Downtown Waterfront Design Earns National Engineering Excellence Award
May, 2026
In an annual celebration of projects that demonstrate innovation and creative problem solving, the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) National Competition recognized the rejuvenated downtown waterfront in St. Helen’s, Oregon. The honor follows an earlier regional recognition from the organization.
The EEA National Competition is juried by a panel of industry, government, and academic experts from the AEC field. They’re part of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), which serves as a business voice for the industry, forming a federation of 51 state and regional member organizations to advocate for policies at all levels of government. Events throughout the year provide opportunities to advance the industry through research, training, and thought leadership. Reinforcing those initiatives, these awards aim to ultimately highlight engineering’s unique ability to improve our world.
Learn more about the work of 1st and Strand at the St. Helen’s waterfront below.
About 1st and Strand
With an eye on economic growth and enhanced public use, work at 1st and Strand creates multimodal access to new public spaces while adding infrastructure for future development. The transportation design includes a multiuse path and roundabout that accentuate the waterfront of downtown St. Helens, Oregon. For an area that includes city hall and other public buildings, the ability to close off a portion of the street for festivals also contributes toward the city’s goals to enhance its usage for the community.