Legacy - Excellence Issue No. 13

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Issue 13: Legacy

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IN THIS ISSUE Issue 13: Legacy

We explore the theme of “Legacy.” Most engineering projects are completed with the goal of creating an end product that will have a long lifespan. Often, we work on projects that already have a legacy of their own, and our work contributes to enhancing and preserving it. This issue provides insight into projects like these and more.

01

REMEMBERING EJ D’ALBA

The Urban family said goodbye to one of our founders, Edward J. D’Alba, who passed away at the age of 91.

03

CULTURAL EMBODIED ENERGY

This entry from the inaugural Excellence Magazine Student Essay competition explains the importance of cultural embodied energy in engineering and architectural design.

09

JIM QUINLAN’S DIY AIRPLANE

An Urban electrical engineer gives us a tour of his airplane factory.

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LOCK + FLOW

07

Q&A WITH DIANE PURDY

A Harrisburg native's take on the state of our country’s infrastructure and the role of engineering moving forward.

Urban is providing construction inspection for the rehabilitation of Lock O-7 of the Oswego Canal.

The project will maintain the safety and stability of the lock and free flow of waterway travel for another 100 years.

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KEEPI N G RAI L FAC I L I T I ES I MPR OV EM EN T S ‘ON TRACK’

Urban provided construction engineering and inspection services for the demolition, construction, and renovation of facilities at the New Haven Rail Yard.

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FROM WELLHOUSE TO ‘GREEN’ HOUSE

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Renovations to the Stoneleigh Estate's Main House provided modern upgrades while being sensitive to the home’s classic aesthetic.

Lighting upgrades will help maintain use and reinforce the historic value of three major spans.

STONELEIGH ESTATE

BRIGHT BRIDGES

One of the oldest wellhouses in the country was converted into a sustainable restroom for use in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, which is visited by millions of people annually.

REMEMBERING EJ D’ALBA Urban Engineers Founder 1927- 2018

EJ D’Alba was an experienced highway design engineer who set forth a great example by his quiet professional style and ability to treat all actions as positive, rather than point fingers, as a means to make things better for us collectively. It is a style we all can benefit from.” - Joe McAtee, former Executive Vice President

Last year, the Urban family said goodbye to Edward J. D’Alba, who passed away at the age of 91. “EJ” – as he was known to his co-workers – founded Urban, alongside Robert C. Olson and K. Yervant Terzian, as well as four others from Lawrence T. Beck & Associates.

They formed the ‘lucky seven’ of Urban Engineers, Inc.

regions. We also met with some of our engineers to discuss personal and professional legacies from their own lives, and how their work impacts the country.

For EJ, the role of the engineer was not limited to the calculations that satisfy the functional and structural requirements of the project. Considering the aesthetics of all elements of the project was a practice he diffused into every collaboration. That work would become a part of a project’s legacy. With that in mind, the theme of this issue is “Legacy.”

"He was a determined, quiet leader. He taught us the discipline needed for our professional practice, and the need for creativity to excel in everything we do for our clients." - William Thomsen, SVP/COO, National Services

Dedicated to EJ, this issue of Excellence explores how Urban’s work contributes to a project’s legacy. How does engineering contribute to the ongoing presence of a project? Does the enhanced project impact its surrounding community? Does it improve the structure’s legacy? What kind of economic impact will a project have on its neighborhood? We explore these questions in stories about projects from our different

To commemorate EJ, we asked some executives – past and present – to share some memories of him:

“EJ personified the work ethic and values of the firm that we still hold today, and he took tremendous pride in the projects he engineered. We would not be here today without his efforts, growing from a small firm in Philadelphia to one with 15 offices across the country.”

– Kenneth R. Fulmer, PE, President & CEO

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Cultural embodied energy is a valuable resource that is not often a high priority for some engineers. It is necessary to rewrite the normal practices to understand and better utilize the opportunity that the embodied energy can provide for communities.” - Dr. Simi Hoque; architectural engineer and associate professor at Drexel University

With care and sustainable redevelopment, disregarded historical buildings can be restored as valuable community landmarks. The concept of cultural embodied energy has emerged as a means to define the tangible impact and historical relevance of a building on the surrounding community. Embodied energy refers to a building’s raw materials, while cultural energy is an attempt to quantify a building’s impact on the history and culture of a community.

Communal influence does not always correlate with historic preservation; however, growth and expansion can originate from preservation.

Despite rapid growth in the United States, communities still have ways to minimize impacts to historic properties.

Exploring cultural embodied energy is key to encouraging preservation. Discussions with Dr. Simi Hoque, a distinguished architectural engineer and associate professor at Drexel University, inspired my study, “Cultural Embodied Energy in Historical Buildings in the Philadelphia Region.”

The study involved three main components, the first of which was conducting a basic survey to understand the community’s views on the building. The second was modeling the raw material global warming equivalent and completing a general LEED Core and Shell Certification analysis of the building. The third was analyzing the results to determine the value – financially and sustainably – of preserving the building.

iconic clock tower. Most Philadelphians would likely say it has cultural energy as it is an iconic building that is significant to the community. There are many ways to measure a building’s impacts on a community. The most common is observing the change in property value. However, this can be inaccurate, since surrounding and adjacent properties influence value. Another method is collecting poverty data on the community, a measure that would quantify the economic performance of an area. A third option, specifically for a sustainable project, is identifying the global warming impacts of the building. The best route combines analysis of community opinions, property values, poverty levels, and global warming equivalent levels.

This approach mimics the Triple Bottom Line, a performance concept which guides LEED projects and measures community, economic, and environmental benefits. This Triple Bottom Line-influenced analysis would be appropriate

“Cultural embodied energy is a valuable resource that is not often a high priority for some engineers,” according to Dr. Hoque. “It is necessary to rewrite the normal practices to understand and better utilize the opportunity that the embodied energy can provide for communities.”

An ideal candidate for the study is a building that is recognizable in Philadelphia's history, but abandoned, such as the Inquirer Building - the former home of the Philadelphia Inquirer. This building has a unique shape and 5 / urbanengineers.com

Graphical representation of the two routes a building can take in the study.

The renovation of this building has a substantially smaller environmental impact, but with a higher price tag (all numbers are estimates).

for studying the recent restoration of the Divine Lorraine Hotel. Originally designed as an apartment complex in the late 1800s, the Divine Lorraine had fallen into a state of disrepair. In 2016, the historic building was revitalized.

Similar to the former Inquirer Building, the Divine Lorraine offers cultural significance that Philadelphians would likely appreciate. The red sign is memorable, and the building is well-known as a North Philadelphia landmark representing luxury and character through details in the facade and interior decorations. The building’s history and cultural embodied energy were revealed with the reopening of the hotel as a luxury apartment building that matched the original character.

My study focused on the Robinson Department Building, located at 1020 Market Street in Philadelphia, by architect Victor Gruen, and has been written about by online publications like PlanPhilly and Hidden City Philadelphia.

When conducting the first part of my study, I determined that the Robinson Department Building was unfamiliar and insignificant to the community. More than 70% of those surveyed gave it the lowest ranking possible in terms of cultural significance. Interestingly, the idea of protecting and renovating the building was overwhelmingly popular with these same people, despite having little familiarity with it. At the conclusion of my study, I determined the Robinson Department Building was not an ideal candidate for renovation based on its cultural embodied energy. It

was not commonly known, and despite having a lower CO2 impact, the cost of renovation was greater than the cost of reconstruction. A better candidate would be a building that is more recognizable in Philadelphia’s history like the Inquirer Building or the Divine Lorraine. Both buildings would rank much higher on a survey of their cultural significance. A developer renovating the Robinson Department Building would need to value the lower environmental impact the renovation would have on the building to accept the slightly higher cost.

Successful neighborhoods include buildings which link the past, present, and future. Quantifying cultural embodied energy can help convince the community, city planners, and developers that preserving older buildings is a way to preserve neighborhood history. The concept can also be applied to new buildings by designing features that reference history and culture. I envision that forward-thinking cities such as Philadelphia will adopt the Triple Bottom Line framework to value preservation and encourage sustainable development.

JONATHAN NAPOLITANO was the

runner up in the inaugural Excellence Student Article Competition. He studied under Dr. Simi Hoque at Drexel University’s Department of Civil, Architecture and Environmental Engineering.

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Diane Purdy is a senior project manager in Urban’s State College, Pennsylvania, office with more than 25 years of experience managing and designing transportation projects. The Harrisburg native provides her take on the state of our country’s infrastructure and the role of engineering moving forward.

The most recent American Society of Civil Engineers Infrastructure Report Card gave our nation’s overall infrastructure a poor grade, with bridges scoring slightly higher. How should professionals in our industry react to this?

As a transportation advocate, it concerns me. We have an aging bridge inventory across the country and that’s why we’re seeing more than 54,000 bridges rated as “structurally deficient.” Our first concern as engineers is to ensure public safety. We travel on highways and bridges; trains and planes; and ports and waterways, on a daily basis. People need to be able to get from Point A to Point B in a safe, reliable manner. It’s important we reinvest in the infrastructure to ensure future economic development and avoid catastrophic failures.

What impact does infrastructure have on the U.S. economy?

Poorly maintained roads, bridges, railways, and waterways cost the U.S. billions of dollars in lost revenue. Our economy depends on a reliable infrastructure to efficiently move goods, provide services, connect people to their jobs, and create opportunities for our local communities. Infrastructure also creates demand for materials such as concrete and steel. Unreliable infrastructure will stall growth and impose hardships on our economy.

Given that it is so important, why haven’t we been investing in our infrastructure? How did we get to this point?

Simply put, the U.S. has not spent enough to maintain the infrastructure over the past few decades. Some comparisons show we spend about 2.5 percent of the economy – or GDP – on infrastructure, as compared to about 3.9 percent spent in Canada, Australia, and South Korea; 5 percent for Europe; and 10 percent in China.

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Where does funding come from?

Our primary means to fund transportation projects is the Highway Trust Fund, which generates funds mainly through a gas tax. We spend these funds on our roads and bridges. However, we haven’t raised the federal gas tax since 1993 and the fund is in jeopardy.

One of the challenges is that no one wants to raise the federal gas tax. Two options to pay for this investment are user fees or taxes. The longer we wait, the more it will cost. We’re in a reactive mode trying to fix crumbling bridges or perform road repairs before they fail or collapse.

What role do you as an engineer play in rebuilding America’s infrastructure?

We have more than 600,000 bridges in the U.S.; almost four in 10 are more than 50 years old, according to ASCE Infrastructure Report Card. As engineers, we face the challenge of designing safe, durable structures that will last up to 100 years and offer low-maintenance over their shelf life. Corrosion is a leading factor in the deterioration of bridges.

For bridges made of structural steel, we apply protective coatings to the steel elements to prevent them from rusting. The coating acts as a barrier between the steel and the corrosive environment, such as salt spray. For reinforced concrete bridges, we use epoxy coated or stainless steel reinforcement to prevent the corrosion of reinforcement bars in concrete bridge decks.

Many older bridges have failed deck joints that leak water containing road salts. Proper maintenance can help to prevent the premature failure of these joints, but we’re also evaluating other ways to address the problem, such as elimination of the joint with closure pours, or extending the deck at supports.

From a design and maintenance perspective, we’re minimizing or eliminating joints, using corrosion resistance reinforcement bars and expanding applications of ultra-high performance concrete to increase the life expectancy of bridges.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Diane Purdy, PE Senior Project Manager dppurdy@urbanengineers.com

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Nick Orso

DIY AIRPLANE An Urban electrical engineer gives us a tour of his airplane factory.

Welcome to my airplane factory,� says Jim Quinlan with a bright smile from outside his home in Marlton, New Jersey. The airplane factory he is referring to is actually the attached garage of his home. From inside the garage, you get a sense that Jim is no stranger to being a craftsman. An entire wall of tools hangs over a couple benches and a welding table that he built from scratch. Most impressive, however, is the skeleton of an F.8L Falco airplane that has been a project of his for approximately 5,800 hours over 23 years.

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I’m building a two seat airplane with retractable gear that will go 200 miles an hour,” Jim says. The 26-foot

wingspan was too wide for his garage, so he expanded it by approximately 16 SF. Being an engineer, Jim took pride in creating the design and pulling the required permits for the expansion. He also used it as an excuse to add a fifth bedroom above the garage, as well as new siding and new windows. “I’m happy I chose electrical engineering to support my flying habits, if nothing else.”

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But Jim isn’t using typical wood that can be purchased at the local hardware store. The skeletal structure of the plane is built from Sitka Spruce, which he says is the wood equivalent of aluminum because it’s lightweight, but high-strength. It’s a rare, expensive wood which originated from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. For the skin covering, he is using Birch plywood, which mostly comes from Finland.

Hanging on the wall in his den are testimonials to Jim's many accomplishments, including two college degrees, three Professional Engineer licenses, a chief engineer’s license, and a pilot’s license.

Surprisingly, Jim isn’t an engineer in Urban’s aviation department. Closing in on retirement, Jim works part-time for the firm’s transit and rail services group. He’s quick to say the airplane construction project brings his career full-circle.

“It allows me to combine both my engineering and my aviation backgrounds,” says Jim. “I’m not that much of a train hobbyist. This is my real hobby here - building an airplane.”

Like any good project manager, Jim created a schedule and budget for his project, with 6,500 labor hours and $110,000. With all those hours, he realized it would be more efficient to construct the airplane in his garage rather than at the airport seven miles down the road. “I usually get a couple of days during the week to work on it,” says Jim. “I’m most productive working two to four hours a day.” He’s starting to see the completion of his project in sight, with a well-calculated 700 hours left to go. He’ll need another $50,000 for the engine, propeller, and radios.

Jim takes pride in constructing a plans-built airplane, compared to one built from a kit. “The plans-built planes are more difficult to construct, because with the kit you get a lot of ready-made parts,” says Jim. “Most people who are building home-built airplanes these days tend to build them out of composite materials, which are in a fact, plastic.” In stark contrast, Jim gestures toward the meticulously constructed wood frame of his plane. “I’m a bit of a woodworker – as you can see by my shop – and I have always been a hobbyist of some sort. That’s why I decided to build it out of wood.”

Jim is confident that the construction will be complete in 2020. The next challenge will be transporting it to the airport for test flights. After giving his plane the proper roll-out party, he’ll carefully roll the plane onto a car carrier. “My loose plan is to haul it to the airport around three or four o’clock on Sunday morning with a police escort,” says Jim. At that time of the morning, there should be minimal traffic to disrupt the plane’s journey to the airfield. It will be quite a spectacle for anyone who happens to be driving that route on that particular morning.

Once at the airport, Jim will have to log the FAA required forty-hours of test flights. “I understand that it climbs like a homesick angel at about a thousand feet per minute,” Jim says adoringly. “It really goes up there with only a 180 horsepower engine.” Once the test flights are logged, Jim’s airplane will receive a satisfying airworthiness certificate by the FAA. While it won’t be the quickest flight, Jim’s maiden voyage will be to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the annual Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture airshow. There, amongst the 10,000 airplanes and 600,000 plus people in attendance, Jim will enter his plane into the plan-built contest. He will be in good company with the “gathering of the faithful,” where his tireless efforts will be realized, regardless of how his plane finishes in the competition. More than 700 miles from his garage in New Jersey, he’ll be flying high.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jim Quinlan Electrical Engineer, Railroad Department jquinlan@urbanengineers.com

View our interview video online: www.urbanengineers.com/blog/airplanefactory excellence / 12

Urban is providing construction inspection for the rehabilitation of Lock O-7 of the Oswego Canal, ensuring the safety and stability of the lock and free flow of waterway travel for another 100 years.

The annual Oswego “Rock the Locks” Paddlefest in upstate New York is an event that allows canoe and kayak users the opportunity to travel sections of the Oswego Canal and through its locks. The annual event ends at the park by Lock O-7 in Oswego, making the area a popular destination in the summer.

“Paddlefest is a great, unique event we have in Oswego and lately we’ve seen more and more city residents participate in the event,” the Oswego mayor told The Palladium-Times. “It also attracts people from around the region to participate in the event and that, of course, is beneficial to the community.”

Locks help move ships that carry goods through manmade canals, providing an efficient way to transport commerce. Opened almost 200 years ago, the Oswego Canal utilizes several locks, and was one of the few economically successful locks, largely because it facilitated trade between the East Coast of the United States and Canada.

The Oswego Canal, nearly 24 miles in length, has seven locks – numbered 1 through 8, skipping over number 4 – and associated dams and spillways canalize the Oswego River from the Erie Canal at Three Rivers to Lake Ontario, allowing for effective flow of boats and ships. After more than 100 years of service, the New York State Canal Corporation determined that the canal’s Lock O-7 was in need of

rehabilitation. The lock raises and lowers boats 14.5 feet and is located near the Oswego Canal’s entrance from Lake Ontario. The three-phase, $25 million project involves substantial rebuilding to ensure safety and stability of this important asset. During Phase I, the upper miter gates and concrete monoliths were replaced. New hydraulic equipment replaced the 45-year-old power units. The second phase involves construction of a new lock house for lock operations and replacement of lower lock gates and concrete monoliths. The final phase involves rehabilitating walls between the upper and lower gates.

The rehabilitated lock will improve an amenity for the local community. In addition to transport vessels, the canal and locks are important to the public, as they are often used for recreation.

“Public safety is priority number one - and by investing in the resiliency of Lock O-7, we can help ensure Oswego residents and visitors remain safe while visiting one of New York’s great historic treasures,” said New York’s governor in the funding announcement. “This investment will ensure the lock is built better and stronger than ever before, while providing boaters a seamless experience on the Canal for decades to come.”

To keep the canal flowing through Lock O-7, the New York State Canal Corporation turned to Bergmann to provide design services for the rehabilitation, and selected Urban for construction inspection.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Paul Parker, PE V.P., Western New York Office Manager pfparker@urbanengineers.com

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MAINTAINING A HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE OF THE MAIN HOUSE

Renovations to the Stoneleigh Estate’s Main House on Philadelphia’s Main Line provided modern upgrades which respect the home’s classic aesthetic.

In 2016, the Haas family donated the historic Main House and 42-acre Stoneleigh Estate, in Villanova, PA, to Natural Lands for conversion to a public garden.

Opened in 2018, Stoneleigh: a natural garden — which preserves designs from the Olmsted Brothers, sons of the famed Frederick Law Olmsted — is a stunning reflection of more than a century of horticultural conservancy.

“Since my first visit about 20 years ago, I have always loved Stoneleigh,” said Jane Pepper, a member of Natural Lands’ Board of Trustees and former president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, in a statement. “The stately trees, the wide expanses of lawn, and the elegant architectural features make this a special place, and I’m so grateful to the Haas family for making it available for future generations to enjoy.”

The design team’s goal for Stoneleigh’s Main House was to repurpose the historical building to accommodate the institutional headquarters for the Organ Historical Society and house a vintage organ (circa 1931) relocated from West Orange, NJ. Renovations encompassed office spaces, a library, an organ pipe chamber, and archival spaces for the Society along with administrative spaces for Natural Lands and a new commercial kitchen and catering area for events.

Uniting Nature and Music

The design team needed to accommodate the installation of a 1931 pipe organ for the resident Organ Historical Society. The Aeolian-Skinner Opus 878 serves as a lynch pin for the renovation’s plan to unite nature and music, as desired by the Haas family. The organ’s 2,218 pipes were installed in the basement, allowing the pipes’ bellows to be heard throughout openings in the floor as the organ is played in a room off the house’s foyer. Older basements are less-thanideal environments for such a sensitive instrument due to damp and cold conditions, so extra care had to be provided in the design.

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Modern Systems / Historic Aesthetic

Installing modern HVAC systems was vital to preserving the building’s interior. The challenge was providing this modern amenity without compromising the Main House’s historical integrity. A thoughtful and sensitive approach led to the installation of archival-level climate control HVAC systems. Non-invasive mechanical system distributions were designed to conceal and minimize interior disturbances. This approach provided modern standards while preserving historic decor and aesthetics.

For critical areas, such as historic archival spaces and the rare books library, the unique HVAC systems provide precision cooling, heating, and humidity control. A new interior envelope with continuous vapor barriers and gasket doors also helps maintain the desired temperature and relative humidity to a tight tolerance, as required by museum and archival standards. Each space was designed as an independent zone with its own air handling unit and space controls, including thermostat, humidistat, monitoring, and fault alarms.

Lighting and electrical systems were also designed to minimize impacts to historical features. For example, specialty lighting, with lighting controls, was installed in spaces with historic appeal on the ground floor, while general illumination design was provided for other spaces. To help conceal the new electrical service required to support the property and garden upgrades, a garage was transformed into an electrical space with electrical panels, switch gears, transfer switches, and a back-up outdoor generator. Fire alarm systems, audio/visual, telephone/data, security, and site power/lighting systems were also installed.

An important part of Stoneleigh’s renovation was the facility’s new fire protection systems. Having so many historical elements, it was important that the Main House’s new design be sensitive to its interiors. A new

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WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED TO BE ENTRUSTED TO CARRY ON THE HAAS FAMILY’S LEGACY OF STEWARDSHIP FOR THIS MAGICAL PLACE...”

- Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands Trust to the PhillyVoice.

fire protection system encompasses the entire house, without encroaching on points of visual interest. For example, a wet system with detailed pipe routing serves all non-critical spaces, with concealed sprinkler heads serving areas with original decorative ceilings and moldings. Critical areas, such as historical archival spaces and the organ pipe chamber, are served by a dry or nonwater based FM-200 fire suppression system.

A new fire pump provides the required flow and pressure for the new fire protection systems. The fire protection system is critical to safety of the Main House, which will be used for events.

Exemplary Historic Preservation

Stoneleigh: a natural garden is now open to visitors, free of charge. Thanks to the careful renovations by the design team, which included John Milner Architects, and Urban — who provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineering services — patrons can experience the property’s historic cultural value.

“Stoneleigh is unique among our preserves in so many ways,” said Molly Morrison, former president of Natural Lands, to the PhillyVoice.

“We envision a place where the public will be able to enjoy the quiet and beauty of the Stoneleigh grounds and be motivated to learn about the joys and benefits of gardens that emphasize the use of native plants. We are deeply honored to be entrusted to carry on the Haas family’s legacy of stewardship for this magical place, and excited beyond measure to add Stoneleigh as a unique, shining star in our constellation of preserves."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jim Bilella, PE Vice President, General Manager, Facilities & Building Systems jabilella@urbanengineers.com

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Indian Inlet River Bridge Photo Credit: William Bartholomew

Three major bridges received lighting upgrades to promote their use, historic value, and improve visual appeal, while reducing energy use.

Indian River Inlet Bridge

Owner: Delaware Department of Transportation Delaware’s Indian River Inlet Bridge has been reconstructed several times, owing to its harsh surrounding maritime environment. The latest version of the 2,600-foot-long suspension span, officially called the Charles W. Cullen Bridge, features major lighting upgrades, compared to the previous span. Magnificent aesthetic stay lighting, walkway lighting, and maintenance lighting provides a shimmering contrast at night against the Indian River Bay and Atlantic Ocean. LED lights reduce energy use by more than 65% as well as maintenance costs and safety concerns. Maritime and aviation obstruction lighting systems installed below and above the bridge help improve safety for air and sea travelers.

Lighting the Way

While recognized as a leader in bridge design and construction support, Urban was proud to have played an integral role in the lighting upgrades to these three infrastructure assets. The firm’s facilities and building systems group provided engineering design services for the Indian River Inlet Bridge with DMJM Harris/AECOM and the Ben Franklin Bridge with The Lighting Practice. Urban provided construction management for the upgrades to the “Trenton Makes” sign supporting the execution of The Lighting Practice’s lighting solution.

Trenton Makes Bridge

Owner: Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission The iconic “TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES” message on the Trenton Makes Bridge, formally named the Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge, was recently upgraded from its 1935 red neon tubing to LED lighting. The LED lighting offers a more dependable light source which is energy efficient and less costly to maintain and upgrade. The color of the letters can also be changed, allowing Trenton to sync the color of the iconic message with holiday or eventthemed colors.

Benjamin Franklin Bridge

Owner: Delaware River Port Authority The aging Ben Franklin Bridge lighting system will undergo a multimillion dollar upgrade to an LED system. The bridge is an iconic piece of Philadelphia’s skyline and its decorative illumination adds drama to the nighttime sky in honor of holidays and special events. The aging lighting system contains more than 1,000 lighting fixtures installed in 1987, and more recently in 2000. Along with improved energy efficiency, the LED lighting system can be programmed in a variety of ways to support events, while requiring less maintenance.

Ben Franklin Bridge

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jim Bilella, PE Vice President, General Manager, Facilities & Building Systems jabilella@urbanengineers.com

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KEEPING RAIL FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS ‘ON TRACK’ Railroad iron is a magician's rod, in its power to evoke the sleeping energies of land and water."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Americans have had a long-standing love affair with railroads and trains. As children, we would “ooh” and “ahh” at fancy model train sets. When we played Monopoly, we tried to buy up all four railroad properties (Reading, Pennsylvania, B&O, and Short Line) so we could collect $200 rent. We were enthralled when our parents would take us on a train ride into the city, where we were thrilled by the whistles blowing, horns blaring, and bells clanging as neighborhoods sped by outside the windows. Our history books taught us that the first public railway was the Baltimore and Ohio, and that the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed when a golden spike was driven in Promontory Summit, Utah Territory in 1869.

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"Track"ing the Past...

At around the same time that spike connected the rails that spanned from Oakland Long Wharf to Omaha, Nebraska/ Council Bluffs, Iowa, the construction of the first buildings at the New Haven Rail Yard (NHRY) was underway. The yard had already been active for two decades, being a part of a line stretching from New York to New Haven that was completed in 1849.

The NHRY would remain a beehive of activity for the next 50 years, witnessing the consolidation of the New York and New Haven line with the Hartford & New Haven line in 1872; the attempts to monopolize New England transportation by millionaire financier J.P. Morgan; and the opening of New Haven’s grand Union Station, a beaux-arts facility designed by prominent architect Cass Gilbert. Modern developments

have included the 1983 formation of Metro-North Railroad, which operates the New Haven line under a joint agreement between the State of Connecticut and the Metropolitan Transit Authority, and the acquisition of the NHRY property itself by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) in the late 1980s.

...To the Present

Past has met present, as work continues in Connecticut to preserve the New England railroads. CTDOT would make major investments over the next dozen or so years, but it wasn’t until 2005 that the NHRY Facilities Improvements Program would begin. The program focused on the new railcars – the M8 – that would replace several iterations of cars, some of which had been in service for nearly 40 years. By 2008, a Master Plan had been developed.

The first project in the NHRY program was the M8 Acceptance Facility. Overall, there are more than 15 “key” projects in the program, including half a dozen costing $50 million or more. The improvements to the NHRY, totaling $1.178 billion, will ultimately provide work for more than 1,600 rail yard employees. The program represents a significant portion of an overall $2.8 billion investment in former Governor Dannel Malloy’s plan for transportation infrastructure improvements – rail, buses, bridges, and highways – “a 30-year vision for transportation to undo ‘40 years of under-investment.’” Projects at the railyard include a diesel storage yard, a traction power substation, an independent wheel truing facility, a maintenance of way facility, a pedestrian bridge, and expansion of the transportation building.

The Jewel in the Crown – The CCO

The crown jewel of the improvements at the NHRY, however, is the $218 million Component Change Out (CCO) Shop, a nearly 300,000-sf facility that houses maintenance and support shops, storage units, testing systems, administrative offices, and more. Thirteen twocar units can be accommodated for repairs/maintenance simultaneously; that capacity, coupled with the ability to remove entire systems units (i.e., HVAC) – instead of pieceby-piece – enables Metro-North to get their cars back on the tracks quickly, increasing operational efficiency.

One of the earlier projects in the program (the design was completed in March 2009), the CCO serves as the “hub” project for future NHRY endeavors. For example, the CCO utility installations are also required for the Wheel True Facility, while the subsequent Yard Power Upgrade project is within the footprint of the CCO work area.

The completion of the largest facility in the yard required a prime consultant for construction engineering and inspection. CTDOT turned to Urban, who ensured compliance with plans and specifications; provided project administration; coordinated with state, city, and regional groups; and monitored utility and Metro-North Railroad Force Account work. The team also provided cost estimates and change order negotiations.

At the Maintenance-of-Way facility, a CM-at-Risk Pilot Project, Urban is providing scheduling and construction

inspection services. The $35 million project, CTDOT’s first CM-at-Risk project in Connecticut, included the construction of a new 30,000-sf building, relocation of Brewery Street, and site development/reconstruction of both 1 Brewery Street and 152 Water Street. The Maintenance-of-Way facility was constructed on the site of the former Connecticut Freezers facility, which was demolished in 2014.

CTDOT sought a prime consultant for construction engineering and inspection services, including scheduling review services, related to the construction of their $20 million Central Distribution Warehouse. Urban was tasked with these services. This project includes construction of a new Automated Storage and Retrieval System robotic warehouse required for the overall New Haven Line to serve as the main distribution point for housing material for the storerooms contained within the individual shops, as well as for major components of the M-8 cars.

The Urban team was also brought in to serve as the prime consultant to provide construction engineering and inspection services for the demolition, construction, and renovation of a fueling facility located at the railyard. The $16 million fueling facility improvements consisted of constructing a 100-foot-long by 30-foot-wide locomotive enclosure with support rooms, pump house, sanding facility, off-loading canopy, containment slab, and fuel storage tanks. The project also included renovating the generators building and the fuel operators building, a single-story, 44-foot-long by 10-foot-wide facility.

Facing the Future

Now, the fascination with railroads is coming full circle in our own lives, with our children – and grandchildren – experiencing the joys of trains and rail travel, and its projects like those at the NHRY that will keep railroads vibrant and viable for them and future generations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jason Cardinal, PE Vice President, Connecticut Office Manager jcardinal@urbanengineers.com

Photo Credit: The Engineer

From Wellhouse to Green�House One of the oldest wellhouses in the country was converted into a sustainable restroom for use in a park visited by millions of people annually.

Not many things are functional after nearly 150 years, but the Wellhouse in Brooklyn's Prospect Park was recently given new life. Originally built in 1869, the facility was designed by Calvert Vaux in a public park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Water features were key to the park’s layout, and the Wellhouse was built to pump water into the park lakes and fountains.

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Photos via Prospect Park Alliance

When it was first built, the Wellhouse was considered an engineering achievement. The facility connected to an underground cistern that could be viewed through a glass dome above. Once the park was connected to the New York City water system in the early 20th century, the Wellhouse became obsolete. Over time, the cistern was filled in, the glass dome removed, and an existing chimney was demolished, leaving just the Wellhouse to stand alone.

The Prospect Park Alliance - a non-profit which cares for the park in partnership with the city - led conversion of the historic Prospect Park Wellhouse into a much-needed public comfort station. Despite being the only remaining Prospect Park building designed by Calvert Vaux, the Wellhouse was serving as a storehouse and had been closed to public use for 80 years.

With funding from the New York City Council, the Alliance used this project as an opportunity to demonstrate sustainable practices. The renovated Wellhouse features composting toilets, the first in a New York City public park. These toilets use 97% less water than a typical toilet, and convert waste into compost. Estimates project the facility will reduce water entering the New York City sewer system by 250,000 gallons. New full-time "residents' in the Wellhouse, in the form of thousands of worms, rest in the composting tanks beneath the facility. In 10 years, they will produce life-enriching compost.

31 / urbanengineers.com

Since this was the first composting restroom in a New York City public park, it was important that construction went smoothly. Many techniques were used to preserve the structure. For example, a deficient retaining wall behind the facility was restored. In addition, underpinning occurred carefully, in stages, to protect the Wellhouse foundation and superstructure.

Along with promoting sustainability, the Alliance aimed to restore the Wellhouse's historic elements. A new roof was installed, brickwork repaired, and beautiful portico recreated in period-appropriate colors, using historic photos as a guide.

The renovation garnered positive attention from the public, the media, and park staff. "After nearly a century, Prospect Park Alliance has restored a piece of park history to public use," said Sue Donoghue, the president of the Prospect Park Alliance, in a statement. "Being able to provide more restroom facilities to park visitors, while advancing the environment, is a win-win situation.�

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Oscar Bustos, PE Project Manager ofbustos@urbanengineers.com

Special Inspection Highlight s Urban performed special inspections for this renovation. As is required by the New York City Building Code, Urban examined materials, operations, and equipment to ensure technical compliance with the requirements of the plans and specifications for the facility’s construction.

Work included restoring the historic Wellhouse, enlarging the basement and underpinning, and completing below-grade concrete work. Urban provided special inspections for: •• Structural steel welding •• Cold-formed steel •• Cast-in-place concrete •• Underpinning

•• Structural stability •• Excavations, sheeting, shoring, and bracing •• Site preparation •• Concrete test cylinders

•• Footing and foundation •• Mechanical systems and frame inspection

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CONTRIBUTORS

M ol ly A he r n Writer/Editor Molly manages proposals along with Urban's resume and project profile databases. In 2012, she left New York City to teach ESL in China and Taiwan. She moved to Philadelphia three years later and joined Urban. Her background includes technical writing, copywriting, and editing. She enjoys cooking, flea markets, live music, and

Corey Fenw i ck Writer/Editor Corey coordinates internal and external communication for Urban. Maybe you caught a glimpse of him on the big screen in the crowd at Super Bowl LIII. Although he's an Eagles fan, he was rooting for his home team at the game.

A Massachusetts native!

exploring Philadelphia, one neighborhood at a time.

A ND R E W C hakm a k j i a n

Adri an Marcewi cz

Writer/ Editor

Writer

AJ leads Urban’s Corporate Development department,

Adrian is a seasoned proposal coordinator at Urban.

overseeing the firm’s marketing, graphics, and video staff.

When not at work, he spends his time traveling, cooking, and enjoying the outdoors with his family. A native of New York, AJ moved to Philadelphia to attend Temple

He is also an integral part of the firm's softball team every season! The rest of the year, he is on the look out for the best craft beers. If you need any suggestions, he's your guy!

University and has called Philly home ever since.

Dav e D’Al b a Writer/Photographer Dave leads Urban Video Productions. Outside of Urban, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, including skiing, camping, hiking, and biking. When not outside, you can find him rooting for the Flyers or discovering new movies/music.

Vi ctori a Mi skel Writer Victoria is always on the move. At Urban, she stays busy coordinating proposal and marketing efforts. Outside of work, you can find her either running, studying for her MBA, or whipping up healthy treats in the kitchen to fuel her long, full days.

M ic ha e l M ul l in Photographer/ Illustrator Michael spends his days at Urban designing and producing

Issue 13: Legacy

videos for Urban Video Productions (UVP). Outside the office, he is most likely practicing and touring in his bands Thrills and Vacationer. He's always trying to stay active, whether he's in the gym, riding his motorcycle, or chasing down birds with his binoculars, he's always exploring something new.

Kat e M undi e Writer/Illustrator Outside of handling marketing initiatives for Urban’s transportation group, Kate keeps busy with hobbies that require talents many others don’t possess! She enjoys painting landscapes; knitting sweaters and hats; and baking cakes and sourdough bread.

FOR MORE VISIT:

urbanengineers.com

Copyright 2019, Urban Engineers, Inc. / Urban Engineers of New York, D.P.C. (Urban) All rights reserved. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Urban. For permission to reprint any portion of this publication; to notify us that you have received more than one copy; or to be removed from the mailing list, please contact us at corporate_development@urbanengineers.com or (215) 922-8080.

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Special Thanks:

Je s s ica W e i ns te i n Designer/Illustrator /Photographer As Urban's Graphic Designer/Web Support, Jessica designs creative content for Urban's marketing materials and website. When she's not at work you can find her at an exercise class, taking selfies with her three cats or volunteer dog walking in Philly.

Jonathan Napolitano; Dr. Simi Hoque; Diane Purdy; Jim Quinlan; Dave Mellen and the New York State Canal Corporation; Kristen Werner and Natural Lands; William Bartholomew; The Lighting Practice; the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission; the Connecticut Department of Transportation; Alden Maddry and the Prospect Park Alliance; Jon Excell and The Engineer magazine.