Blog

Using LiDAR Scanning to Take a Close Look at Aging Infrastructure

Using LiDAR Scanning to Take a Close Look at Aging Infrastructure in the City of Sheboygan Repair, or demolish and build new? This was the question on the minds of staff at the Sheboygan Water Utility in the city of Sheboygan, Wis., who were facing a decision regarding their 87-year-old,... Continue Reading

Erb Park & Swimming Pool – Revitalizing a Beloved Community “Bird Bath”

The City of Appleton, Wisconsin, has long been considered the heart of the Fox River valley, with beloved Erb Park being its cultural pulse for nearly a century. Purchased in 1923, the park acquired its first public pool in 1940—affectionately known as the “bird bath” due to its... Continue Reading

Tale of Two Centuries: Rehabbing A Historic Bridge In A Historic Community

Written by: Dave Pantzlaff, Ayres Associates It was three years after the Model T became the first mass-produced automobile when a salesman from the Iowa Bridge Company met with the City of Chippewa Falls to extol the virtues of a new type of bridge from the Marsh Engineering Company. The... Continue Reading

3 Ways to Find Common (under)Ground

Written by: Fred Groth and Bryant Stempski, GRAEF Society, scholars, and semi-trucks, how will they get along? For 90 years, UW-Madison’s Memorial Union has connected generations of leaders, the next great thinkers, musicians, artists, and a community built on their shared legacy. But... Continue Reading

Communication key to designing lasting benefit to Madison Water Utility

Municipal building design projects are often fraught with numerous stakeholder groups. Sometimes these groups are at cross purposes and have different agendas to put forward. The “magic” lies in gaining input and buy-in from local elected officials, neighborhood businesses, state... Continue Reading

Verona Road Project an enriching, personal journey for design team

The Verona Project included many unique and complex aspects, including a Single Point Urban Interchange. Imagine, ten years of your engineering career solely dedicated to one highway project. After staff from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Strand Associates,... Continue Reading

How a Utility Is Tapping Innovation for 23x More Storage

At a site believed to be an inspiration for John Muir, a growing city replaces a 75-year-old water tower with a double-reservoir system to better serve residents. The result is an innovative, cost-effective, creative solution designed to serve the daily water needs of Madison, Wisconsin,... Continue Reading

Hats Off to the Unsung Heroes – Engineers

(With National Engineers Week (February 18-24) coming up, I can’t help but think about the important roles engineers play in Wisconsin. It is relatively “easy” to design structures that will withstand external loads or roads that will carry their intended traffic. The engineering... Continue Reading