Boston, MA Nitsch Engineering has earned a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 54^th annual Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) for the Christian Science Plaza restoration and repair project. Nitsch transformed what was a 10-acre closed space into an open, welcoming plaza that connects people to each other and the surrounding area. This project included substantial re-construction of the reflecting pool, expansion of the Mass. Ave. lawn, and more efficient use of stormwater. The project team tackled long-standing issues of ponding, lack of access for disabled citizens, and the non-sustainable use of water that had turned a high-profile tourist site into a burden directly affecting the public it was meant to serve.

The project team implemented innovative stormwater management techniques, such as a new 20,000-gallon external cistern that stores rainwater from the Mother Church roof.

The stormwater supplies non-potable water to existing injection wells that help stabilize the structure’s wooden support piles. This new resilient and sustainable design reduces the system’s operating costs and benefits the surrounding community by increasing groundwater recharge in Boston’s Groundwater Conservation Overlay District.

The project is eligible for additional honors as part of 173 entries this year representing engineering excellence from throughout the nation and the world. Judging for the awards program—known industry-wide as the “Academy Awards of the engineering industry”– took place in February and was conducted by a national 20-member panel of built-environment leaders, along with experts from government, media, and academia. Award criteria focused on uniqueness and originality, technical innovation, social and economic value, and generating excitement for the engineering profession.

Recognition of all award winners including top winners—20 Honor Awards, 16 Grand Awards, and the prestigious “Grand Conceptor Award” for the year’s most outstanding overall engineering achievement—will take place during the 2021 Virtual EEA Gala, to be held Thursday, June 17, 2021.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America’s engineering industry, representing more than 5,200 independent engineering firms and more than 600,000 professionals throughout the United States engaged in the development of America’s transportation, water and energy infrastructure, along with environmental, industrial and other public and private facilities. Founded in 1906 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACEC is a national federation of 52 state and regional organizations.