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2022 Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards

New Buildings $5 Million - $25 MILLION

Outstanding Project Award

The Eastern
Uzun+Case

The Eastern is a 40,000 ft2 music venue built in the Atlanta Dairies complex in the Reynoldstown neighborhood of Atlanta, located right off the Atlanta Beltline, and consists of a multi-level interior concert venue as well as a covered roof-top performance space. The structure features a series of tiered elevated slabs constructed using unique, built-up steel plate risers that facilitated the contractor’s construction schedule and achieved the architect’s desired vision. Intended as an amplified concert venue, the occupied floors of the structure, including the occupied roof, all required additional dynamic analysis in order to anticipate and control the acceleration of the structure due to rhythmic excitation. Through close coordination with the architect, owner, and contractor, efficient solutions were found to unique problems that resulted in a state-of-the-art music venue that will serve the Atlanta community for decades to come.
 

New Buildings OVER $25 MILLION

Outstanding Project Award
1105 West Peachtree
Uzun+Case

The 1105 West Peachtree development is a $530 million, 1.75 million square foot, tri-tower mixed-use development occupying a block of prime Midtown Atlanta real estate. It consists of a 410-foot-tall, 32-story, Class A+ office tower, a 16-story 178 key boutique hotel and a 20-story, 64-unit, luxury condominium tower. All three towers are linked together with an elevated amenity plaza and greenspace on top of an 8-story parking and retail podium. The project features multicolor-lighted geometric steel exoskeletons at the exterior of the glass façade. The eastern half of the project site is uniquely situated directly on top of an existing and active underground rail transit tunnel used by MARTA.

Uzun+Case served as the structural engineer for the entire project which was completed ahead of schedule and within budget, despite many structural design and construction challenges, to become a new landmark for the city of Atlanta. 

Merit Award
Enmarket Arena
Walter P Moore













FORENSIC/RENOVATION/RETROFIT/REHABILITATION STRUCTURES


Outstanding Project Award




Charlotte Convention Center Expansion


Walter P Moore



An expansion of the existing Charlotte Convention Center was desired based on studies showing that additional meeting room space would increase the attractiveness of the facility for certain events. The urban site is confined on all four sides, so vertical expansion was the only option. Unfortunately, the roof trusses that covered the Center’s exhibit space could not accommodate the new expansion. Walter P Moore devised an elegant strengthening scheme using pairs of new queen posts and tension rods to reinforce the main trusses. This was in addition to foundation, column, and horizontal framing strengthening to continue with the architecturally sophisticated vertical expansion. The $126.9 million project was completed on time and within budget with no disruption to the operational commitments at the convention center during construction.




Merit Award




Riverworks at Eastern Wharf Fire Repair


Uzun+Case























new bridge and transportation structures


Outstanding Project Award




Pedestrian Bridge at CHOA’s Support Office


Uzun+Case



The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta bridge is a 270 ft. long elevated pedestrian corridor and gateway structure connecting the parking deck and office buildings at the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta’s main campus. The bridge traverses a roadway and an environmentally sensitive waterway. The client wanted the bridge to not only be functional, but also iconic. Based upon structural principles, Uzun+Case conceived of a unique solution which effectively integrates the aspirational, environmental, architectural, engineering and construction constraints bearing on it. The result is a functional and beautiful structure which enhances the environment in which it exists.














Engineer of the Year




Rob Weilacher, PE, SE


Uzun+Case

In appreciation for his contributions to the Georgia engineering community, the SEAOG Board of Directors is proud to announce that SEAOG’s 2022 Engineer of the Year is Rob Weilacher.



Rob started his professional career with O’Kon & Company in 1989 and later moved to Uzun+Case and has been there for over 20 years. He has designed many significant and interesting projects for commercial, hospitality, residential, mixed-use, healthcare, and military aviation. He is currently active in several organizations and with the growth and development of young engineers at Uzun+Case.




Rob has had the good fortune to be involved with many architecturally interesting and challenging projects through his career. The ones that are structurally challenging have been an opportunity to learn, advance, and develop new skills and do engineering that is satisfying to a career. As a result of such exposure, he is often consulted by architects, owners, and contractors when they need advice or a review of another design.




Outside of work, Rob enjoys raising his daughter and activities with her and his wife. Rob also enjoys history, reading, gardening, and cooking. He also builds model ships as a hobby. Rob’s acknowledges that his career would not be nearly as notable without the continuous support of his wife.






eSe Awards Jury


The selection of award recipients is made by a distinguished Awards Jury, consisting of leaders in the design, construction and academic communities in Georgia. 


            

               
       


Donn Digamon, PE


Mr. Donn Digamon is the State Bridge Engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1999 and has a Georgia PE license. Prior to joining GDOT, Mr. Digamon had 15 years of experience as a consultant bridge designer having done work in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia. He joined GDOT in April 2014 as a Bridge Design Group Leader in the Office of Bridge Design and Maintenance and was promoted to Senior Group Leader four years later. From 2016 to 2021, he also served as the Office of Environmental Services and Bridge Office Liaison.




Michael S. Fletcher, PE, SE


Michael S. Fletcher has over 47 years of experience in structural engineering and is licensed as a Structural Engineer in Illinois, and as a Professional Engineer and Architect in Texas. Mike currently consults with BuroHappold, an international engineering firm and previously led the Atlanta offices of Walter P Moore and Halvorson and Partners in the design of high rise buildings and specialty structures. Prior to Atlanta, Mike was an Associate Partner with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, practicing in their Chicago, Houston, and Hong Kong offices. Mike is a past president of SEAOG and remains active in a number of professional organizations including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Structural Engineers Association of Texas, the NCEES 16-hour Structural Exam Committee, and the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations. His project experience includes expertise in the design of high rise buildings, long-span structures, sports and convention facilities, and specialty structures. Mike was appointed by the Governor in 2009 to the Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and served through 2013.


               

            

            
            

               




Aimee Middleton, AIA, LEEP AP


Aimee Middleton is an Architect and Principal at HKS. She has 20-plus years experience developing and documenting various building types such as commercial, mixed use, hospitality, mission critical and health care. She also volunteers at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, the North Texas Spina Bifida Association, Habitat for Humanity and others.





Dr. Karl F. “Fred” Meyer, PE


Fred Meyer retired from active duty in the United States Army in 2021 after a 37-year career culminating as Professor and Head, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. He joined the Structural Engineering, Mechanics, and Materials (SEMM) Group at the Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering as a Professor of the Practice teaching structural engineering courses and working with students. He is an active member of the American Concrete Institute serving on several committees including 318 Sub A, General Concrete and Construction, and 213, Lightweight Aggregate and Concrete. Dr. Meyer is a licensed professional engineer in Virginia and serves as an ABET Program Evaluator. He has been married for 37 years and has two adult children. 




Chris Hughes


Chris Hughes is a Senior Project Manager with JE Dunn Construction Company. Chris has been in the industry for 10 years, all with JE Dunn, and has worked on project across various market sectors (Education, Mission Critical, Multi-family, Office, and
Hospitality). With a diverse project background, Chris has been involved with many different structural designs, however, his passion is working on high-rise concrete structures. As an Atlanta area native, he has enjoyed being a part of the growth of the city and seeing the changes that have occurred over the last 10+ years. 




               

            

            




2022 ESE Awards Committee


    

  • Stephen Richards, Chair
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  • Ken Nuttall
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  • Tom Szewczyk
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