Engineering Excellence Awards

KPFF Wins Top Award for International Arrivals Facility, More Winners Announced

KPFF Consulting Engineers is the top winner in the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington’s annual Engineering Excellence Awards program. The firm took home the top honor — the Platinum Award — for its design of the International Arrivals Facility at Sea-Tac International Airport. Sponsored by ACEC’s Washington state chapter, the awards program recognizes projects that represent a wide range of engineering achievements and which demonstrate the highest degree of skill and ingenuity. Nineteen projects were honored in this year’s program, and three firms were awarded Excellence in Inclusion Awards. The top national awards will go on to compete in the ACEC national competition in Washington, D.C., in June. Project entries were evaluated by a five-judge panel.

See full list of winners here

Larry Swartz Named 2023 Engineer of the Year

ACEC Washington is proud to name Larry Swartz at the 2023 Engineer of the Year. Larry Swartz began his career at Notkin Mechanical Engineers in 1989 as a mechanical designer and received his Washington State Mechanical Engineer registration in 1990. He ascended to Notkin’s leadership team as a partner in 1997, eventually serving as the firm’s president until the firm’s acquisition by P2S Inc. in 2020. He currently serves as vice president of P2S, directing four multi-disciplinary engineering groups, and is a licensed mechanical engineer in five states and certified for Alaska Cold Regions. Drawing on 37 years of engineering experience, Swartz leads P2S’s QA/QC efforts working with the design teams primarily on projects in Washington state.
Early in his career, Swartz designed systems for health care and higher education facilities before championing Notkin’s entry into the federal market in the mid-1990s, for which he gained recognition as a trusted advisor to the national and military engineering community, including the Navy, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, Forest Service, and General Services Administration. Over three decades, the firm held eight prime IDIQ contracts and completed hundreds of projects for which Larry served as lead mechanical engineer and principal.
“Larry has a passion for engineering excellence that is unmatched in this industry. Throughout his career, he has maintained the highest level of integrity, always looking out for what is best for his staff, projects, clients, and the entire engineering community,” said Brad Lentz, principal and federal market leader at P2S. “Larry’s ‘lead by example’ approach brings out the best in others, and every project team benefits from his multi-discipline approach to ensuring the whole team is providing what is best for the client.”
The long list of notable projects in which Swartz was instrumental in the design includes the Evergreen Health East Wing expansion, the Naval Hospital Bremerton expansion, the University of Washington Foege Hall, the University of Washington Medical Center expansion, the replacement of Pier B at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and the P8A aircraft apron expansion at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Three Firms Named Excellence in Inclusion Award Winners

As part of ACEC Washington’s ongoing commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the A/E/C industry, ACEC Washington has created the Excellence in Inclusion awards program to recognize companies that share ACEC’s commitment. This award seeks to raise awareness of the value of a diverse workforce and inclusive environment brings to a company my bringing attention to diversity and inclusion champions within ACEC Washington. By recognizing these outstanding
firms, ACEC hopes to inspire other member firms to engage in activities that will promote diversity and inclusion both within their firms and throughout the engineering profession.

The ACEC Excellence in Inclusion awards honor ACEC Member firms that are champions in advancing diversity and fostering a culture of inclusion within their workforce, their teams, and the clients they serve. By showcasing and recognizing best practices from companies that are developing and delivering diversity and inclusion initiatives with demonstrable success, award winners have the opportunity to share their track record of achievement and commitment. Award winners will be able to demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion and a track
record of achievement.

Congratulations to KBA, Coughlin Porter Lundeen, and HDR, Inc. for being named this year's Excellence in Inclusion Award Winners!

Call for Entries: 2023 ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards

ACEC Washington is now accepting entries for the 2023 ACEC Washington and ACEC National Engineering Excellence Awards. Firms can submit projects on the National Track or Local Track. All projects submitted on the Local Track must be located within Washington State. All project submissions will be done electronically via online portal. Initial entry form must be submitted by Friday, November 4, 2022. Final projects must be submitted by December 9, 2022. Award winners will be announced at the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, February 3, 2023.

Excellence in Inclusion Awards Submissions Open

ACEC Washington is currently accepting nominations for the 2023 Excellence in Inclusion Award. This award recognizes firms who show an ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion in the A/E/C industry. The award seeks to raise awareness of the value a diverse workforce and inclusive environment brings to a company by bringing attention to diversity and inclusion champions within ACEC Washington. By recognizing these outstanding firms, ACEC hopes to inspire other member firms to engage in activities that will promote diversity and inclusion both within their firms and throughout the engineering profession. Deadline for submission is December 9, 2022.

Nominate an Engineer of the Year

ACEC Washington is requesting nominations for the 2023 Engineer of the Year. Nominate an engineer of outstanding character who has made significant contributions to the engineering profession in technical excellence, service excellence, or a combination thereof.