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2024 Structural Engineering Excellence Awards

New Buildings Under $10 Million

Outstanding Project Award
GreyStone Amphitheater
Stability Engineering

The addition of the GreyStone Amphitheater on the site of the former Douglas County jail marks a significant transformation of the perception of a community space. The building of this 3,700-person amphitheater involved creative solutions to accommodate a wide range of performances. This has not only revitalized an underutilized space but also symbolized a shift towards fostering creativity and inclusivity. Recognized with a 2024 “Travelblazer” award by the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, the GreyStone Amphitheater has earned its status as a community anchor and travel destination.

Merit Award
Franklin Mountain Aviation- FBO Hanger & Terminal
Palmer Engineering Company

New Buildings $10 Million - $50 MILLION

Outstanding Project Award
Chamblee City Hall
PES Structural Engineers

Chamblee City Hall is the focal point of the city's evolving downtown master plan. This structure accommodates various city departments, featuring tailored office spaces, council chambers, community areas, outdoor balconies, and versatile multipurpose spaces for both public and private activities.  The structural design features a complex lateral system due to the large open council chamber and clerestory spaces and the structures industrial look was accomplished with exposed steel framing including the prominent front entrance with canted columns and sloped steel framing that pops up and extends over the roof structure.

Merit Award
Atrium Health Amphitheater
Uzun+Case

New Buildings OVER $50 MILLION

Outstanding Project Award
Emory University Health Sciences Research Building II
HOK

Emory University’s new Health Sciences Research Building II (HSRB-II) offers high-performance biomedical research space while demonstrating how structural design can facilitate greater design collaboration, create inspiring spaces, and drive reduction of both embodied and operational carbon.  The structural design was key to delivering an efficient framing system and MEP distribution layout motivated by the need to match a tight existing floor height limitation and reduce energy expenditures. The research facility also features an expansive parametrically-optimized skylight, 15 pedestrian bridges, a feature cantilevered stair, and a structural transfer level stacking disparate programmatic elements within a confined site.

Merit Award
Forth Hotel & Social Club
Uzun+Case

Merit Award
Midtown Union
Uzun+Case

Merit Award



Morrow High School


Uzun+Case












FORENSIC/RENOVATION/RETROFIT/REHABILITATION STRUCTURES


Outstanding Project Award




Campus 244


Uzun+Case



Campus 244, located just north of I-285 near the Ashford-Dunwoody road exit, is an outstanding renovation feat. The original 3-story, 225,000 square feet, concrete frame building was stripped of all finishes except the concrete structure and precast elements. The vertical expansion consisted of an 80,000 square foot composite steel floor, and two 65,000 square foot levels of mass timber. Several renovation strategies were used including increasing existing foundations, minimizing new loads, and selective strengthening of existing elements.




Merit Award




159 Armour Drive


Stability Engineering



Merit Award




Roosevelt Hall


PES Structural Engineers


















OTHER STRUCTURES AND SERVICES


Outstanding Project Award




Georgia Tech Westside Connectivity Bridge Competition


Georgia Tech / Uzun+Case



In fall of 2022 Uzun+Case partnered with Georgia Tech to sponsor a special topics class, where 12 engineering students and 12 architecture students were paired and tasked with generating design proposals for a bridge to connect the John Lewis Student Center to the Science Square project on the west side of Tech campus. The winning design was an effective combination of a convex pedestrian walkway and a concave bicycle path. The efficiency of the bridge was enhanced by the use of FP decking in lieu of a heaver and more corrosion-prone concrete and metal deck system. This winning design will be used as inspiration for the professionals selected to execute the project.




Merit Award




Atrium Health Amphitheater - Erection Engineering


Stanley D. Lindsey & Associates




















people's choice awards








            

               
1st Place




Forth Hotel & Social Club


Uzun+Case


               

            

            
            

               
2nd Place




Emory University Health Sciences Research Building II


HOK


               

            

            
            

               
3rd Place




RBC Gateway


Stanley D. Lindsey and Associates


               

            

            




Young Engineer of the Year






Stephen Richards, PE, SE


Uzun+Case



Stephen has over a decade of experience in structural engineering and joined Uzun+Case in 2015. Since then, he has worked on a diverse range of projects and has a reputation for using his technical expertise to deliver creative and cost effective solutions for clients. Within Uzun+Case, he contributes to the technical development of the firm’s standards and is passionate about nurturing the growth of emerging engineers. Stephen is also actively involved in SEAOG, the NCEES Structural Exam Committee, and the ASCE 7-28 Main Committee and Wind Load Subcommittee.




Engineer of the Year




Adrian Persaud, PE, SE


Uzun+Case

Adrian brings over 18 years of invaluable experience in structural engineering, boasting a rich portfolio of diverse building projects. His leadership shines through in the management of large-scale, intricate endeavors, including structures surpassing one million square feet and towering up to 40 stories. As a former board member of SEAOG, Adrian has dedicated countless hours to propel the field of structural engineering forward in Georgia. His pivotal contributions include aiding in the passage of the P.E., S.E. Practice Act, advocating for reforms in undergraduate structural engineering education, and serving as a remarkable mentor to budding engineers.






Lifetime Achievement Award




Michael Planer, PE, SE


PES Structural Engineers

After graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Michael began his profession as a bridge engineer with HNTB. He then transitioned to a position with PES Structural Engineers in 1989 where he has spent the last three decades of his career. Michael currently serves as the firm's President and has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership and innovation, and a commitment to his peers and employees in the field of structural engineering. His work has advanced and significantly influenced industry standards and practices in structural engineering.


 


In addition to his technical prowess, Michael is also widely recognized for his exceptional mentorship and advocacy for the profession. He has selflessly shared his knowledge and expertise with countless aspiring engineers, nurturing the next generation of talent and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. Michael has been actively involved in professional organizations (including past President of SEAOG and Chair of ACEC Georgia), committees, and academic institutions, playing a pivotal role in shaping the direction of the industry and promoting best practices in structural engineering.


 


Michael's project portfolio is a testament to his versatility and expertise across various construction types and project scopes. From distribution centers and manufacturing facilities to government agencies and educational spaces, his involvement in a diverse array of projects showcases his proficiency in delivering exceptional results.








see 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.




Dr. Donald W. White


Don White is a Professor at the Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and has been a member of the faculty since 1997. Dr. White’s research covers a broad area of design and behavior of steel and composite steel-concrete structures as well as computational mechanics, methods of nonlinear analysis and applications to design. Dr. White is a member of multiple AISC Technical Committees, the AISI Bridge Design Advisory Group, the AISC Specification Committee, and several AASHTO/NSBA Steel Bridge Collaboration Task Groups. He is past Chair of SSRC Task Group 29 and has previously served on the Executive Committee of the SSRC. Dr. White has served as a major contributor to the steel design and structural analysis sections of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, the AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. He is also a co-author of the AISC Design Guide 28 Stability Design of Steel Buildings, AISC Design Guide 25 Frame Design Using Web-Tapered Members, and Volume 4 of the NSBA Steel Bridge Design Handbook, Structural Behavior of Steel.


               

            

            
            

               




Catherine Knuckey


Catherine is an Architect and Senior Associate at Ruly Joy Trammell Rubio (RJTR) in Atlanta with over 10 years of experience in a variety of project types including healthcare, large-scale hospitality, office, multifamily, fitness, production studios, and parking. She has a passion for problem solving and project management, and her strengths lie in all phases of design, interdisciplinary coordination, and construction phase services. Catherine is also a co-founder of RJTR’s Professional Development Committee, with a particular interest in guiding and mentoring young professionals through the early stages of their careers. In her free time, she can be found traveling, exploring Atlanta, and spending time with her husband and dogs.





Stan Jones, PE


Stan has over 50 years of structural engineering experience in the United States, Middle East, and Far East. He has analyzed and designed projects utilizing structural steel, masonry, timber, and concrete for a variety of structure types and has extensive construction administration experience. Over the years, Stan has worked on several mixed-use and adaptive reuse projects throughout the Southeast. He is highly knowledgeable in Building Code requirements, and their changes over time, as well as the historic evolution of construction practices.




Sabrina Bernstein


Sabrina Bernstein holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Emory University, a Master’s degree in Construction from Auburn University, and an MBA from Georgia Tech. Her career began as a Virtual Design and Construction engineer in Phoenix, Arizona, leveraging technology to enhance construction processes. She transitioned to the field, working as a superintendent and eventually becoming a project manager. Sabrina’s passion for construction was ignited during an Introduction to Structures course at Georgia Tech while completing her undergraduate degree, and her commitment to construction was further solidified while studying architecture at the University of Cape Town. Notable projects in her portfolio include the State Farm Arena Renovation in Atlanta, Georgia, the Joseph F. Rice School of Law in Columbia, South Carolina, and the ExxonMobil Campus in Houston, Texas.




               

            

            




2024 SEE Awards Committee


    

  • Sarah Scarborough, Chair
    • 

  • Angie Alderman
    • 

  • Srikanth Bajaj
    • 

  • Alex Blankenship
    • 

  • Stephen Richards
    • 

  • Zinah Rosenberg
    • 

  • Shayah Smiley
    •