HOUSTON, TX — Two Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. (LAN) projects received National Recognition Awards in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards competition. The Houston Public Works Southwest Pump Station Secondary Refill Line and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Building M61 Boiler Addition were recognized for innovative engineering solutions and significant contributions to resilient infrastructure and public service. Both projects previously earned Gold Medals in the ACEC Texas Engineering Excellence Awards competition.
LAN served as program manager for the Houston Public Works Southwest Pump Station Secondary Refill Line, a critical infrastructure project that strengthens the reliability and resiliency of Houston’s water system, serving approximately 2.4 million residents. The $72.3 million project constructed 17,800 linear feet of 72-inch water line through Midtown and Montrose, two of Houston’s oldest and most densely developed neighborhoods. As program manager, LAN coordinated project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and utility improvements within the constrained urban corridor while managing multiple contractors and consultants. LAN also oversaw the planning and coordination required for a carefully orchestrated shutdown and carbon-fiber repair of an existing 66-inch line supplying critical facilities, including the Texas Medical Center, while establishing a redundant connection to the Southwest Pump Station to improve long-term system reliability.
The UTMB Building M61 Boiler Addition project upgraded a health care utility plant originally built in the 1960s to meet modern operational and resiliency standards, with LAN serving as the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural engineer for the project. The design used a high-pressure water-tube boiler system capable of producing 35,000 pounds of steam per hour, effectively doubling the plant’s steam capacity to support critical hospital functions, including sterilization, heating, hot water, and controlled clinical environments. To meet post-Hurricane Harvey resiliency requirements, elevated structural platforms and walkways to position critical equipment 25 feet above mean sea level were installed while maintaining operations within the active facility. The project also eliminated UTMB’s reliance on a costly temporary boiler while improving long-term efficiency and operational reliability.
“These awards reflect LAN’s commitment to delivering resilient, forward-thinking infrastructure solutions that improve quality of life and support the long-term needs of the communities we serve,” said Stephen Gilbreath, PE, President of LAN. “Both projects required exceptional collaboration, technical innovation, and careful coordination to overcome complex challenges while maintaining critical public services.”
Photos courtesy of LAN
