Morrison-Maierle Receives Three ACEC-Montana 2010 Engineering Excellence Awards

On November 4, 2009, two Morrison-Maierle projects received three 2010 American Council of Engineering Companies-Montana Engineering Excellence Awards at the Joint Engineers Conference in Helena, Montana. The Bigfork Wastewater Treatment Plant Headworks Replacement project received the Honor Award in the Water/Wastewater Category and the Grand Project Award. Morrison-Maierle's Bozeman office building received the Honor Award in the Building Systems Category.

The main challenge of the Bigfork Wastewater Treatment Plant Headworks Replacement project was to economically provide a higher level of treatment for a greater number of people, on a very small site, and to construct new wastewater facilities while keeping the existing facilities operational. The Bigfork Water and Sewer District partnered with Morrison-Maierle, Inc. for wastewater facility planning that recommended the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) be upgraded to a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) treatment system that utilizes activated sludge followed by membrane filtration to achieve additional nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorous) removal within the very small footprint available at this site. This treatment technology, the first of its type in the state for a municipal application, has been implemented in phases to spread out the cost to ratepayers and to address high-priority needs first. The new headworks had to be constructed within the same footprint of the existing headworks, all while keeping the WWTP operational and meeting discharge standards 24/7. This was accomplished through the use of a splitter structure that allowed raw sewage to be continually screened throughout the entire construction period. This project resulted in the first headworks in Montana to utilize fine screen equipment with 2-mm screen perforations, and also demonstrates a successful funding and phasing strategy for implementation of state of the art technology in a small Montana community.

Morrison-Maierle served as the project owner and design engineer for the Morrison-Maierle Bozeman Office Building project. From the beginning the firm teamed with the project construction contractor, Dick Anderson Construction, and the project architect, ThinkOne, for a fast-track, design-build delivery process. The initial design concepts came from the architect working with the MMI-Bozeman employee Bozeman Building Committee, which developed the design guidelines. Morrison-Maierle LEED Accredited Professionals, in collaboration with the architect-engineer design team, developed a plan and design for a 45,000 square-foot building to accommodate the individual and job needs of a staff of 125 to 135 employees, plus support operations and field and testing services. Design for the $10.2 million project began in 2006 and construction was completed on schedule and within budget in April 2008. The inclusion of features that improve employee work space; indoor air quality and employee health; reduce consumption of non-renewable resources; reduce heating and cooling demands; increase natural light; use recycled as well as local and regional materials; reduce storm water runoff, enhance employee well being, and reduce use of treated city water all contribute to the sustainability of the facility. The Bozeman office building exceeded expectations and was awarded the first LEED Gold certification in the state of Montana.

ACEC of Montana represents engineering companies employing engineers across the state. ACEC of Montana is an association that works with member firms to enhance and promote the engineering profession in the state of Montana. The Engineering Excellence Awards Program recognizes engineering firms for projects that demonstrate a high degree of achievement, value, and ingenuity. Projects from all over the state were rated on the basis of original or innovative application of new or existing techniques; future value to the engineering profession; social, economic, and sustainable design considerations; complexity; and exceeding client/owner needs. Judges included representatives from education and government.