughout the project. Eliminating two at-grade railroad crossings and removing arterial traffic from the campus improved accessibility between the city and north/northeast suburbs.
The project’s use of an open waterway with erosion control measures provides a green, sustainable environment. Channel slopes that can be maintained, pervious pavement, grass-pave parking surfaces, and rain gardens contribute to the eco-friendly stormwater management solution. Roadway and pedestrian light fixtures were chosen for their efficient distribution and minimal light pollution and glare. The bridges over mainline railroad tracks save time, reduce gasoline consumption and emissions from idling, and provide safety benefits for motorists and pedestrians.