Top Engineering and Surveying Projects Honored at 2026 ACEC/Michigan Excellence Awards Gala

LANSING, MI – Michigan’s most innovative engineering and surveying achievements were celebrated on March 7, 2026, as the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/Michigan) recognized standout projects and professionals at its annual Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala. Held at The Fillmore Detroit, the event highlighted the year’s most impactful infrastructure improvements and design solutions delivered by ACEC/Michigan member firms.

“The infrastructure improvements engineered by ACEC member firms significantly improve the daily lives of Michigan residents and visitors,” said Ronald Brenke, PE, ACEC/Michigan Executive Director. “Their talent and expertise were on display at the Gala as various types of projects were recognized and celebrated.”

Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award

NTH Consultants (Northville) received the evening’s highest engineering honor for the Large-Diameter Sewer Rehab – A Liner Pilot Study for Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain Drainage District (OMIDDD). The North Interceptor–East Arm rehabilitation restored a failing 17.5-foot sewer serving 800,000 residents. By installing and testing three lining systems side-by-side, the project delivered real-world performance data, overcame extreme corrosive conditions, and set a global model for sustainable, data-driven infrastructure renewal.

Surveying Eminent Conceptor Award

Nowak & Fraus Engineers (Pontiac) earned the top surveying award for the Aloha State Park LiDAR Survey and Study for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Through advanced LiDAR data acquisition and analysis, Nowak & Fraus Engineers and Soils & Structures identified sources for poor surface drainage and high groundwater conditions that led to the creation of sustainable solutions to restore safe, reliable operations to 290 campsites at Aloha State Park.

Honorable Conceptor Awards

Eight engineering projects received Honorable Conceptor recognition, including:

• DLZ Michigan (Waterford) – Aspen Meadows Well House Improvements for White Lake Township 
• Fleis & VandenBrink (Grand Rapids) – Barry Street Realignment: A Safer Connection project for City of Hudsonville 
• Jones & Henry Engineering (Kalamazoo) – Tertiary Treatment Process Upgrades for City of Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant
• Prein&Newhof (Grand Rapids) – Hoffmaster State Park Overlook Replacement for State of Michigan DTMB and DNR
• Tetra Tech of Michigan (Ann Arbor) – 8 1/2 Mile Drain In-System Storage Device for Macomb County Public Works
• Wade Trim (Taylor) – Chapaton RTB Canal Rehabilitation for Macomb County Public Works
• Wade Trim (Taylor) – US-24 Renewal & Diverging Diamond Interchange for Michigan Department of Transportation
  

A Surveying Honorable Conceptor Award was presented to Fleis & VandenBrink (Grand Rapids) for the Preserving the Past: Cemetery GIS Integration project for Cedar Creek Township.

Merit Awards

Engineering Merit Awards were presented to:

• Fishbeck (Farmington Hills) – M-30 over Tobacco River for Michigan Department of Transportation
• Fishbeck (Farmington Hills) – Unified Sports & Inclusion Center for Special Olympics Michigan 
• Fleis & VandenBrink (Kalamazoo) – Watermain Key to Regional Economic Catalyst for Emmett Charter Township
• HDR (Ann Arbor) – Erickson CCR Impoundments Closure for Lansing Board of Water & Light
• Hubbell, Roth & Clark (Bloomfield Hills) – Waldon Road Paving for Road Commission for Oakland County
• OHM Advisors (Livonia) – The Rink at Stine Community Park for City of Troy
• Somat Engineering (Detroit) – Potomac River Interceptor Crossing for District of Columbia Water & Sewer Authority
• Spicer Group (Saginaw) – Ives Drain Improvement Project for Mecosta County Drain Commissioner
• Spicer Group (Saginaw) – St. Mary’s Gardens Improvement Project for Patrick Lewis, P.E, Director of Engineering and Public Services, City of Monroe
• Tetra Tech of Michigan (Ann Arbor) – MIDDD Odor and Corrosion Control Design for Macomb County Public Works
• Tetra Tech of Michigan (East Lansing) – WRRF Clarifier & Aeration System Improvements for City of East Lansing
• Wightman (Benton Harbor) – KRESA Career Connect Campus for Kalamazoo RESA 
• Wightman (Benton Harbor) – Whites Road Improvements for City of Kalamazoo 

A Surveying Merit Award was presented to Wightman (Benton Harbor) for Niles Area Transmission Improvements for American Electric Power. 

The Board Design Award went to Wade Trim (Taylor) for their board designed to tell the story of the Chapaton RTB Canal Rehabilitation project. 

Professional Honors

• The Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was presented to Mark K. Kramer, PE, President and Chief Executive Officer of SME to honor his outstanding leadership roles in ACEC and several community organizations. 
• The Felix A. Anderson Image Award was presented to Laura J. Mester, former Chief Administrative Officer, Michigan Department of Transportation, for her actions and contributions to enhance the image of the profession.

National Competition Eligibility

Eminent and Honorable Conceptor award winners are eligible to compete at the National ACEC engineering competition in Washington, DC. 

For more information on award-winning projects or ACEC/Michigan, visit www.acecmi.org or call 517.332.2066. 

About ACEC/Michigan

ACEC/Michigan is a business association of more than 100 independent private consulting engineering firms employing more than 8,000 people in Michigan. ACEC/Michigan member firms are managed by licensed professional engineers that use their knowledge and expertise to create superior engineering designs that improve Michigan’s infrastructure and enhance the quality of life for our residents.