Urban Engineers received an Honorable Mention in Civil Engineering award for the SugarHouse Casino Expansion from the Engineering Societies in the Delaware Valley during their recent Engineers Week Banquet. The event was held at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Pennsylvania. Urban Project Manager Michael Thomas was on hand to accept the award on the firm’s behalf. Mr. Thomas summarized the flood risk, pollutant and combined sewer overflow (CSO) reduction impacts that the SugarHouse Casino project and the relocation of two CSOs had to the neighboring communities.

Urban’s overall role in the project was the development and installation of an expansion to the existing casino facility, the design and modifications of two CSOs, modification/improvement to nearby N. Delaware Avenue (S.R. 2001), and redevelopment of the property. The Laurel Street CSO and Shackamaxon Street CSO were redesigned and reconstructed simultaneously in cooperation with the Philadelphia Water Department. The existing CSOs, which serve as flood relief valves for much of the Northern Liberties area of Philadelphia, needed to be demolished, redesigned, and relocated. Careful planning and phasing was required in order to maintain CSO operation at all times, minimally impacting traffic along N. Delaware Avenue, and mitigation of any impact to casino operations. Coordination with the Philadelphia Water Department, Streets Department, PennDOT, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers included phased reconstruction of site vehicular access, intersection and roadway improvements, phased parking reconfiguration, and utility relocation with minimal impacts to the facility owner and surrounding community.

Urban shares the award with Keating Consulting, LLC.