PATCHOGUE, NY — VHB’s Shorefront Park Living Shoreline Project has won a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) program. The EEA has long been dubbed the “Academy Awards of the Engineering World,” applauding projects that demonstrate a high degree of value and ingenuity.

The Shorefront Park Living Shoreline project is an initiative led by VHB that has revolutionized coastal resilience, environmental stewardship, and community well-being in the Village of Patchogue, New York. By turning what was once a deteriorating bulkhead into a living shoreline, VHB has helped deliver an innovative, nature-based solution that protects against coastal erosion and storm surges while fostering a thriving ecosystem.

Merging structural and natural elements, the project features a rock sill, salt marsh, and bioretention basins that work in tandem to help reduce flooding, improve water quality, and enhance biodiversity. The Shorefront Park Living Shoreline Project balances engineering excellence and resiliency, setting a precedent for future living shoreline projects in combating challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels.

“It’s an honor to have the Shorefront Park Living Shoreline Project recognized on such a prestigious national platform as the ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards,” said Carlos Vargas, VHB Project Manager. “This accolade reflects our dedication to delivering solutions that are as innovative as they are sustainable. The living shoreline we created, the largest permitted in New York, is a testament to VHB’s vision for a more resilient future.”