Theodore P. Zoli receives ENR's 2012 Award of Excellence

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Theodore (Ted) P. Zoli, PE, national bridge chief engineer for HNTB Corporation, has received the construction industry's most prestigious honor: Engineering News-Record's Award of Excellence for 2012. The award was presented April 12, 2012, at ENR's annual black-tie gala in New York City. More than 1,500 guests attended the event.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120413/NY86924 )

ENR selected Zoli from a list of what the magazine dubbed the Top 25 Newsmakers of 2011. He will be featured in a cover story in the April 16 issue.

As HNTB's national bridge chief engineer, Zoli brings international acclaim as the innovator behind numerous bridges – long span, movable, pedestrian and rail. Among his most notable projects are the cable-stayed Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston; the curved cable-stayed Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha, Neb.; the Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge in Cupertino, Calif.; and the network tied arch Blennerhassett Island Bridge in West Virginia.

Most recently, Zoli is noted for designing the Lake Champlain Bridge between New York and Vermont. He led a team that delivered the modified network tied arch in only two years, using a float-in and heavy-lift scheme to raise the center span.

A 2009 MacArthur Fellow, Zoli is described by the foundation as "a structural engineer who is leading the design of elegant and enduring bridges around the world and making major technical advances to protect transportation infrastructure in the event of natural and man-made disasters."

Zoli, who also has been featured in Esquire magazine's Best and Brightest of 2010 and NBC Nightly News, has consistently used the media attention to spread the word about the nation's infrastructure needs. He is an advocate of moving away from a design approach dominated by material efficiency to one focused more on constructability and structural safety. He has been at the forefront of the bridge community in developing protective measures for the main cables and hangars of suspension bridges, incorporating advanced composite material. He also has researched fire effects on bridge components.

"Ted is the embodiment of HNTB's commitment to technical excellence," said Ken Graham, CEO, HNTB Infrastructure.  "He consistently provides valuable leadership for HNTB's award-wining projects and serves as a mentor for technical/design staff across the firm."  

With nearly 100 years of bridge design history, HNTB is a leader in long-span, moveable and complex bridges. The firm consistently delivers cost-effective, unique design solutions for its clients with an eye toward incorporating the latest advances in technology and sustainability.

About HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With nearly a century of service, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and solves clients' most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, program delivery and construction management. For more information, visit www.hntb.com.

SOURCE HNTB Corporation