ACEC-Illinois Engineering Excellence Awards

This past Thursday night (February 8th), the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL) hosted their annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, an event held at Chicagos Bridgeport Art Center in which Epstein was not only was selected for an engineering award, but Greg Osborne, PE, our director of civil engineering, made his rock n roll debut as the bassist for Fiscal Cliff and the Slim Pickens Band, the entertainment for the evening.

The Transportation Merit Award Epstein received was for Taxiways K&L at OHare International Airport, a project in which Epstein served as the lead design engineer for dual taxiways which were designed for Aircraft Design Group VI and align parallel to existing Runway 10L-28R. Located within OHares Southwest Airfield, Taxiway K is 4,400 feet long and Taxiway L is 2,800 feet long. Epsteins design services included demolition, earthwork and grading, pavements, geometrics, NAVAIDS, drainage and storm water conveyance, erosion and sedimentation control, airfield electrical and lighting, utilities, fiber optics (FOTs), pavement marking and signage. These new taxiways are part of Phase 2A of the OMP which is the intermediate step toward realizing the goal of expanding and optimizing flight operations at OHare International Airport to provide unparalleled airline service for Chicago, the nation, and the world.

The Epstein consultant team also included design and engineering services from Michael Baker International, Inc., ADO Engineering, Inc., Globetrotters Engineering Corporation, J.A. Watts, Inc., Jones Moore Construction and Consulting, OBrien & Associates and SPANN Tech, Inc.

After the awards were presented, attendees were then treated to an all-industry rock band, the aforementioned Fiscal Cliff and the Slim Pickens Band, featuring Epsteins Greg Osborne on bass as well as former Epsteiner, now at Michael Baker, Isaac Yun on keyboards, guitar and back-up vocals. Playing a mix of classic rock and alternative rock, the full-time engineers/part-time rockers, who also included John Clark, from Peralte-Clark, on lead guitar and vocals, as well as Preston Keefe, from RS&H, on drums, treated the crowd to hits from a variety of artists including The Doors, John Mellencamp, R.E.M., Weezer, & Kings of Leon.

The guys were a big hit and, in fact, will be playing their 2nd industry event, The Illinois Transportation and Highway Engineering (T.H.E.) Conference held at the I Hotel & Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois on February 27th and 28th. The T.H.E. event brings together hundreds of transportation engineers, officials, technicians, faculty and students to discuss issues critical to the safe and economical movement of people and goods across Illinois and the US. Good luck Greg, Isaac, John and Preston!