(Michael Lantier, P.E., LEED AP, of H2M architects + engineers with his award-winning panel.)
MELVILLE, NY—
The American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC NY) hosted their 51st annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on April 7, 2018 at the Hilton Midtown in New York City.
Awards were presented to projects that encompass both the public and private sector in the following categories: studies, research, and consulting services; building/technology systems; structural systems; surveying and mapping technology; environmental; waste and storm water; water resources; transportation; energy; industrial and manufacturing processes and facilities; and special projects. Submitted projects are judged on rigorous set of criteria including complexity, innovation, and value to society. The projects are then granted either a Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond Award.
H2M architects + engineers (H2M) submitted a total of eight projects this year and proudly received a Silver Award for their Districtwide Gigabit Passive Optical and Wireless Network Infrastructure Upgrades for the White Plains School District.
The White Plains Public Schools requested help with their goal of providing general engineering design and construction support for the installation of districtwide Gigabit Passive Optical and Wireless Network (GPON) infrastructure upgrades. H2M was tasked with implementing the new software throughout the District and ensuring the software would provide enough data capacity to sustain any future requirements.
The installation of the software eliminated the need for multiple data closets and floor space for IT data racks. Each School was only required to have one data rack regardless of square footage, that it would house the Optical Line Terminals, and back-up batteries would be located at the point of use since distance limitations are not an issue with fiber optic cable, as compared to traditional copper networks.
Challenging aspects of this project included cable routing, securing classroom equipment from vandalism, and obtaining power while staying within budget. Additionally, many of the buildings were historic and did not have the acoustical drop ceilings to hide cabling.
The District’s IT department was extremely satisfied with the controllability, ease of maintenance, and speed of the network. The end result was a successful, award winning project for all those involved.
H2M is honored to have attended such a distinguished event and to have been recognized with such a prestigious award.
ACEC New York is a proactive coalition of 270 firms representing every discipline of engineering related to the built environment — civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, environmental, geotechnical — and affiliated companies. Their shared goals are to further the business interests of their membership, enhance the quality and safety of the environment we all live and work in, and help ensure the vitality of our communities. For more information, visit www.acecny.org
Celebrating 85 years, H2M is a full-service consulting and design firm offering the expertise of more than 390 architects, engineers (water supply, civil/site, structural, M/E/P, wastewater and environmental), planners, designers, inspectors, surveyors and scientists. H2M is proud of its long history of client service and consistent ability to meet architectural, engineering, and environmental challenges head on. H2M offers a practical approach, with creative results.
