Champlain Bridge engineer win's highest award

The engineer behind the building of the new Champlain Bridge, connecting Vermont with New York, has won his industry's highest award. Theodore (Ted) P Zoli, PE, national bridge chief engineer for HNTB Corporation, has received the construction industry's most prestigious honor:Engineering News-Record'sAward of Excellence for 2012. The award was presentedApril 12, 2012, atENR'sannual black-tie gala inNew York City. More than 1,500 guests attended the event.
ENRselected Zoli from a list of what the magazine dubbed the Top 25 Newsmakers of 2011. He will be featured in a cover story in theApril 16issue.
As HNTB's national bridge chief engineer, Zoli brings international acclaim as the innovator behind numerous bridges ‘long span, movable, pedestrian and rail. Among his most notable projects are the cable-stayedLeonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill BridgeinBoston; the curved cable-stayed Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge inOmaha, Neb.; the Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge inCupertino, Calif.; and the network tied arch Blennerhassett Island Bridge inWest Virginia.
Most recently, Zoli is noted for designing the Lake Champlain Bridge betweenNew YorkandVermont. He led a team that delivered the modified network tied arch in only two years, using a float-in and heavy-lift scheme to raise the center span. The previous bridge was demolished (STORY) just after Christmas 2009. It was new bridge was opened (STORY) last fall.
A 2009 MacArthur Fellow, Zoli is described by the foundation as "a structural engineer who is leading the design of elegant and enduring bridges around the world and making major technical advances to protect transportation infrastructure in the event of natural and man-made disasters."
Zoli, who also has been featured inEsquiremagazine's Best and Brightest of 2010 and NBC Nightly News, has consistently used the media attention to spread the word about the nation's infrastructure needs. He is an advocate of moving away from a design approach dominated by material efficiency to one focused more on constructability and structural safety. He has been at the forefront of the bridge community in developing protective measures for the main cables and hangars of suspension bridges, incorporating advanced composite material. He also has researched fire effects on bridge components.
"Ted is the embodiment of HNTB's commitment to technical excellence," saidKen Graham, CEO, HNTB Infrastructure. "He consistently provides valuable leadership for HNTB's award-wining projects and serves as a mentor for technical/design staff across the firm."
With nearly 100 years of bridge design history, HNTB is a leader in long-span, moveable and complex bridges. The firm consistently delivers cost-effective, unique design solutions for its clients with an eye toward incorporating the latest advances in technology and sustainability.
About HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With nearly a century of service, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and solves clients' most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, program delivery and construction management. For more information, visitwww.hntb.com.
SOURCE HNTB Corporation KANSAS CITY, Mo.,April 13, 2012/PRNewswire/