RICHARDSON, TX — Halff, an employee-owned, full-service infrastructure consulting firm, earned a pair of gold honors from the Texas Chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC Texas) in the 2026 ACEC Texas Engineering Excellence Awards competition.
The Engineering Excellence Awards competition has been held by ACEC Texas since its inception in 1975 to honor and recognize outstanding achievements within the engineering community. A panel of judges from around the state select 13 gold medal and six silver medal projects from 39 entries based on uniqueness, originality, value to the engineering profession, complexity, and how successfully the project met the needs of the client.
The Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 (HCDD1) Delta Reclamation Water Treatment Plant Pilot Study earned a gold medal in the studies, research, and consulting engineering category. The study is a blueprint for sustainable water management. The Delta Reclamation project is pioneering water reclamation by reducing dependency on conventional water systems. Working in conjunction with HCDD1, the project recaptures water from hundreds of miles of drainage ditches and creates a new regional source of water while lessening water dependency on the Rio Grande. Part of the project involves the creation of a 225-acre reservoir that not only facilitates water reclamation but helps the region with drainage.
The City of Houston Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP) was a gold medal winner in the water resources category. The SWMP is a comprehensive modeling analysis of all types of stormwater infrastructure throughout the Houston city limits. The plan equipped Houston with a fully integrated, citywide hydrologic and hydraulic model that evaluates how routine and extreme flood events impact the entire drainage system. This comprehensive analysis enables the city to identify weaknesses in the system and inform data-driven decisions that target the areas of the city under the most flood risk. The SWMP offers Houston a framework for reducing flood risk, enhancing infrastructure performance, and planning for long-term climate resilience.
