Historic Former Power Plant Restoration Project Wins Engineering Excellence Award
BOSTON — A project to clean up and restore one of the most significant landmarks along the waterfront of New Bedford, Massachusetts, has been recognized for engineering excellence by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA). The annual ACEC/MA Engineering Excellence Awards recognize engineering achievements demonstrating the highest degree of merit and ingenuity.
When Burns & McDonnell subsidiary Environmental Specialty Solutions (ESS) was called in by the new building owner, Sprague Massachusetts Properties LLC, to help with the cleanup of the Cannon Street Power Station, the 100-year-old historic landmark had become so deteriorated, it had to be stabilized before crews could enter the building. The five-story, 150,000-square-foot facility had been a working power plant until the 1990s, when it was shut down and vacated. In the years following closure, a portion of the roof collapsed, allowing direct exposure to the elements and accelerating deterioration of much of the interior space. Additionally, inspectors found five flights of stairs that were unsafe; peeling lead-based paint; exposed asbestos insulation and roofing materials; poor air quality; and large numbers of birds and animals occupying the building.