Environmental Business Journal Awards

Strategic undergrounding program
Won by: San Diego Gas & Electric
Award: EBJ Industry Leadership – Strategic Undergrounding Program

The team delivered industry-leading results on a Southern California utility’s Strategic Undergrounding Program, addressing escalating wildfire risks driven by drought, extreme heat and high winds. By placing the environmental team at the center of delivery alongside engineering and construction, ArchTam cut cost per mile, accelerated permitting and significantly increased the pace of undergrounding. The program managed 18 service categories, maintained strong safety and quality, and enabled 112 miles of powerline undergrounding — a 53 percent annual increase and 23 percent cost per mile reduction. Sustainability and equity were embedded throughout, achieving 38 percent Diverse Business Enterprise participation, minimizing environmental impacts, engaging nine Tribes through 37 meetings, and securing more than 500 permits and easements. This integrated model sets a new benchmark for wildfire mitigation and resilient infrastructure.

Realigning the Lower San Acacia Reach: A model for sustainable river management in the Rio Grande watershed
Won by: ArchTam
Award: EBJ Project Merit – Sustainability Model for Rio Grande Watershed

The Rio Grande watershed is critical for water users, ecosystems, and recreation, but its highly dynamic channel has shifted significantly over the past century. To address challenges in the Lower San Acacia Reach — such as channel perching, conveyance losses, and declining habitat — the Bureau of Reclamation is planning a 20‑mile river realignment south of Socorro, NM that works with natural geomorphic trends to improve water delivery, enhance ecosystem health, and reduce long‑term maintenance. ArchTam is supporting a four‑year environmental program with robust stakeholder engagement and regulatory compliance, producing key analyses including a 2024 geomorphology and alternatives report and a 2025 Draft Environmental Impact Statement. This forward‑looking effort integrates engineering, science, and collaboration to strengthen river resilience.

Closing the loop on PFAS: Advanced technology for ARFF vehicle decontamination
Won by: ArchTam, TRS Group, Inc., Denver International Airport
Award: EBJ Technology Merit Awards – PFAS Decontamination

Airports face growing PFAS contamination challenges from decades of AFFF use, intensified by the EPA’s 2024 designation of PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances. Denver International Airport, with ArchTam and TRS Group, implemented a groundbreaking closed-loop cleaning system to decontaminate ARFF vehicles, circulating heated water and cleaning agents through foam systems on each vehicle. After three to five cycles, PFAS levels dropped an average of 98.72 percent, enabling safe conversion to fluorine-free foam without replacing vehicles and saving millions in equipment costs. A total of 20 firefighting vehicles were cleaned, supported by SOP development, rigorous sampling, and validation of analytical results. This innovative, repeatable approach sets a national precedent for cost-effective PFAS remediation and regulatory compliance.

Leading the charge in post-wildfire environmental recovery
Won by: ArchTam and ECC for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Award: EBJ Industry Leadership – Post-Wildfire Rapid Environmental Recovery

After the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led a six-month recovery effort that cleared more than 12,000 parcels, enabling communities to rebuild while safely managing hazards such as asbestos, lead and lithium batteries without harming wildlife or cultural resources. The team’s custom mobile and GIS-enabled apps streamlined more than 27,000 biological and archaeological monitoring forms, reducing errors and accelerating clearance through real-time digital reporting. Working long hours, crews recovered artifacts and documented historic structures, preserving cultural heritage, while the program also provided hands-on training for recent graduates through mentorship with senior experts. This effort set a national standard for innovative, coordinated and resilience-focused disaster recovery.

Klamath Dam removal project
Won by: RES
Award: EBJ Project Merit – Large-Scale River Restoration

When four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River were deemed environmentally and economically unsustainable, a diverse coalition — led by Tribes — advanced the landmark 2016 Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, creating the Klamath River Renewal Corporation to deliver the largest dam removal project in history. The final dam came down in October 2024, and by fall 2025 over 10,000 Chinook salmon had returned to the upper basin. The project restored habitat, reconnected floodplains, improved tribal subsistence resources, created public access to world‑class whitewater, and will return 2,000 acres to the Shasta Indian Nation. ArchTam facilitated federal cultural resource compliance, protected cultural sites, and supported listing part of Kikacéki on the National Register.

Climate Change Business Journal awards

Innovating energy and carbon management for the world’s largest chemical company
Won by: ArchTam and BASF
Award: CCBJ Consulting & Engineering – Sustainability Target Architecture Solution Implementation

ArchTam partnered with BASF to deliver a global energy and carbon management solution that provides transparent, asset‑management GHG estimation to support Product Carbon Footprints. Using BASF’s STArS architecture for data collection on Enablon, ArchTam created a scalable, assurance-ready approach to automize data collection for CO2 emissions that can be rapidly deployed plant by plant. Three proof-of‑concept sites validated the method, enabling expansion across 550 plants worldwide, including Ludwigshafen, Germany. The solution automates significant parts of the data collection for GHG reporting, supports sustainable product design, reduces energy use and lowers operating costs. By combining advanced technology with strategic consulting, ArchTam helped BASF to significantly increase efficiency in the processes and transform complex environmental data into actionable insights.

Building Brazil’s carbon future: A transformative national carbon certification program
Won by: ArchTam, BNDES, Bradesco Bank and Ecogreen Fund
Award: CCBJ Consulting & Engineering – Carbon Certification Program for Brazil

ECORA is a national carbon credit certification program positioned to become a reference for Brazil and the Global South, strengthening trust and transparency while enabling market-wide growth. Structured through ArchTam’s advisory program and formally launched in partnership with BNDES, Bradesco and the Ecogreen Fund at COP30, it enhances security and scalability in a sector that must grow 400 percent by 2030. Integrated with the Conservare Digital Platform, ECORA digitizes the full credit generation lifecycle — from feasibility to retirement — using geospatial analytics, predictive modeling and automated traceability. The solution reduces transaction costs, accelerates certification, and aligns methodologies and safeguards with Brazil’s diverse biomes, regulatory frameworks and socioenvironmental realities. By delivering high-integrity, locally tailored certification and expanding market access, ECORA attracts global investment and supports Brazil’s low carbon transition, demonstrating ArchTam’s leadership in scaling climate solutions.

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Jack Brunton is a chartered member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers, with over 16 years of experience within the industry. As Structural Sustainability Lead for ArchTam’s Buildings + Places Structures practice in the UK and Ireland, Jack is committed to embedding sustainability and resilience into our structural engineering service delivery.

Jack co-authored Eco.Zero Concept and Eco.Zero Measure, tools we use to reduce and monitor carbon in our designs. Eco.Zero Concept provides instant embodied carbon, design, material and cost data for varying building uses and structural frame typologies. Eco.Zero Measure assesses structural carbon in Revit models and has been mandated across the region, ensuring carbon monitoring and reporting across all projects with BIM models.

To drive cultural change across the practice, Jack has developed a comprehensive knowledge-sharing platform and launched systematic upskilling initiatives including monthly newsletters and standardized sustainability goals. His commitment to the field is underscored by his appointment to the IStructE Sustainability Panel.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

My path into structural engineering was shaped, in part, by family influence. My ancestor William Brunton was a Scottish engineer and inventor who became a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1826, just a few years after its formation. He made significant contributions to steam navigation (Google “Stem Horse locomotive”!) and developed important innovations in metal manufacturing and mining machinery.

More directly, my uncle Michael Norton instilled in me the importance of the work done by engineers and their benefit to the community. Michael is a civil engineer who served as chair of the Institution of Civil Engineers water panel and received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire recognition for his services to the water industry and international trade.

Engineering runs in the family, stretching back nearly two centuries, and seeing how engineers contribute meaningfully to society helped guide my career choice. Combined with my strong interest in maths and physics, a passion for painting during my school years, an aptitude for problem solving, and a love for beautiful buildings, these influences all guided me toward a career in structural engineering.

What is your favourite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

Queen Mary School of Business and Management stands out to me. This was my first opportunity to put the theory I’d learnt whilst developing Eco.Zero Concept into practice on a real project.

The project involves civil and structural engineering design for a new seven-storey campus building and high-tech teaching space in central London. I led ArchTam’s delivery of services on the project, and we previously developed the scheme to RIBA Stage 4 technical design in 2019. Unfortunately, the project was refused planning permission based on the loss of locally listed building. When we were reappointed in 2021, we saw this as an opportunity to significantly reduce the embodied carbon of the structure and use the previous design as a baseline against which reductions could be measured.

The pause in project activity coincided with the development of Eco.Zero, and we’d gained valuable insights from key industry publications such as IStructE’s How to Calculate Embodied Carbon and company net zero training. We set a baseline against the previous design, then used Eco.Zero Concept to undertake optioneering studies of different frame arrangements and typologies, systematically identifying opportunities to reduce material volumes and associated embodied carbon across the structural frame.

The site presented significant challenges including London Underground Central Line tunnels, Regent’s Canal boundary and substantial level changes. Despite these constraints, we were able to achieve significant carbon reductions. We collaborated with the architect and facade engineer to identify appropriate column grids, changed vibration mitigation measures to remove twin basement slabs and retaining walls, optimised structural serviceability criteria and foundation arrangements, and wrote product stage carbon targets for concrete and rebar into the material specifications.

At the end of RIBA Stage 2, our revised assessment identified an embodied carbon intensity of 274 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per square meter, representing a 32 percent reduction against the baseline, equivalent to about 1,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent saved overall. Whilst I handed over control of this project when I moved into my new role, we have continued to monitor and reduce carbon into the latter stages.

The project is currently on site and due for completion in 2027.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

Before moving into my role as Structural Sustainability Lead, I worked in our Healthcare & Science team. Delivering that sort of work is exceptionally gratifying as the benefit to communities is so immediately tangible.

One such project, the Radcliffe Primary Care Building for Oxford University, stands out as a good example of how adaptive reuse can deliver both environmental and community benefits.

Completed in 2016, the project involved the extension and retrofit of a Grade II listed building to provide accommodation for the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences. We retained 80 percent of the original 1911 fabric and structure whilst adding a new basement, three-storey atrium and new mezzanine floors hung from the existing structure.

Whilst it is a stunning building, what makes this project particularly meaningful is understanding the work that happens inside.  The Nuffield Department is the UK’s largest academic centre for primary care, leading research that reimagines healthcare delivery in general practice and community settings. In the past five years alone, its work has shaped clinical guidelines across multiple areas. From identifying effective COVID-19 treatments in the community and improving NHS approaches to weight management, to enabling early detection of serious illness in children and refining diagnostic pathways for diabetes, heart failure and hypertension, the work has also advanced stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and influenced national policy on smoking cessation.

By adapting and reusing this heritage building, we preserved an important piece of Oxford’s architectural history and minimised embodied carbon whilst creating a fit-for-purpose facility for researchers who are improving healthcare outcomes for millions of people. The project was shortlisted for the IStructE Awards 2016.

Share a piece of career advice.

Mark Twain said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Whilst that might be a cliché, I believe that to get the most out of your career, it’s important to find something that invigorates you and to make the changes necessary to pursue it.

Don’t wait for the perfect role to be handed to you. If you see a gap or an opportunity to make a difference, pursue it. My transition into this position wasn’t via a predetermined path. I recognised a need within our practice, identified the requirement for a Structural Sustainability Lead role and wrote my own job description. I’m grateful that ArchTam supported my vision, created the role and gave me the responsibility to facilitate change in the practice. 

It still feels like work, but it’s work that I’m very glad to be doing.

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There’s a noticeable shift happening in the way the public sector approaches social value. It’s not just about measuring outputs or meeting procurement criteria anymore. It’s about embedding social impact into the heart of every project, and recognising the vital role SMEs and VCSEs play in making that happen.

At ArchTam, we’re proud to support this change. Through our Sustainable Legacies strategy, our work with public sector frameworks, and direct partnerships with local enterprises and community-led organisations, we’re helping clients turn ambitions into action. And the conversations at UKREiiF confirmed what we are experiencing: this shift is only accelerating.

Social value: no longer a tick-box

At UKREiiF, social value wasn’t a side conversation – it was centre stage. From panels on inclusive growth and procurement reform to deep dives on place-based development, the message was clear: social value is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s a core measure of success in public infrastructure.

ArchTam’s panel discussion, ‘Collaboration for Growth and Social Impact’, highlighted the need to align social value outcomes with local priorities. But this wasn’t just our voice. Across UKREiiF organisations such as local councils, health trusts, and combined authorities reinforced the importance of early engagement, joined-up planning, and long-term thinking.

It’s a message that resonates with how we work – embedding social value from the very beginning of a project, not retrofitting it later.

SMEs and VCSEs: from supply chain to strategic partner

One of the most energising parts of UKREiiF for me was the growing recognition of SMEs and VCSEs as not just part of the supply chain, but as co-creators of impact.

At ArchTam, we’ve seen this first-hand on projects such as the Northumberland Line, where we’ve worked with regional SMEs to deliver outcomes that extend far beyond the build. ArchTam awarded over £1.5 million of SME spend on the Northumberland Line, supporting small businesses and social enterprises, creating new jobs in the area, and delivering skills-based social value aligned to regional needs.

The public sector is increasingly aware that to unlock this kind of value at scale, we need inclusive supply chains – ones that proactively engage SMEs and VCSEs and empower them to contribute meaningfully, not just fill subcontracting roles.

Building skills, building futures

Another standout theme from UKREiiF was the focus on skills and inclusive employment – not just as a workforce issue, but as a core pillar of social value.

One highlight was hearing from Morgan Godden, a Graduate Environmental Consultant at ArchTam, who spoke on our panel about her journey from the ESG Launchpad – a joint initiative between ArchTam and VCSE The Land Collective – into her current role. Morgan’s story shows what’s possible when we invest in the next generation, especially young people from underrepresented backgrounds.

This kind of work doesn’t just shape individual futures, it builds long-term sector resilience, and SMEs and VCSEs have a vital role to play here, offering placements, apprenticeships, community outreach, or mentoring as part of their social value contribution.

Looking ahead

UKREiiF 2025 made one thing clear: we’re entering a new era for social value. It’s more embedded, more strategic, and more impactful – and SMEs and VCSEs are absolutely central to delivering it.

At ArchTam, we’re committed to building inclusive, purpose-driven partnerships that leave a positive legacy. That means creating space for SMEs and VCSEs to thrive. Learn more about how we partner with SMEs.

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The built environment is responsible for over half of global emissions — yet the carbon impact of design and advisory work remains largely invisible. We are about to change that.

Meaningful climate action is about translating ambition into tangible outcomes.  In alignment with one of the impact goals for London Climate Action week, we came together as part of the “whole of society” engagement needed to support delivery of deep decarbonization and resilience.   

As advisors and designers, we help set the course long before a shovel hits the ground, yet current carbon emissions standards often overlook the emissions tied to our work.

That’s why we co-authored the Estimating the Greenhouse Gas Impact of Advice and Designs report. This 2024 publication, developed in partnership with industry leaders, represents not just analysis – it marks a shift in mindset: from indirect influence to accountable impact.

Read the full report

As a co-founding partner of Pledge to Net Zero, ArchTam hosted “Celebrating Progress in Measuring Carbon in Advice and Design” exploring how professional services firms can accelerate carbon reduction in the built environment through collaboration with clients.

A panel discussion featuring David Riley (Anglian Water), Geraldine Badura (Gatwick Airport) and James Ingram (Transport for London) offered valuable client perspectives: 

• Carbon as business-as-usual: Carbon reduction must be integrated into standard project delivery, not treated as an add-on.
• Need for cultural shift: Success depends on organizational culture, skilled practitioners, and shared responsibility across the value chain, aligned with PAS 2080:23.
• Balance innovation and standardization: While prescriptive methods can stifle innovation, a shared set of principles allows flexibility with consistency.
• Metrics and progress tracking: We need meaningful metrics and year-on-year tracking to measure real progress – though the right metrics are still evolving.

Following the panel, cross-sector participants engaged in small group discussions on how environmental and engineering firms can reduce the indirect carbon emissions associated with their work. Key themes emerged:

Universal support for early engagement: Early-stage collaboration and opportunity workshops are essential for identifying carbon reduction opportunities.

Skepticism toward fee-based methods: Using fee as a proxy for carbon emissions lacks credibility.

Desire for practical metrics: There is a preference for emissions intensity over total portfolio emissions.

Digital tools are necessary but not sufficient: Tools like BIM are helpful but need better data integration and should complement, not replace, innovation.

What’s Next?

Based on the conversation, here are the recommended next steps each sector can take:

At ArchTam, we are proud to lead by example through our ScopeX^TM approach — a PAS 2080:23-verified global program of best practices and technology solutions. We are changing the way we think and act to include, consider and balance the carbon impact of our work.

Get in touch to learn how we can help you find opportunities to reduce carbon emissions throughout the project lifecycle.

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As New York City continues to invest in transportation infrastructure and reevaluate land use policy, the conversation around transit-oriented development (TOD) has never been more relevant.  The upcoming Bronx Metro-North stations provide an insightful case study of the power and promise of integrated land use, transportation and community advocacy.

The East Bronx has long been considered a transit desert with limited direct access to Manhattan’s West Side and major job centers.  MTA’s Penn Station Access project aims to rectify this with a new commuter rail service to Penn Station for New Yorkers living and working in the East Bronx as well as direct Metro-North connection from Manhattan’s West side to the Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut. The regional rail service is estimated to arrive in 2027 with four new ADA-accessible stations at Hunts Point, Morris Park, Co-op City, and Parkchester/Van Nest. And with the new stations will come access to jobs, housing, amenities and more.

Kristopher explains some of the anticipated outcomes of the project.

The impact of four new stations

As part of Metro-North Railroad’s extension of the New Haven Line, four new stations will be created in the East Bronx. Kimberly McNabb, Deputy Director of Planning and Development, Office of the Bronx Borough President, explains how the introduction of these stations contributes to the goals for the borough.

Achieving wider goals

Coupled with the recent City of Yes initiative, which re-zoned land use around the proposed stations from commercial and manufacturing to residential, the City Council anticipates the creation of 7,000 new housing units. Michael Kavalar, Senior Team Leader, New York City Department of City Planning, shares details of the goals of NYC planning work beyond land use actions.

The benefits of TOD

Jessica Wurwarg, Director of Planning, Policy and Economic Development, Transit Oriented Development, MTA Capital Construction and Development, explains why the MTA is interested in transit-oriented development at these four commuter rail stations.

The role of TOD within the wider NY Metro regional framework

Moses Gates, Vice President for Housing and Neighborhood Planning, Regional Plan Association explains:

To learn more about how we’re working with partners to deliver transformative transit-oriented developments, contact Kristopher Takacs.

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Climate Change Business Journal Awards

Greater Toronto Airport Sustainable Design and Construction Guideline
Won by: ArchTam’s client, Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)
Award: Advancing Best Practices:  Sustainable Airports

The GTAA manages and operates Toronto Pearson International Airport, North America’s second largest in terms of international traffic. The GTAA is launching significant investments in their facilities and terminals, aimed at transforming Pearson into one of the most advanced, sustainable and passenger-friendly airports in the world. Aligning to their environmental master plan goals, the GTAA and ArchTam developed a Sustainable Design and Construction Guideline, a framework incorporating leading sustainable design practices into their facilities program. The guidelines include LEED sustainability certification, Envision, and the Canada Green Building Council Net-Zero Design Standards, while addressing critical areas such as circular design and construction, climate resiliency, sustainable transportation, water management, energy efficiency, carbon emissions/air quality, materials, resources, zero-waste strategies, and construction logistics.

Building Climate Resiliency into the Colorado River Basin: Water Operations and Management Compliance
Won by: ArchTam
Award: Project Merit: Colorado River

Covering 250,000 square miles, the Colorado River provides water to 40Mpeople (including 30 tribes) and 5.5M acres of agriculture, while supporting hydroelectric renewable power, recreation, and rich ecological communities. Prolonged drought is stressing this lifeline and causing aridification. To provide long-term resiliency, ArchTam is working with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in developing revised dam operations and providing all required environmental compliance.  Given the multi-decade planning horizon and significant unknowns around future flows and demands, ArchTam is applying a first-of-its-kind approach within the Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty framework to assess the impacts of different operational alternatives. ArchTam is facilitating a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process and addressing compliance for over 10 listed species under the Endangered Species Act.

The Natural and Nature-Based Solution Job Aids
Won by: ArchTam
Award: Advancing Best Practices: Nature-Based Solution

Developed in collaboration with FEMA and not-for-profit organizations, these resources empower local communities, planners, and engineers to integrate nature-based solutions into infrastructure and hazard mitigation projects.

Addressing rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and intensified storm events exacerbated by climate change, the three job aids — shoreline and dune stabilization and restoration, bank stabilization, and stormwater management — offer practical guidance for designing projects that harness natural systems such as wetlands, mangroves, and vegetative buffers. These solutions reduce risks, improve water quality, and enhance biodiversity while promoting sustainability.

Tailored to Puerto Rico’s unique geography and ecological challenges, the job aids bridge the gap between science and actionable strategies.

City of Guelph Drought Response Operational Plan
Won by: ArchTam’s client, City of Guelph
Award:  Advancing Best Practices: Drought Response Planning

The City of Guelph is one of the largest groundwater-based cities in Canada. Groundwater can be slow to replenish and with Provincial population growth pressures, a long-term plan was required to manage the impacts of drought. The City’s goal was a plan to minimize economic and ecological losses, while meeting the requirements of its customers and maintaining human health. The plan was developed using statistical and modeling analysis informed by the City’s extensive groundwater monitoring dataset. These tools provide a robust and multi-layered approach to sustainably managing the resource and maintaining essential water distribution to the community. The Drought Response Operational Plan identifies thresholds for increasing levels of drought severity and actions for the City to take at each level.

Environmental Business Journal Awards

Circular Approach to Algae Improves Water Quality
Won by: ArchTam
Award: Environmental Business Journal, Industry Leadership

Excess nutrients entering surface waters lead to uncontrolled algae growth and hypoxia, creating marine life “dead zones”. The Gulf of Mexico’s 6,500-square-mile dead zone poses risks to aquatic life and human health, such as Florida’s Red Tide event from 2017-2019, which caused $1 billion in losses. Agricultural stormwater runoff, rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, is a major contributor. The EPA is addressing this through initiatives like the NWFWMD Algae Harvesting Project which tested ArchTam’s patented Hydronucleation Floatation Technology (HFT) to reduce nutrient discharge and improve agricultural sustainability. The successful NWFWMD demonstration in Florida showed algae harvesting significantly reduces nutrient levels, improves water quality, and that harvested algae can replace up to 50 percent of synthetic fertilizers. 

Next steps focus on scaling this technology to assess its effectiveness across diverse regions and crops.

Strategic Growth for Permitting Capabilities Creates Win-Win Merger
Won by:  ArchTam
Award: Environmental Business Journal, Mergers and Acquisitions

ArchTam’s acquisition of EMPSi marked a significant milestone, exemplifying ArchTam’s commitment to expanding our environmental consulting capabilities and underscores our dedication to delivering sustainable legacies.

EMPSi is a premier industry leader in federal land/water management, delivering complex NEPA projects in Western U.S.  The combination expanded ArchTam’s NEPA practice and federal client base, bringing more than 50 professionals to our growing business.  For EMPSi, this provides new employee career opportunities, additional client capabilities, and continued growth. Both EMPSi founders have stayed with ArchTam and are playing pivotal leadership roles. ArchTam provided ongoing career paths for all employees, and net headcount has increased by 30 percent. We are positioned to continue expanding our value proposition to a broader set of clients, providing robust long-term career opportunities for employees.

California Wildlife Crossing Safeguards Animals and Motorists
Won by:  ArchTam’s client, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Award: Environmental Business Journal, Project Merit

California State Route 17 (SR 17) fragments over 30,000 acres of open space in the Santa Cruz Mountains, limiting wildlife habitat connectivity and preventing the completion of several major trail systems. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen), in cooperation with Caltrans and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, will construct a wildlife undercrossing and multi-use trail overcrossing of SR 17 near Lexington Reservoir. This project will improve wildlife passage, increase motorist safety, improve wildlife habitat connectivity, and connect over 50 miles of regional trails and public open spaces.

Midpen is also working on a potential Mitigation Credit Agreement that could generate credits for wildlife connectivity and species such as mountain lion, potentially the first of its kind in California.

Community Engagement Drives Mine Remediation Project
Won by:  ArchTam’s client, Government of Canada
Award: Environmental Business Journal Project Merit

Giant Mine is located on Chief Drygeese Territory, the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, within the Mǫwhì Gogha Dè Nı̨ı̨tłèè Nîîtåèè boundary, on the traditional homelands of the North Slave Métis Alliance in Northwest Territories, Canada.

The project is one of the most expensive federal environmental cleanups in Canada. Comprised of 2,300 acres, eight open pits, tailings ponds, derelict buildings, and contaminated primarily with arsenic, petroleum hydrocarbons, asbestos and lead.

In 2009, ArchTam and WSP embarked on extensive remediation including tailings rehabilitation, contaminated soil management, evaluation of borrow sources, mine water treatment, surface water management, underground stability, highway re-alignment, demolition/debris removal, open pit closure, and closure of mine openings. The team’s freeze design will contain the arsenic trioxide underground.

Innovative Technology Streamlining Environmental Planning and Permitting
Won by:  EarthSoft and ArchTam
Award: Environmental Business Journal, Information Technology

In 2024, EarthSoft, Inc. launched EQuIS PlanEngage and EQuIS Helios, advancing environmental and geotechnical data management software offerings to the market. These tools unify data sources and enhance project management, aiding in understanding complex data. Helios, a knowledge management portal, leverages Microsoft Azure AI for natural language search and machine learning, centralizing unstructured data and reducing costs. It features OCR, advanced search, and enhanced security for data confidentiality and integrity.

EQuIS PlanEngage, developed with ArchTam, is a storytelling platform that visualizes environmental data using dynamic GIS and interactive tools. It facilitates decision-making by regulatory agencies and promotes public health and safety. These tools empower organizations with a holistic, efficient, and secure approach to data management.

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The $16 billion program — supported by $12 billion in federal funding — will construct a new, two-track rail tunnel for Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT trains, significantly reducing travel delays and increasing reliability along the NEC. This new tunnel will supplement service provided by the existing North River Tunnel, which will also undergo rehabilitation as part of the program. The new tunnel will be in service by 2035, at which point the North River Tunnel can be taken out of service one tube at a time for top-to-bottom rehabilitation. The full HTP is slated for completion by 2038, and its construction is estimated to create nearly 100,000 new jobs and generate over $19 billion in economic activity.

Infrastructure designed to last

A key focus of this landmark project is creating infrastructure that is both resilient and sustainable, ensuring reliable service for generations to come. The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) — the Project Sponsor for the HTP — is setting a new benchmark for how large-scale projects can lead in both resiliency and sustainability.

The Gateway Trans Hudson Partnership (GTHP), a consortium including ArchTam, has been a key support for GDC in helping to deliver the HTP. ArchTam is playing a pivotal role in designing a tunnel system capable of withstanding the growing risks posed by climate change, including storm surges and flooding. These issues have previously plagued the North River Tunnel, which sustained significant damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, contributing to the need for the new tunnels.

The HTP incorporates advanced flood protection, elevated designs and enhanced drainage systems to mitigate potential damage. ArchTam has also participated in strategic planning efforts for future adaptability, verifying that project teams will be prepared to respond to any unforeseen challenges moving forward.

Advancing the practice of sustainable infrastructure

We have established a dedicated core sustainability team of subject matter experts to ensure compliance with best sustainability practices across the entire program. Our project team has opted to pursue ambitious sustainability targets aligned with the Envision framework, a robust system developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) for evaluating the sustainability and resilience of infrastructure projects.

Envision assesses projects across categories such as Quality of Life, Resource Allocation, Climate and Resilience. The HTP integrates sustainability considerations into every phase of its project packages. Some of the key sustainability goals include:

• Minimizing construction and operational energy usage
• Cutting greenhouse gas emissions
• Protecting historic resources
• Maximizing resilience

With the scale and complexity of the HTP, available management tools are limited in their capacity to track and surface critical information across stages of design and construction. The sustainability team developed a fit-to-purpose tool that facilitates target-setting and tracking (including documentation) between Envision criteria and the ongoing design process. Through the tool, visibility into progress and next steps can be maintained collaboratively across multiple teams and work packages. While developed for the HTP specifically, the tool is designed with generality in mind, to be useful for future Envision efforts — accelerating ArchTam’s capacity to deliver this increasingly-sought service.

Leveraging digital platforms for collaborative meetings

To introduce the project’s sustainability goals to the various design teams involved, we conducted sustainability meetings that blended in-person huddles with digital tools to encourage active participation. This approach fostered dynamic, multidisciplinary collaboration, enabling us to visually map sustainability goals, provide an overview of Envision’s verification pathways, and facilitate understanding of sustainability targets and opportunities for alignment across teams. These sessions enhanced collaboration and streamlined sustainability coordination and implementation across disciplines. The meetings were instrumental in embedding sustainability into project decision making and design, ensuring the pursuit of ambitious targets while addressing the complexity and scale of the HTP.

Continual co-benefits from sustainability initiatives

In addition to the big-tent stakeholder benefits promoted through the sustainability agenda, tangible benefits to operations and asset management can accrue from sustainability initiatives. To describe the project’s overall energy and carbon impact, a comprehensive life-cycle energy model is in development. It will account for all major components of the project (rolling stock, ventilation, emergency power, buildings, signals and communication) as it is expected to operate. This model forms a crucial component of a future digital twin, which, if sustained throughout the project or integrated into broader NEC management, could enable real-time operations, forecasting, planning and system-wide optimization — delivering long-term value while supporting sustainability.

Future-proofing the HTP

At its core, this project is an environmentally friendly initiative because rail transit is inherently sustainable. By reducing dependency on single-occupancy vehicles, the HTP helps alleviate vehicular congestion and fosters more livable, connected communities. It is estimated that the HTP will eliminate more than 2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.

Under GDC’s direction, the GTHP and ArchTam are helping to lead the charge on sustainability and resiliency efforts. Through a holistic approach, our teams are safeguarding the environment while ensuring the long-term functionality and benefits of the HTP for surrounding communities.

Links for more information:
GDC’s Sustainability Management Plan
HTP Overview

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In the Intuit Dome blog series, we’ve taken a deep dive into each element of Intuit Dome with the leaders who made this project a reality. Today, we learn more about the empowering design architects who brought this project to life and their experience as women in architecture.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture, and how did your background influence your design approach on Intuit Dome?

My diverse background includes experiences in sports, corporate, hospitality and furniture. This has equipped me with a unique perspective and an ability to problem-solve creatively. I enjoy looking at situations from different angles, whether it’s the big picture or the smallest details.

I pursued architecture because I enjoy challenges, allowing me to explore new ideas using technology and art.

My passion began with a deep curiosity about how things work and a fascination with the world around us. This curiosity led me to pursue an engineering degree, where I found the intersection of physics and building design especially captivating. I was drawn to building physics — the study of how the laws of physics apply to the built environment — which ultimately shaped my career path. In 2013, I was fortunate to transition to the High-Performance Buildings and Communities team within our Buildings + Places business line. There, I worked on notable projects such as the Golden 1 Center, applying the lessons learned to future endeavors like Intuit Dome.

Q: Can you describe your specific role with Intuit Dome? What were your main responsibilities?

As the Lead Interior Designer, I was responsible for creating premium, team and public spaces that aligned with the owner’s vision. I collaborated with the team to develop unique designs that catered to the needs of patrons, the team and Clippers staff, overseeing the project from conception to completion.

The Intuit Dome project has many components such as the arena, garages, ancillary buildings and the outdoor plaza. I led the design team for the arena and my primary responsibilities were coordinating the architectural team and the discipline designers, i.e., structural engineers, mechanical engineers and others to deliver contract documents to the construction team.

In my role on the Intuit Dome project, I led the performance-based design modeling, collaborating with high-performance building design specialists across our regions, including the U.S., the UK and Australia. My primary responsibility was to support the project in achieving its ambitious sustainability targets, such as net zero carbon, 100 percent electric energy use and LEED Platinum certification. Additionally, I worked to balance these sustainability goals with other key project requirements, such as enhancing aesthetics, optimizing the fan experience, ensuring thermal comfort and managing costs.

Q: How do you think projects like Intuit Dome contribute to the visibility and recognition of women in architecture?

The prominent presence of women in leadership roles on the Intuit Dome project, including architects, designers, specifiers, construction managers, owners’ representatives and clients, has significantly advanced the field of architecture. Our visibility off-site waiting for a rideshare or our coffee order, often marked by the distinctive PPE gear, has sparked conversations about gender diversity and inspired a desire for more women in these roles.

The Intuit Dome project contributed extensively to the visibility of women in business and architecture. Women were visible at all levels from Gillian Zucker, President of Business Operations for the LA Clippers to young intern architects at our office.

Projects like Intuit Dome are excellent platforms to highlight the invaluable contributions women make to iconic projects, reinforcing their visibility and recognition in architecture. Role models play a critical role in this process, as studies have shown that nearly 60 percent of women believe having a relatable role model is essential to achieving career success. Seeing women in leadership positions on such high-profile projects boosts confidence and support for others, demonstrating that women not only belong in these spaces but are instrumental to their success.

Q: How has the acceptance of women in your field changed throughout the years? How do you think it will look in the future?

Over the years, I’ve witnessed a gradual increase in the acceptance of women in architecture. This trend is encouraging, and I believe it will continue as younger generations recognize the profession as a viable career path. I hope that we’ll eventually achieve gender equality in the field.

I have observed a growing acceptance of women in the workplace, largely due to a stronger focus on diversity and inclusion. However, there is still work to be done to ensure that all women can fully realize their potential and thrive in their careers, and I hope this will occur in the future. Raising awareness and discussing biases and their impact on women’s careers is key, as is fostering a culture of respect and belonging that celebrates diversity. Accountability, particularly at the managerial level, is crucial to advancing diversity and inclusion with leaders supporting work-life balance through flexible working arrangements to help women succeed.

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While at WEFTEC 2024, Lucy facilitated two panel discussions: “PFAS Management for Industrial Dischargers” and “PFAS Removal and Destruction Using Novel Technologies.” There, she was encouraged by the level of engagement and exchange of ideas between industry professionals and experts on one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges — PFAS contamination. While significant obstacles remain, progress has accelerated, and the solutions under development are getting closer to tackling this complex issue. 

The quick fix: Moving PFAS from one medium to another 

Due in part to a deeper awareness of PFAS impacts on human health and the environment, many industries are proactively treating this class of contaminants. However, as we learn more about PFAS and their behavior, it’s become abundantly clear to these same industries that PFAS removal doesn’t resolve the problem, but rather perpetuates a cycle.  

As an example, while treatment solutions such as activated carbon adsorption remove PFAS from wastewater or other sources, as discussed in our sessions, spent carbon media requires disposal or regeneration, which means transferring PFAS to landfills or other waste management systems.   

Another point made was that much of the PFAS discharged in domestic wastewater to public water reclamation facilities end up in the biosolids. The biosolids may be disposed of in a landfill, then the landfill may send their leachate containing PFAS from biosolids back to the water reclamation facility. This circular relationship doesn’t solve the root of the problem, but instead transfers the burden to another industry that is attempting to manage the contaminants. Breaking this cycle is imperative. 

The power of destructive technologies 

The most promising long-term solutions are those that focus on breaking down PFAS compounds instead of moving them from one medium to another. Technologies such as electrochemical oxidation and supercritical water oxidation, which were highlighted during the event, are at the forefront of these efforts. These processes demonstrate potential for destroying PFAS entirely, reducing the levels that circulate within our environment. However,  there’s a strong need to further refine and optimize technologies so they can become mainstream, scalable and more widely accessible. We can expect considerable advancements in the coming years as the demand for PFAS solutions accelerates. 

The challenge of regulatory inconsistencies 

A lack of uniform federal regulations governing PFAS discharges to the environment requires companies and utilities to navigate a patchwork of state-by-state requirements. This can complicate compliance, especially for global or even national companies with facilities in multiple states. While some states have set strict limits for PFAS in wastewater discharges, others have yet to address the issue. This inconsistency can lead to significant cost disparities between industry approaches—even within a single company — depending on where they are operating.  

Industry’s role in PFAS solutions 

Despite current regulatory challenges, there is hope that federal standards will eventually bring clarity and uniformity to PFAS treatment requirements. As someone who works closely with industries grappling with these issues, I have a deep appreciation for the work being done to address PFAS contamination. Companies that have produced or used PFAS didn’t create this problem with malice; they are now facing significant costs to resolve a problem that impacts us all. But they are rising to the challenge. By adapting to evolving regulations, investing in technologies, and working with experts to find effective solutions, industries are playing a crucial role in reducing PFAS from the environment. 

Looking ahead: A positive path forward 

The ideal solution would be to prevent future unnecessary PFAS use, control the PFAS that are essential (e.g., certain medical devices), and destroy the PFAS described above. PFAS replacement means consumers, industries, and others would need to stop using goods and materials that rely on these chemicals — water-repellant and stain-resistant textiles, fume suppressants, firefighting foams, etc. The regulations in the European Union and current state-specific PFAS bans are increasing the likelihood of that happening. However, there is a need to find alternatives within a short span of time to have the greatest benefit. Current federal regulations in the U.S. are focused on controlling the use of PFAS and limiting their introduction into the environment. Similar to the spirit of the interactive discussions at WEFTEC, an overall solution requires the collaboration of many — from regulatory agencies to technology developers, from multiple public and private industries, down to their consumers.  

The PFAS issue is complex and far-reaching, but with continued collaboration and ingenuity, I am optimistic that we will find lasting solutions. ArchTam’s experts, in the meantime, will continue to stay on top of the latest regulations and technologies related to PFAS. We will also continue to trial potential treatments through our treatability labs, such as our current research on innovative sorbents for PFAS removal, and electrochemical oxidation and other technologies for PFAS destruction. It’s this process of continual innovation here at ArchTam and across the industry that will minimize costs while maximizing PFAS treatment and destruction capabilities.  

Thankfully, we are moving in the right direction, toward a future where destructive technologies will become more mainstream, costs will come down, and the environmental and public health impacts of PFAS will be significantly reduced. 

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Through our collaboration with Tatweer Buildings Company (TBC) and the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia, we have developed a new approach for designing schools for SEND. This initiative forms part of the Ministry of Education’s Schools Programme under Vision 2030 to create inclusive educational environments that meet diverse needs.

Embracing adaptability in SEND school design

Adaptability is the foundation of our design philosophy. SEND schools need to be flexible spaces that can evolve to meet the changing needs of pupils and cohorts. The approach was to follow a simple narrative, to guide the user through the essential steps of creating a building without dictating outcomes. The process is descriptive rather than prescriptive allowing the designer flexibility and autonomy while retaining necessary design priorities.

Our design guide introduces the concept of cluster arrangements, offering investors ‘bite size’ clusters which group key spaces together. It is intended to make the design process more approachable and allows a ‘pick n mix’ approach: easily selecting groups of spaces which suit the pupil track expected to occupy them. By arranging spaces into clusters, schools can balance functionality with flexibility, ensuring adaptable, purpose-built environments that cater to students’ diverse needs.

Furthermore, every potential room in the SEND school has had a bespoke room data sheet. The design guide gives detailed examples of all spaces from specialist hydrotherapy spaces, to rebound therapy rooms, to varying toilet requirements. These sheets offer suggested layouts based on international best practices, but allow designers and clients the freedom to adapt to specific contexts.

Flexibility for clients in SEND school design

One of the greatest strengths of this approach is the flexibility and cost-effective solutions it offers to clients, especially those in the private sector. Clients are empowered to innovate and design SEN schools that meet their specific project needs while still adhering to worldwide best practice, sustainability principles, and local standards, such as Saudi Arabia’s Universal Accessibility Guidelines and Grean Code. This balance between regulatory compliance and creative flexibility enables the creation of bespoke SEND schools tailored to the unique needs of the SEND cohort, staff requirements, and support required for the wider community.

Our collaboration with international experts has been critical in developing this flexible approach. By integrating global best practices with local requirements, we have developed a guide that meets Saudi standards while advancing the design of SEND schools across the region.

Designing with SEND students in mind

Effective SEND school design must be based on a clear understanding of the educational, emotional, and physical needs of its students. A successful SEN school is not just about functionality; it is about creating a supportive environment that enhances the learning experience of every student. We have therefore also provided key SEND guidance on areas such as fire safety, acoustics, zoning, internal environments, and sustainability. 

Furthermore, we have created pupil profiles for each of the identified SEND tracks which help architects understand the varying needs of different student groups. These ‘tracks’ assist designers in creating spaces that support physical, complex, communication, cognitive, sensory, and emotional requirements. This deepened understanding should enable designers to create an environment which not only support the current needs but can adapt over time as students’ needs evolve or cohorts change.

Zoning strategies ensure that learning and support spaces are well-organised, creating clear transitions between areas to enhance both functionality and creating a sense of place for students. Moreover, the guide encourages the creation of inclusive environments that promote independence and social interaction. SEND school design should integrate spaces for both learning, socialising and provide support for the whole family and wider community. This focus on inclusion not only supports students’ academic growth, social and emotional development but also nurtures community acceptance.

Lessons learned and the future of SEND school design

Our experience developing this design guide has reinforced the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and a deep understanding of SEND students’ needs. By working closely with TBC, the MoE and international experts, we have reimagined traditional approaches to SEND school design, creating a flexible framework that aligns with both local regulations and global best practices.

Effective SEND school design must not only address current needs but also anticipate future changes. By creating adaptable, flexible environments, we ensure that schools are equipped to evolve alongside their students’ requirements. Our design guide is a reflection of our commitment to fostering inclusive educational spaces where every student can thrive.

Our work on this SEND design guide has challenged pre-conceptions and long-held beliefs by providing a viable blueprint for change.  Through ArchTams leadership we have provided the framework to provide a better future for some of the most vulnerable in society.   

We look forward to continuing to shape the future of SEND school design, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.

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