FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ruby+Associates, a pioneer in the development of constructability of steel structures, today announced that it has earned the coveted Presidential Award for Excellence in Engineering from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) for its innovative work on the Ottawa Street Power Station in Lansing, MI. The award was presented during the North American Steel Construction Conference (NASCC) in Pittsburgh, PA. A panel of design and construction industry professionals selected the winner.
"The Ottawa Street Power Station was an engineering challenge that we compared to building a ship in a bottle," said Jeff Gasparott, PE, Ruby+Associates Project Manager. "The project team was tasked with building a 10-story steel-framed office building inside an existing masonry structure while maintaining and preserving the original shell. Much of the existing steel had to be removed before the new framing and floors could be installed. Site delays caused a late start for us, but we had a successful and on-time completion."
"Rehabilitating a public landmark is always noble, always complex, and this project redefines both," said Wesley Walls, one of the award competition judges.
The Ottawa Street Power Station will serve as the Accident Fund Insurance Company of America Headquarters. Assisting The Christman Company and Douglas Steel, Ruby performed structural analysis for the $182 million renovation and provided floor-by-floor sequencing to facilitate and maximize internal demolition while still achieving stability. Ruby provided the connection design for braced frames and the connections between the new and existing framing within the renovated structure, maximizing the use of existing materials. By providing constructability expertise and evaluating design alternatives, Ruby+Associates facilitated early completion of the structural steel erection. The building was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Also at the Conference, David Ruby, the founder and chairman of Ruby+Associates, was honored as the 2011 Designer Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
For more information on Ruby+Associates and to read case studies from many of its projects, please visit www.rubyusa.com
About Ruby+Associates
Ruby+Associates is considered a pioneer in the principles of constructability. We look at every project as an opportunity to engineer or design something new, whether that means a better way to do the same thing, or a new way to do something never dreamed of before. We deliver solutions that help clients do what they do best.
SOURCE Ruby+Associates
