Affiliate Member
The Engineering Society of Detroit
Designed by a member of
Engineering Achievement Nominations Wanted
NOMINATIONS WANTED!
Outstanding Engineering Achievements
In Detroit’s 300 year history
The MSPE/Detroit Metro Chapter Host Committee for the NSPE 2001 Annual Convention and EXPO, to be held July 26-30, 2001 in Detroit MI, is requesting nominations that depict outstanding engineering achievements that occurred in the City of Detroit or surrounding Metropolitan area over the 300 years since the founding of Detroit by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701. The nominees will be entered into a contest to select the top 10 engineering achievements as determined by the members of MSPE, similar to the very successful Top 10 Civil Engineering projects of the 20th Century recently conducted by the ASCE Michigan Section. The NSPE 2001 Detroit Annual Convention and EXPO is an official Detroit Tricentennial Commission Project Partner and this contest is one of the sanctioned events of the partnership. The following is a list that considers possible recognition for nomination. If you believe one of these should be the nominee, or if you have an achievement in mind which is not listed, please send in your nomination.
- Ambassador Bridge
- Detroit/Windsor Tunnel
- Detroit Waste Water Treatment Plant
- Renaissance Center
- Ford Rouge Assembly Plant
- Henry Ford’s Automobile Assembly Line (Mass Production)
- “Boss” Kettering’s Automobile Self Starter
- World’s first concrete road, Woodward Ave. between 6 & 7 mile.
- U.S.’s first controlled access expressway, Davison Ave.
- Fort Pontchartrain Stockade, 1701.
Send Nominations to:
Tito Marzotto, PE
c/o BEI Associates Inc.
601 W. Fort Street
Detroit, MI 48226
e-mail to: tmarzotto@beiassociates.com
telephone: 313 963-2300
fax: 313 962-4269
Nominations may be sent no later than October 31, 2000.
Include the following information (as applicable) with your nomination: year, location, builder/owner, size (weight, area, height, etc.), engineering challenges, unique innovations, impact on quality of life, history connection to Detroit, etc., captured in 200 words or less. Examples are as follows:
Ambassador Bridge
At the time of its completion in 1929 the Ambassador Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It continues to hold the title of longest “straight stayback” suspension bridge in the world. The Ambassador is 9,200 ft long with the distance between towers being 1,850 ft and clears the Detroit River by 152 ft. Over ten million vehicles cross the Ambassador Bridge each year accounting for over 25 percent of all merchandise trade between the U.S. and Canada. The Bridge is the busiest international border crossing in North America.
Renaissance Center
The Renaissance Center on the Detroit River quickly became the symbol of Detroit’s renaissance when opened in 1977. To overcome unsuitable foundation conditions, the Ren Cen structure is supported on caissons penetrating to hardpan soil at a depth of over 100ft. The main caissons have a bell diameter of 22 ft. Ren Cen includes the world’s largest hotel, a 73-story structure. It also includes office space for 140 companies and is General Motors Corporate World Headquarters. The Marriott Renaissance Center Hotel will be the venue for NSPE’s 2001 Annual Convention and EXPO in Detroit, July 26-30, 2001.