The Promenade At Erie Harbor Awarded ACEC New York 2021 Platinum Engineering Excellence Award

The American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC New York) has awarded The Promenade at Erie Harbor with the Platinum Award in the category of Structural Systems as part of its 54th annual Engineering Excellence Awards competition.

Located in downtown Rochester, New York, the Promenade completes a key missing link in the City of Rochester’s Genesee Riverway Trail system. It features a 250-ft-long hardscaped esplanade fronting the Genesee River, a landscaped pocket park, and a 200-ft pedestrian bridge — winner of a 2020 Bridge Design Award from the Association for Bridge Construction and Design, Western New York Chapter — that wraps around the Dinosaur BBQ restaurant housed in the former Lehigh Valley Railroad Station. The Promenade was a catalyst for and precursor of ROC the Riverway, an ongoing and ambitious initiative that includes more than two dozen transformative projects to celebrate and enhance Rochester’s riverfront. Bergmann is providing planning and design services on multiple projects for the City of Rochester as it implements ROC the Riverway.

“For the past 40 years our firm has prided itself on helping make Rochester an even better place to live, one project at a time. The Promenade is a truly unique recreational amenity woven over, around and between several historic structures that were so instrumental to Rochester’s industrial development and growth. It will bring new life to an important area of Rochester’s riverfront and provide enjoyment to our community for years to come,” said Anthony Borrelli, PE, Bridge Practice Leader at Bergmann. “We are grateful to ACEC New York for its recognition of our work on this project and to the City of Rochester for the opportunity and continued collaboration.”

An innovative public-private partnership delivery mechanism allowed concurrent construction of both the Promenade and “The Nathaniel,” a new mixed-use building, on the small site as well as direct integration of the two projects. This combination created a unique waterfront experience on a site that had been inaccessible for more than 70 years, providing City residents, visitors and trail users with waterfront access, river views, and education of the surrounding historic structures.

“This is an exciting and well-deserved award and truly defines what ROC the Riverway is all about,” said Rochester City Engineer Holly E. Barrett, PE. “The evolution of this project from initial concept to a powerful marriage of new development and public space has been remarkable. It is a true testament to inspired and creative engineering and speaks to the power of public-private partnerships!”

“I want to congratulate our partners at Bergman for receiving this much-deserved recognition of their incredible work on The Promenade at Erie Harbor,” said Rochester Mayor Lovely A. Warren. “This award demonstrates Bergman’s commitment to quality in a vital City investment. The Promenade was the first ROC the Riverway project be completed and now provides a magnificent example of the program’s potential to open Downtown’s riverfront and advance our efforts to create more jobs, safer and more vibrant neighborhoods and better educational opportunities.”

A live presentation of the awards will be made at a gala on Saturday, June 5, 2021 in the Ballroom of the Hilton Midtown in New York City.

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For four decades, Bergmann architects, engineers and planners have been delivering results to clients across the United States and Canada. This team of more than 450 professionals spans the Northeast, Midwest and Atlantic regions. Bergmann develops connections with partners and communities to create dynamic, creative solutions that will stand the test of time, while promoting environmental and functional sustainability. Projects in the Bergmann portfolio range from signature buildings and commercial developments to critical transportation infrastructure and community planning. For more information, visit www.bergmannpc.com.