Sweetwater Creek Rehab Cited In National Competition

KENNESAW, GA - From the American Council of Economic Companies: The Kennesaw, Ga.-based team of NOVA Engineering and Environmental LLC and Stevens & Wilkinson has earned a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 52nd annual Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) for designing the rehabilitation of the Sweetwater Creek Mill Ruins at Sweetwater State Park in Lithia Springs, Ga.

The ruins of the five-story1840s-era mill are back on display following a multi-faceted rehabilitation project that combined forensic evaluations with a detailed masonry repair strategy. The project team found that a large portion of the exposed brick masonry exhibited some form of deterioration through weathering, aging, and neglect, with some areas damaged from unauthorized use for firearms practice.

The renovation included incorporating bracing brick headers and free-standing brick piers with concrete lintels, installing new concrete lintels at severely deteriorated openings, and infilling voids above lintels with original brick. A sloped, moisture-resistant concrete cap was placed on horizontal surfaces to alleviate standing water. New steel lintels and architectural steel plates were installed to support less deteriorated brick headers and granite stone block arches. The repaired mill is once again a popular backdrop for photographers and filming of major motion pictures.

The project is among 196 engineering achievements from throughout the nation and the world being recognized by ACEC as the year’s finest examples of engineering excellence, and eligible for additional top national honors. Judging for the awards program—known industry-wide as the “Academy Awards of the engineering industry”– took place in February, conducted by a national 30-member panel of built environment leaders, along with experts from government, the media and academia. Award criteria focuses on uniqueness and originality, technical innovation, social and economic value, and generating excitement for the engineering profession.

Recognition of all award winners including top commendations—20 Honor Awards, 16 Grand Awards and the prestigious “Grand Conceptor Award” for the year’s most outstanding overall engineering achievement—will take place at the annual EEA Dinner and Gala, a black-tie event to be held Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America’s engineering industry, representing more than 5,200 independent engineering firms and more than 600,000 professionals throughout the United States engaged in the development of America’s transportation, water and energy infrastructure, along with environmental, industrial and other public and private facilities. Founded in 1906 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACEC is a national federation of 52 state and regional organizations.