June 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Round of Applause Roll Call For May

Round of Applause Roll Call For May

Here’s a salute to the 36 employees receiving Round of Applause recognition in May. Remember, it’s as easy as 1,2,3 to thank an employee for going the extra mile.

  1. Start an email to [email protected].
  2. Write a few sentences about what the person did and when.
  3. Press send, and HR does the rest!
  • Megan Adams, Marketing Services Group
  • Sam Balog, Road Group
  • Patrick Beliveau, Road Group
  • Jordan Bosse, Road Group
  • Ruben Castilla, Transportation Group
  • Lifeng Chen (2), Road Group
  • Scott Crites, Road Group
  • Josh Cunningham, Civil Engineering Group
  • Brody Dyer, Road Group
  • AJ Edwards, Road Group
  • Sarah Everhart (2), Environmental Services Group
  • Shirley Gray, Marketing Services Group
  • Dan Gusme (2), Transportation Group
  • Jen Gustafson, Civil Engineering Group
  • Calvin Herr, Road Group
  • Nathan Horgan, Civil Engineering Group
  • Amman Kebede, Road Group
  • Geeta Kharche, Traffic Engineering Group
  • Adrienne Lewis, Marketing Services Group
  • Craig Litmer, Transportation Group
  • Scott Marchisin, Architecture + Interiors Group
  • Greyson McCaig, Transportation Group
  • Alex Merrill, Transportation Group
  • Eddie McCoy, Transportation Group
  • Patrick O’Connor, Traffic Engineering Group
  • Sharon Payne (2), Accounting Group
  • Adam Pfeiffer, Civil Engineering Group
  • Rahul Rajbhara, Traffic Engineering Group
  • Phillip Roth, Planning + Economic Development Group
  • Mike Steffy, IT Solutions Group
  • Liza Trant, Accounting Group
  • Alex Varney, Planning + Economic Development Group
  • Aleksander Venturino, Road Group
  • Maureen Walker (2), Marketing Services Group
  • Steve Wurster, Land Surveying Group
  • Drew Zimmerman, Civil Engineering Group

June 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Sign Up for Cornhole Tournament

Sign Up for Cornhole Tournament

The June 7 deadline to sign up for the Annual Cornhole Tournament on June 10 is fast approaching! Read on for further details:

How do I sign up?
The sign-up sheet for Indy and Columbus design centers can be found here.  Don’t have a partner? Feel free to sign up in the second column and Healthpoint will pair you up with another staff member so you can participate.  Even if you don’t plan to participate, feel free to come out and socialize. Once sign up closes, brackets will be sent to participants prior to start time.

Additional Information:
Other design centers outside of Indy and Columbus participating can either be done in pairs or single player since there are less staff.  Contacts for those offices are listed below. Don’t see your office and want to participate?  Please email [email protected] for coordination as we would love more participation.

  • Austin – Adam Pfeiffer
  • Columbus – Don Gillie and Justin Soltesz
  • Highland – Eric Wolverton
  • Evansville – Tyler Price
  • Tampa – Matt Poppell

Special Prize:
Winning pairs (or solo champions) at each participating design center will get a gift card.

We look forward to seeing you there!

June 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on I-69 Finish Line Team Day of Service

I-69 Finish Line Team Day of Service

Aleksander Venturino (second from right), Calvin Herr (behind and to the right of Aleksandr) and an out-of-view Jordan Bosse receive instructions at the Day of Service

An Indianapolis neighborhood park received a makeover, thanks to three of our engineers joining with fellow I-69 Finish Line team members for a recent Day of Service. Staff Engineer Jordan Bosse, Staff Engineer Aleksander Venturino, and Senior Project Engineer Calvin Herr (all Indianapolis Design Center) were part of the “Bluff Park Crew” tackling several improvement projects at the southside Indy park. They, along with volunteers from HNTB, INDOT, Milestone, and Parsons, took to shovels, wheelbarrows, and paintbrushes to complete the following.

  1. Spreading mulch on a playground area
  2. Repainting picnic tables and the supports of a picnic shelter
  3. Regrading and spreading new crushed limestone on a walking path
  4. Dressing up the ground around player benches at three baseball/softball field dugout areas
  5. Regrading infield dirt and spreading infield conditioner at the three fields
  6. Repairing backstop fences

June 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Company Picnic at the Indianapolis Zoo Details

Company Picnic at the Indianapolis Zoo Details

Don’t miss out on the 2021 company picnic, set for Saturday, August 7, from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Indianapolis Zoo. Here is the day’s schedule.

  • 2-9 p.m. Unlimited rides on the train, carousel, and roller coaster!
  • 4-6 p.m. Food/drinks in private picnic pavilion
  • 7 p.m. Park closes to general public; open for American Structurepoint guests until 9 p.m.
  • 7:30 p.m. Private dolphin show

Look for an email arriving in your inbox with info about making your reservation. RSVPs are limited to one guest and your immediate family only.

June 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on For Your Consideration – Supporting Nick Harrison’s FELI Service Project

For Your Consideration – Supporting Nick Harrison’s FELI Service Project

FELI class members pose after installing Wi-Fi hotspot tower

Project Development Director Nick Harrison (Tampa Design Center) seeks support for a good cause – raising funds to install solar-powered Wi-Fi hotspot towers in public spaces of underprivileged communities throughout Florida. This is the service project of the ACEC-FL Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI) Class of 2021 of which Nick is a member. Nick’s classmates want to install fast, stand-alone public hotspot towers that will make internet access more accessible. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, internet access is a critical issue affecting distance learning for school-aged children and social isolation for adults.

There are several ways you can support this cause.  Register and participate in the “eRun for eLearning” virtual 5K, purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win awesome prizes, or if you are feeling especially philanthropic, make an outright donation to the program. 5K registrations and raffle ticket purchases will be accepted through August 5, and donations can be made at any time in 2021. Direct links to each of the donation opportunities as well as additional information about the project can be found at https://www.feli21.com/

June 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Virtual Wellness Week Starts June 14

Virtual Wellness Week Starts June 14

Join us for our Virtual Wellness Week featuring challenges, tips, and webinars beginning June 14.  Each day has its own theme to motivate both your mind and body:

  • Motivational Monday
  • Transformation Tuesday
  • Walk It Out Wednesday
  • Thankful Thursday
  • Feel Good Friday

You have a chance to win!

We know that wellness is an essential piece to a thriving workforce, so we are hosting a raffle for all who participate. Two participants will have a chance to win a $50 gift card!

June 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Community Service News

Community Service News

The Community Service fund increased by $5,997 in May 2021 thanks to our employee payroll contributors and the company’s dollar-for-dollar match.

Is your team, group, or design center planning a volunteer activity? Please send an email to “CommunityService” prior to the event. Funds may be available to complement your project!

Recent Donations

  • A donation of $1,000 was made to the Indianapolis chapter of Dress for Success.

Get Involved

  • You can become a contributor to the Give Back fund by completing a commitment form, available by searching for “Community Service” on Pinnacle.
  • All donations are driven by suggestions from American Structurepoint’s employees. If you have a suggestion for an organization that could use assistance, please complete a donation request form, also available via Pinnacle. Requests for assistance are accepted year-round.

June 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on American Structurepoint in the News

American Structurepoint in the News

American Structurepoint projects and people appeared in the news media 20 times in May. Here’s a recap.

  • The Urban League Institute issued a news release that Promenade Park, the Fort Wayne riverfront project for which we did environmental work, is a finalist for an Urban Land Institute Americans Awards for Excellence. (Please see the article appearing elsewhere in the newsletter.)
  • The Greencastle Banner Graphic reported that American Structurepoint contributed toward the purchase of a Safe Haven Baby box installed at a Putman County EMS station in Greencastle. The donation came from our Community Services fund.
  • The groundbreaking for the $45 million Lafayette Public Safety Building and Parking Garage warranted news coverage in the Lafayette Journal and Courier and WBBA public Radio. (Please see the article appearing elsewhere in the newsletter.)
  • Northwest Indiana Life.com published an article regarding the City of Lake Station working with American Structurepoint to develop a stormwater master plan.
  • The Columbus Dispatch reported about a new affordable housing project, Jenkins Street Lofts, for which we provided civil engineering and land surveying services in Columbus, Ohio. Sixty units will be built.
  • A multi-tenant space on East Whittier Street in Columbus, Ohio, caught the attention of the 614now.com website. We are providing civil engineering and land surveying services for the project.
  • The Indianapolis Star reported that Noblesville is moving forward with a $25 fee on vehicle registration renewals via a wheel tax to help pay for its Pleasant Street reconstruction project. We are providing design services and program management for the project.
  • The Columbus Republic reported on an upcoming public hearing for a roadway improvement project along SR 7 in Jennings County that includes several intersection improvements and a small structure replacement. We are providing roadway and bridge design services, environmental services, and public involvement coordination.
  • The Times of Northwest Times and Lakeshore Public Radio reported that the City of Crown Point hired American Structurepoint to conduct a downtown parking study.
  • The Times of Northwest Times also reported that the City of Valparaiso hired American Structurepoint to design a new intersection at Brown Street and Campbell Boulevard.
  • Approval has been granted for a mixed-use development project of apartments and retail space in Columbus, Ohio, for which we provided civil engineering services, according to the Columbus Underground website. The new development is on the site of a former IBEW headquarters.
  • WLFI-TV in Lafayette reported on several special events being planned by the Lafayette Aviators baseball team to boost engagement at the new Loeb Stadium that we designed. One event is a June 19 Street Fest featuring live music, carnival games, and local food vendors.
  • Construction begins later this month on the 7-Line Multimodal Corridor that we designed, according to Bloomington.gov. The project provides safer connectivity between downtown Bloomington, the IU campus, and east side neighborhoods and includes protected bicycle lanes, pedestrian amenities, and an improved bus corridor.
  • The Albion News-Sun informed readers of the estimates American Structurepoint presented to Noble County for renovations to the Noble County (Indiana) Courthouse and for a new Surveyor’s Office building to be built. Soft costs for the courthouse may cost up to $250,000, and the renovation could cost up to $2 million, depending on options chosen by the county.
  • Several portions of the Dean and Barbara Community Center we designed in Merrillville are now open free of charge to Merrillville residents. These include the walking track, walk climbing wall, fitness center, and basketball courts.
  • The Noblesville City Council approved two new vehicle taxes to help pay for the Pleasant Street road improvement project we designed. The Hamilton County Reporter, Indianapolis Business Journal, and Current In Noblesville published articles about the new tax.
  • Inside Indiana Business, WISH-TV, and Tire Review.com reported on the opening of the 1 million sft Cooper Tire warehouse and distribution center in Whiteland, Indiana for which we provided civil engineering services.

May 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on ENR Top 500 Cover Story Features American Structurepoint

ENR Top 500 Cover Story Features American Structurepoint

The most recent issue of national trade publication Engineering News Record (ENR) contains multiple references to American Structurepoint! Our ranking in ENR’s annual Top 500 Design Firms list improved significantly for 2021 over 2020. In addition to that good news, our firm’s perspective on adapting to the pandemic appears in the cover story accompanying the list.

Our 2021 ranking is 157; last year’s ranking was 169. The cover story quotes Executive Vice President Steve Davidson on two topics: recruiting new talent from university graduates and our efforts in the emerging waste-to-energy market.

ENR is among the top US engineering and construction industry publications. The ENR website receives over 289,000 unique visitors each month and its print publication has nearly 62,000 subscribers. The Top 500 Design Firms list is one ENR’s most popular features.

May 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Two Indiana Projects Receive Awards From ACEC National

Two Indiana Projects Receive Awards From ACEC National

Two of our Indiana projects earned National Recognition honors for exemplary engineering achievement in the ACEC National Engineering Excellence Awards. The State Road 37 Stormwater Drainage project in Fishers, which is part of the SR 37 corridor project, and the Bass Road corridor project in Allen County earned these awards after winning Honor Awards at the state level earlier this year. Here’s a few details about each project.

 

SR 37 Stormwater Drainage Project

This project used two trenchless installation methods: two-pass tunneling for the south line and microtunneling on the north line for installing two 54-inch diameter storm sewers. The south drainage line stretched 2,650 feet while the north drainage line covered 4,700 feet. This project also boasted a record-breaking 2,300-foot-long curved microtunnel boring machine run. Reaching depths up to 40 feet, the new gravity sewer line transports stormwater about a mile from the revamped corridor. The stormwater trunk lines provide a positive outlet for stormwater and eliminate the need for additional lift stations to pump stormwater away.

 

Bass Road Corridor

This project covered the first two phases of a multi-phase design for a 4.5-mile stretch of Bass Road to meet emerging mobility needs. The project’s standout feature is the Bass/Hadley/Yellow River Road roundabout incorporating a railroad crossing through the center. This roundabout solution replaced the existing offset “T” intersection that had skewed railroad crossings on two approaches. Other design elements include widening the Bass Road bridge over I-69, a roundabout at Bass Road and Flaugh Road, new storm sewers, and a multi-use trail.

May 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Tracking The I-69 Finish Line Project

Tracking The I-69 Finish Line Project

If you want to follow progress on the I-69 Finish Line project that our road and bridge engineers are currently designing, INDOT’s got you covered! INDOT recently relaunched a dedicated website featuring project update videos and maps specific to Morgan, Johnson, and Marion counties. Interactive maps show when and where construction is expected to start each year and a bird’s-view of how I-69 will look when completed.

I-69 Finish Line is the sixth and final section of the Interstate 69 connection between Evansville and Indianapolis. We are designing the segment from Fairview Road in Johnson County to I-465 in Marion County. Our work also includes designing additional travel lanes for I-465 between I-65 and I-70 in southwestern Marion County. This April video depicts what’s happening in Marion County along the segment we are designing.

Check out these sites for more progress updates:

May 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Columbus Jumps To Eighth On Central Ohio Engineering Firms List

Columbus Jumps To Eighth On Central Ohio Engineering Firms List

Kudos to the entire Columbus team for moving up one spot to eighth place on the latest Largest Central Ohio Engineering Firms list. The list published by Columbus Business First ranks firms by 2020 consulting engineering billings from Central Ohio offices. The Columbus design center cracked the top 10 of this list for the first time ever in 2020. Keep up the good work Columbus employees!

May 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on VR Headsets Provide Clients A 3D Experience

VR Headsets Provide Clients A 3D Experience

Cash Canfield (right) gets acclimated to his VR headset while Matt Jennings (left) adjusts the image of the Lafayette Public Safety Building

The Architecture team is using virtual reality (VR) technology typically found in video gaming to give our clients game-changing glimpses into their finished projects. VR is helping bring projects to life far before shovels hit the dirt while also helping streamline the design process by minimizing the rounds of revisions needed.

Architecture owns four Oculus VR headsets that allow clients and employees to immerse themselves into a fully interactive 3D environment. The headsets provide clients the opportunity to explore a virtual representation of a particular room, floor, or an entire building design. It allows clients to experience and better understand the designed space and provide beneficial feedback to the design team for changes before final design is complete. It also allows employees to navigate through the space and place markups virtually. The technology also allows for improved coordination to collaborate with other design team members and consultants.

“This technology gives us the ability to interact with our proposed design in a new way that allows us to catch conflicts or design opportunities quicker, which ultimately leads to a better product for our clients,” said Project Architect Matt Jennings.

Recently, Cash Canfield and Rick Conner tested out the VR set up while taking a virtual tour of the Lafayette Public Safety Building currently under design.

May 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Round of Applause Roll Call for April

Round of Applause Roll Call for April

Here’s a salute to the eight employees receiving Round of Applause recognition in April.

  • Rick Blevins, IT Solutions Group
  • Maddie Conover, Utility Infrastructure Group
  • Ryan Freeman, Construction Solutions Group
  • Gannon Grimmer, Traffic Engineering Group
  • Megan Irving, Civil Engineering Group
  • John Judge, Utility Infrastructure Group
  • Mike Slocum, Utility Infrastructure Group
  • Alex Varney, Planning + Economic Development Group

 

Remember, it’s as easy as 1,2,3 to thank an employee for going the extra mile.

  1. Start an email to [email protected].
  2. Write a few sentences about what the person did and when.
  3. Press send, and HR does the rest!

May 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Planning Delivers Two Master Plans

Planning Delivers Two Master Plans

Two Indiana communities – the City of Lawrence and Union County – recently adopted master plans created by the Planning + Economic Development Group that will guide development and recreation opportunities for the next five to 15 years. Work on both of these plans occurred through the heart of the pandemic in 2020, and staff found creative ways to maintain progress while being unable to meet in person. To this end, planning staff worked with our Marketing Services Group to create a virtual online public meeting space through the SeekBeak software that allowed public engagement and input in an online virtual safe environment. Both communities responded well to this tool, and we were able to gain valuable input and intel on issues effecting them. Read on for the details.

 

Lawrence Parks and Recreation Master Plan

This plan, adopted in April, provides an overview of the current state of the City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department and identified key projects that the suburban Indianapolis community can tackle within the next five years. It also includes an action plan for improving parks department operations and maintenance; a communications strategy that includes branding, wayfinding, and gateway signage; ways to improve connectivity via bike and pedestrian trails; and increasing community engagement via new park programming. The action plan also identifies recommendations and projects for each of the city’s 10 parks. The plan now qualifies the community to apply for various Indiana Department of Natural Resources funding grants via programs such as the Indiana Trails Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

 

Union County Comprehensive Plan

Our Planning team led this rural eastern Indiana county through its first comprehensive planning process since 1969. The plan outlines a communitywide vision and specific project recommendations, putting a strong emphasis on promoting tourism, updating government processes and procedures, and overcoming utility infrastructure challenges. It also identified 11 critical path strategies that are a combination of short-term, affordable projects to create near-term progress and other long-term projects that may require additional funding, time, or staff resources to complete. The plan is also visionary in its recommendations about attempting to spur development by creating a housing TIF district in Liberty (the county seat) and also working with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to redevelop properties located on Brookville Lake for future commercial and residential uses.

May 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Brintlinger Joins Create Columbus Commission

Brintlinger Joins Create Columbus Commission

Business Development Director Conner Brintlinger (Columbus Design Center) has been named to the 2021 Create Columbus Commission (CCC). Members are nominated and appointed by their peers for renewable three-year terms. CCC is an organization of young professionals dedicated to building a culturally and economically inclusive community in Columbus. The group includes business builders, community organizers, innovation leaders, artists, and civic activists. It strives to empower young professionals to achieve their highest potential and to make a positive impact on their community. Collectively, CCC members contribute more than 2,000 volunteer hours each year. Congratulations to Conner!

May 1, 2021
by Marketing Services
Comments Off on Project Update – Glasswater Creek of Whitestown

Project Update – Glasswater Creek of Whitestown

Senior Project Architect Vanessa Shumate (Indianapolis Design Center) snapped a candid shot of construction progress at Glasswater Creek of Whitestown, a 126-unit independent living and assisted living affordable housing facility in Whitestown, Indiana. Our design provides user-centric, sustainable, and hospitality-driven alternatives to the traditional model of senior living. This project is one of four American Structurepoint senior-care projects scheduled for completion in 2021. Glasswater Creek of Whitestown is our second project for the Community Reinvestment Foundation (CRF). CRF is a nonprofit organization that has purchased, rehabbed, and built over 2,200 affordable apartment units across Indiana and Ohio since 1992.