April 21, 2005

Iraq Reconstruction Master Planning Project Named National Honor Award Winner

The reconstruction of Iraq’s infrastructure has been described as the single largest reconstruction program in the history of the world. The role Stanley Consultants and Michael Baker Jr. Inc., played in master planning this reconstruction received a prestigious National Honor Award in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ 39th annual Engineering Excellence Awards competition, sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Master planning the reconstruction of an entire country’s infrastructure has not been attempted since the reconstruction of Germany and Japan following WWII. In support of this massive effort, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Programs Center (USACE TAC) requested Stanley Consultants and Michael Baker Jr. Inc., form an integrated team to lead the master planning program. The team worked with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and Iraqi ministries to identify and prioritize more than 5,000 potential projects in the areas of oil, electric, public works/water, security/justice, transportation/communications, and building/education.

Following a detailed on-site needs analysis, the team recommended CPA approval of more than 2,300 projects that will provide the most immediate benefit to the Iraqi people. Upon Congressional approval of the reconstruction program, the team began preparing more than $4 billion in task orders, including scopes of work and preliminary construction cost estimates, for implementing those projects deemed to be most critical to Iraq’s recovery.

The award was presented at a black tie gala banquet at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. The competition is known industry wide as the Academy Awards of Engineering. Over 175 projects that advanced from state competitions competed at the national level. From these, a distinguished judging panel of engineers and architects, along with representatives from government, media and academia selected the top 24 projects. Criteria for the awards include uniqueness, originality, technical, social and economic value, complexity and success of the projects in meeting goals.

Stanley Consultants provides engineering, environmental, and construction services worldwide. Since 1913, Stanley Consultants has successfully completed more than 21,000 engagements in all 50 states, U.S. territories, and in 93 countries.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America’s engineering industry, representing approximately 6,000 independent engineering companies throughout the United States engaged in the development of America’s transportation, environmental, industrial and other infrastructure.