D&B received recognition for four regional projects at the American Council of Engineering Companies New York (ACEC NY) Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) 58th annual gala event at the Midtown Hilton on April 5, 2025.
D&B received accolades for four landmark projects:
- 2025 ACEC New York Diamond Award in Category F: Waste and Storm Water for its Ocean Beach Flood Mitigation and Resiliency Project, which upgraded the sanitary and stormwater infrastructure within the downtown area of the Village of Ocean Beach.
- 2025 ACEC New York Platinum Award in Category I: Special Projects for its Playland Pool and Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project, which renovated the historic facilities at Playland Park, the nation’s first amusement park that opened in 1928. Project goals were achieved while preserving the property’s historic architectural elements and allowing the park to remain open during construction.
- 2025 ACEC New York Gold Award in Category G: Water Resources for its Indian Island County Park Living Shoreline Project, which was designed to provide protection, resiliency and stabilization to Indian Island’s bluff, shoreline and marshlands which were subject to chronic erosion that threatened the area’s infrastructure and navigation, coastal ecosystem and sensitive archeological/cultural artifacts.
- 2025 ACEC New York Silver Award in Category G: Water Resources for its Replacement of 1.5 MG Syosset Elevated Tank Project, which was designed to provide Jericho Water District with a safe, cost-effective upgrade while ensuring continuous service and replacing its 90-year-old elevated storage tank.
“D&B proudly accepted four Engineering Excellence Awards at ACEC NY’s magnificent gala event. We are honored that our projects have received industry recognition as each one represents years of planning, hard work, and dedicated effort to accomplish,” said William D. Merklin, P.E., Executive Vice President of D&B. “We are also delighted that our Ocean Beach Flood Mitigation and Resiliency Project will go on to compete at the national level at the ACEC National Awards in May.”
“For each of our submissions to be chosen for recognition by the meticulous panel of judges from The American Council of Engineering Companies of New York is a true testament to the hard work, dedication and ingenuity of the D&B team,” Steven A. Fangmann, P.E, BCEE, President of D&B Engineers and Architects commented.
The Engineering Excellence Awards are presented to projects that encompass both the public and private sector in the following categories: studies, research, and consulting services; building/technology systems; structural systems; surveying and mapping technology; environmental; waste and storm water; water resources; transportation; energy; industrial and manufacturing processes and facilities; and special projects.
Each year, over 50 member firms submit over 100 projects that are judged on a rigorous set of criteria, which includes complexity, innovation and value to society. These projects are judged by a panel of industry experts, which includes military and government officials, ACEC National and International leadership, educators from college and university engineering departments, and leadership from other organizations dedicated to the built environment.
Proceeds from the event benefited the ACEC New York Scholarship Fund, formally the New York Consulting Engineering Scholarship and Educational Fund. Two $10,000 scholarships were given in honor of the two 2025 Awards of Merit honorees: New York City Housing Authority and The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
About ACEC New York
ACEC New York is a proactive coalition of nearly 300 firms representing the leading engineering firms in the United States, including every discipline of engineering related to the built environment—civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, environmental, geotechnical—and affiliated companies. With more than 33,000 employees represented by our member firms, our shared goals are to further the business interests of our membership, enhance the quality and safety of the environment we live and work in, and help ensure the vitality of our communities. For more information, visit www.acecny.org.
About Ocean Beach Flood Mitigation and Resiliency Project
The Ocean Beach Flood Mitigation and Resiliency Project was designed to upgrade the sanitary and stormwater infrastructure within the downtown area of the Village of Ocean Beach. Located on the barrier island of Fire Island (NY), this popular summer vacation community was experiencing increasingly severe flooding and groundwater infiltration of both the existing sanitary and stormwater collection systems. Project improvements included the replacement and expansion of the stormwater collection system, partial replacement of the sanitary collection system, new stormwater treatment units, and construction of a below-grade stormwater pump station to reduce downtown flooding conditions. Despite multiple logistical and scheduling challenges, construction was successfully completed on time and on budget in July 2024, bringing environmental, economic and quality of life benefits to residents, business owners and visitors of Ocean Beach.
Multiple innovative construction techniques were utilized, particularly due to extremely high groundwater levels and the need to consolidate a variety of disparate systems. Flood mitigation and resiliency were accomplished via a new watertight stormwater collection system able to account for high groundwater conditions and a sophisticated 10-million-gpd stormwater pump station.
This project demonstrates that stormwater pump stations are an economically viable way to vastly improve living conditions in bayfront communities confronting sea level rise. The elimination of hazardous flooding has had positive environmental, economic and quality of life impacts, increasing home values and enabling business continuity. Previously untreated stormwater runoff is now filtered before discharge into the Great South Bay, and groundwater infiltration into the sanitary sewer system has been eliminated. As an added public benefit, the recreation area was upgraded after being used as a staging site.
The removal of groundwater infiltration into the sanitary collection system results in additional capacity at the sewage treatment plant and puts Ocean Beach in the position to reduce the number of cesspools on Fire Island by expanding its sewer district into neighboring communities. New stormwater treatment units provide water quality improvements through the removal of sediment and pollutants prior to discharge into the bay.
Since Fire Island is accessible primarily by boat, all construction equipment and materials had to be transported from the mainland via ferry or barge. The large influx of summer tourism meant all work had to be performed during the nine-month off-season. Additionally, the pump station required substantial support of excavation efforts to account for poor soil conditions and excavation depths up to 30 feet.
The use of the Village’s recreation area as the project staging site had a beneficial outcome, as residents are enjoying upgrades to the facilities including new tennis, pickleball and basketball courts. Downtown businesses were improved with reconstructed entrances that were raised to promote drainage, and vegetation at the surface of stormwater treatment units added beautification while removing stormwater pollutants.
About Playland Pool and Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project
The Playland Pool and Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project aimed to renovate the historic facilities at Playland Park, the nation’s first amusement park, which opened in 1928 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in Rye, NY, in the County of Westchester, this 280-acre waterfront destination features rides, games, a pool, lake, and beach for family fun. Renovations included demolishing the old pool and constructing a new family-friendly, zero-entry pool with spray features and ADA accessibility, enhanced water treatment, enlarged pool deck, as well as modernizing the Bathhouse and vendor spaces. Project goals were achieved while preserving the property’s historic architectural elements and allowing the park to remain open during construction. Completed in May 2023, the project was delivered within budget.
Innovative techniques were utilized to overcome the historic and environmental challenges of completely gutting a nearly 100-year-old cinderblock and stucco structure and updating it with state-of-the-art features. The new pool treatment equipment includes an innovative ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and filtration system to reduce chemical usage, improve water quality, and provide a safer and more enjoyable swimming experience.
Integrating state-of-the-art recreation, safety, accessibility and efficiency features while preserving the historic significance of the Bathhouse and surrounding area is a remarkable engineering achievement. Visitors can now enjoy this revitalized section of the park, which has enhanced its beauty and enriched the overall experience.
The aging elevator was replaced with a new ADA-accessible elevator connecting the pool, bathrooms, and dining areas to a new entrance at the boardwalk level. The old competition pool was also replaced with an ADA-accessible version, including zero-entry and ramp features. Asbestos-containing materials were found in the building’s exterior stucco, which required strict removal and abatement protocols. The updated Pool and Bathhouse, vendor/event spaces, beach access ramps, ticket booths and enhanced lighting are now providing financial benefits to the County and bettering the community.
Completing extensive renovations while preserving the historic features of the property was a complex challenge. Compounding this difficulty, the surrounding park, beach and boardwalk were required to remain open during construction, necessitating careful planning to minimize any impact on visitors. Demolishing the old pool and preparing the site for the new pile-supported pool system was complicated by the unexpected presence of substantial natural bedrock and construction debris, necessitating extensive excavation. Furthermore, several design modifications were implemented after a new management company took over operation midway through the project. In addition, Bathhouse interior renovations were met with numerous, unforeseen conditions which required significant coordination efforts.
When Standard Amusements assumed management of the pool and beach midway through the project, several modifications were made to the original design. These changes included the integration of advanced technology and upgrades to communication, electrical, security, alarm and safety systems. The firm collaborated closely with Westchester County officials and Standard Amusements to ensure that the redesign and construction aligned with the objectives of all stakeholders.
About Indian Island County Park Living Shoreline Project
The Indian Island County Park Living Shoreline Project was designed to provide protection, resiliency and stabilization to Indian Island’s bluff, shoreline and marshlands which were subject to chronic erosion that threatened the area’s infrastructure and navigation, coastal ecosystem and sensitive archeological/cultural artifacts. Indian Island County Park is a 275-acre park located in Riverhead (NY) at the mouth of the Peconic River, offering year-round recreation including camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking and shoreline activities. Shoreline protection and erosion control were accomplished via the creation of a Living Shoreline using natural and nature-based features, including strategic placement of living segmented emergent rock sills and marsh habitat restoration/enhancement. The project was completed on time and within budget in early 2024, overcoming unique archeological challenges and delivering multiple environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits.
The creation of a Living Shoreline is an innovative technique on Long Island which has not previously been applied in an area containing sensitive artifacts such as those in Indian Island’s ancient tribal burial ground. Whereas traditional shoreline hardening structures require extensive excavation, this environmentally sustainable alternative used minimally invasive techniques to avoid disturbing sensitive ecological habitats and archeological resources.
The successful completion of this project is an example for engineering professionals that Living Shorelines are an economically viable, environmentally friendly and a more effective way to protect shorelines than traditionally used hardening structures such as bulkhead, seawalls and jetties. The area roadway is no longer on the verge of collapsing, and the public is now able to enjoy a previously inaccessible beach area due to the installation of a new timber walkway, viewpoint and staircase.
The Living Shoreline protects vital cultural artifacts and prevents the need for future beach sand replenishment and dredging of the adjacent creek, providing historic benefits to the Native American tribes and economic benefits to Suffolk County. The marsh habitat restoration provides increased stability and resiliency to the shoreline to reduce loss, improve progression of the marsh, and sustain the vital native marsh habitat and ecosystem of the region.
The coordination between multiple government agencies and two Native American tribes in developing a solution to protect the area’s natural ecosystem while preserving cultural artifacts represented a major undertaking. For months, several tons of sand, granite, vegetation and oysters were hauled into Indian Island and strategically graded, planted and placed to build a rock sill solid enough to withstand decades of wave and tidal action.
A design benefit of the living rock sills is limitation of the expense and resources involved with dredging of the adjacent navigation channel by entrapping sand. The sills themselves provide productive rocky subaqueous marine habitat for finfish, shellfish, marine invertebrates, seaweeds, etc. Furthermore, the living rock sills have been seeded with oysters that improve water quality through their filter feeding.
About Replacement of 1.5 MG Syosset Elevated Tank Project
The replacement project for Syosset’s 90-year-old elevated storage tank was designed to provide the Jericho Water District with a safe, cost-effective upgrade while ensuring continuous service. As the largest municipal water district in Nassau County, Jericho Water District spans 37 square miles and serves over 58,000 residents. The upgrade involved constructing a new 1.5 MG composite-style tank, featuring a concrete pedestal and a welded steel bowl, positioned immediately southeast of the existing tank to maintain an uninterrupted water supply. A composite tank of this capacity is not only cost-effective but also requires less maintenance compared to other steel tanks and is expected to last over 100 years. The new tank was completed on schedule and within budget in October 2023, after which the old tank was safely and systematically dismantled and removed.
This tank is only the second of its style on Long Island, with the first having been built three years earlier with a smaller capacity. The exterior of the tank is finished with an advanced fluoropolymer topcoat, which not only enhances its glossy appearance but also provides superior protection for the exposed steel, extending the lifespan of the coating system.
Through meticulous planning and execution, the steel bowl of the tank was successfully hoisted onto the concrete pedestal during the District’s centennial celebration, showcasing a remarkable achievement of engineering excellence. Continuous communication with the community and careful consideration of residents throughout the construction process earned widespread approval and a positive perception of the project.
Following an assessment of the old tank that identified traces of lead in its exterior paint, demolition was conducted with utmost caution to safeguard the community. A comprehensive air quality monitoring system and daily lab tests ensured that air quality standards were met and exceeded. To guarantee clean and safe drinking water, the new tank’s interior coating is specifically approved for potable water applications and is free from extractables and volatile organic compounds.
During excavation, it became evident that the subsurface conditions were weaker than indicated by soil borings performed prior to construction. Consequently, the foundation needed to be deepened and backfilled to ensure the subgrade could adequately support the new structure. Potable water piping was strategically installed to accommodate the site’s planned future water treatment plant. During construction, crews carefully ensured that plant operations were maintained without disruption, and proactive measures were implemented to minimize the risk of harmful air emissions.
Successfully mounting the steel bowl atop the structure during the District’s 100th anniversary celebration was a challenging yet impressive achievement. The feat, performed in front of a large crowd, heightened the day’s excitement and greatly pleased the Jericho Water District.
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