STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS

New Buildings

Wasl Tower — DeSimone
Inspired by the asymmetrical contrapposto—or counterpose—commonly used in classical sculpture, the ultra-luxu ry, mixed-use, Wasl Tower rises 1,000 feet on Sheikh Zayed Road in the heart of Dubai, offering views to Burj Khalifa and the Arabian Gulf. Highly sustainable, it boasts the world’s tallest ceramic façade, which in tandem with the light ing control system achieves a 40% reduction in lighting energy, reducing cooling loads and energy consumption. Its distinctive, asymmetrical form—which reduces wind loads by 20%—and exceptional slenderness ratio presented complex engineering challenges. Through close collaboration and creative value engineering, DeSimone lowered the overall carbon footprint, achieving a 38% reduction in construction material quantities over the original design.

Princeton University, Briger Hall, Commons & School of Engineering and Applied Science — LERA

Built on a 17-acre site, Princeton University’s Briger Hall, Commons, and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) buildings form a new “neighborhood” on campus devoted to environmental studies and engineering. The new complex totals 666,000 sf, and contains state-of-the-art facilities and collaborative spaces to promote and enable breakthrough research. It features academic and research laboratories, classrooms, offices, community spaces and a library. To meet the sustainability ethos goals of the Campus Master Plan, the design maximizes the use of mass timber construction in an intricate hybrid structural system that also incorporates post-tensioned concrete and steel.

National Medal of Honor Museum — schlaich bergermann partner

The new museum by Rafael Viñoly Architects is dedicated to the legacy of the 3,500 recipients of the Medal of Honor. The project incorporates numerous specialized structural solutions to realize the architect’s ambitious vision. The primary Exhibition Hall is housed in a striking, aluminum-clad, column-free volume measuring 200' x 200' x 35', elevated 50 feet above the entry rotunda. At the center of the Hall is a 20ft diameter oculus that allows light to enter below. The Exhibition Hall volume is supported by five tapering precast megacolumns, each hollow to accommodate MEP systems routed through their cores. Access to the elevated structure is provided by a pair of intertwining spiral staircases suspended from the floor above, which spiral 310 degrees in plan.

LA County Museum of Art - David Geffen Galleries — SOM

The David Geffen Galleries, the new home of LACMA’s permanent collection, is a powerful demonstration of architecturally exposed concrete, encompassing structure, finish, environmental performance, and spatial experience. Designed by architect Peter Zumthor in collaboration with SOM Architects and Engineers, the 900-foot-long building spans Wilshire Boulevard, hovering 30 feet above the ground as a continuous, sculptural form. A monolithic, amoebic slab—shaped by sweeping curves and dramatic cantilevers—supports a single, expansive gallery level, wrapped in a glass facade that frames panoramic views of Los Angeles, while deep overhangs modulate daylight and shade the galleries below. 

Forensic Analysis/ Renovation/ Retrofit & Rehabilitation of Structures

One Times Square Redevelopment — DeSimone

The redevelopment and adaptive reuse of the historic One Times Square in Manhattan, iconic site of the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, trans formed an outdated and largely vacant 26-story office building into a mixed-use destination. Major structural upgrades fortified and pre served the skeletal 1904 steel frame, including the introduction of a 55-foot cantilevered steel observation deck, glass elevator landings, and glass walkways at the 19th floor, as well as new lateral systems and redistribution of loads to avoid impact on underlying MTA transit infrastructure. Tuned mass dampers control vibrations of the observation deck. Completed within extreme site constraints, the project demonstrates innovative engineering, advanced analysis, targeted reinforcement, and precise sequencing.

Preserving History and Building the Future: 50 Ninth — GMS

The redevelopment of 50 Ninth Avenue in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District showcases the integration of historic preservation with modern structural engineering. The firm led the structural design for the renovation of nine landmarked buildings and the addition of a new nine-story commercial structure. The project required innovative solutions, including temporary bracing systems, minimal foundation strategies, and below-grade load transfer techniques to stabilize and preserve fragile historic elements while enabling new construction. Through careful coordination and efficient material use, the project minimized environmental impact while revitalizing the site, demonstrating how adaptive reuse can successfully balance history, performance, and long-term urban value.

2300 Market St — McNamara Salvia

2300 Market Street transformed a long‑obsolete block in Center City Philadelphia into a unified, high‑performance life sciences facility through adaptive reuse rather than demolition. Early‑20th‑century automotive showrooms with limited capacity were selectively demolished, reinforced, and overbuilt into a single integrated structure. Innovative steel framing, unique plate girder transfer strategies, and a new braced frame core enabled six additional laboratory floors while preserving historic façades and coalescing existing structural components around a central core. The project balanced constructability, sustainability, and performance, achieving LEED Gold and demonstrating how creative structural engineering can unlock value, resilience, and longevity in existing urban buildings.

Waldorf Astoria Redevelopment — TYLin

The Waldorf Astoria redevelopment transformed a 1931 1.6 million-sf historic landmark hotel into a mixed-use property with hotel rooms, condominiums, publicly accessible, event and retail spaces, while preserving its landmarked character. The project required extensive investigation of existing conditions and repair of structural deterioration. Key interventions included rebuilding deteriorated pinnacles, acoustically isolating the ballroom, and performing structural work above active Metro-North tracks. Additional upgrades supported new stair and elevator cores, and mechanical systems, including a cogeneration plant. The project demonstrates the integration of historic preservation, structural innovation, and complex construction logistics in a dense urban environment.

Other Structures

Terminal Warehouse — Plan B Engineering

Terminal Warehouse, a historic 1891 masonry structure in Manhattan’s West Chelsea neighborhood, was redeveloped into modern office and retail space while preserving its eight-story façade. Plan B Engineering designed a hybrid stabilization system combining interior steel bracing with an exterior scaffold engaged as part of the lateral load-resisting system. This approach improved stiffness, reduced demand on interior members, and allowed for efficient construction within a constrained urban site. The system was installed in phases to maintain continuous support as demolition progressed. The project demonstrates a practical and efficient approach to façade retention during complex adaptive reuse. 

16 Tech Innovation District Bridge — schlaich bergermann partner