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Opening Reception Ials Building Bridges Special Projects Installation

Leo Migdal
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opening reception ials building bridges special projects installation

Eight student-led projects that aim to break down campus divisions — through talks, film screenings, and art installations — won funding from the 2025-26 President’s Building Bridges Fund. The presidential initiative, which seeks to build community across faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, received three times as many applications and is funding twice as many projects as it did in its inaugural round last... Grantees, led by students from the College and six graduate Schools, were awarded up to $5,000 and will launch projects during winter and spring 2026. “There is interest across the University in creating new opportunities to deepen connections, build understanding, and strengthen relationships,” said Harvard President Alan M. Garber. “The threefold increase in Building Bridges applications this year demonstrates students’ eagerness to take risks and to learn from one another.

It is an exciting and promising sign of renewal within our community, and I am honored to support an excellent slate of projects.” Last year, student project leaders took a variety of approaches to fostering respectful dialogue among their peers on challenging issues. This year is no different. Projects will delve into a diverse set of topics, including exploration of the rural-urban divide, progressive-conservative values, Black and Jewish solidarity, and shared identity through art. “Our students continue to show that building community across difference is not an abstract aspiration but a daily practice they are eager to pursue,” said Sherri Ann Charleston, chief community and campus life officer... “From the Law School to the College, our students are seeking not just to coexist, but to understand.

These selected projects capture that spirit perfectly, utilizing everything from the arts to structured policy debate to weave a stronger, resilient community at Harvard.” A new wave of bridge projects finds architects and engineers in unique collaborations. The Rock Island Bridge in Kansas City, Mo., became a new kind of civic infrastructure due in part to a funny observation. After seeing the skeletal span during a boating trip, former PBS executive Mike Zeller remarked that someone should build a restaurant on it called “Chicken on a Bridge.” But he didn’t stop at a... As a result, the former cattle bridge has turned into a public gathering space, complete with an event venue, room for restaurants, and a trail that will connect it with the adjacent West Bottoms... It had a soft opening in November 2025.Forming a team earlyThe Rock Island Bridge project was the apex of years of collaborations and discussions on how to overcome challenges, including dealing with municipal boundaries,...

It’s part of a new approach to retrofitting public infrastructure that Dennis Strait, AIA, believes will become more common. Strait is a principal at Multistudio, the architecture firm behind the Rock Island Bridge project.“There was a lot of interesting collaboration that had to happen before architecture became a discussion,” said Strait. “Before, an architect might originally have gone through and created a conceptual design and then brought on the engineering and the consulting team to figure out how to execute it. We learned you’d be much better served getting consultants in early to figure out as much about the problem to be solved before putting a solution on the table.”Matt Farber, a structural engineer with... Farber became involved as part of a unique collaboration between his firm, another engineering firm called TranSystems, and Multistudio. “There was a lot of work to prove out the concept,” said Farber.

The project required teamwork to make the former rail bridge function and add space for people, bikes, trails, and entertainment, all in a setup that balanced on existing supports and structures. To abide by local building codes, the bridge had to become a public way to allow for enough exits from the event space. Eventually, engineers found ways to expand the 14-foot-wide crossing to 40 feet.“TranSystems was very familiar with other bridge fixes,” per Farber. “There can be corrosion, other aspects that aren’t maintained. So it’s important to work with someone familiar with these structures.”Seeking new challengesA number of new bridge projects have linked architects and engineers in unique collaborations, seeking to work close together on designs that... In addition to the Rock Island Bridge, the 11th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C.’s Anacostia neighborhood is in the process of becoming an elevated park.

Its designers, OMA and OLIN, plan to transform an abandoned highway into a new civic connector. The project’s team intends to break ground next year.These projects take advantage of a new appreciation and desire for unique public spaces in urban areas, inspired by infrastructure projects like the High Line and... It helps that advancing design software has unlocked possibilities for more complex engineering.Other recent bridge projects involved engineering not just a solution but a new way to assemble a project. In 2020, Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) oversaw the installation of the Park Union Bridge in Colorado Springs, Colo., a sinewy steel curve above an active railyard. The span united the firm’s U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum complex with a nearby park.

It also stretched the firm’s structural engineering skills. In collaboration with the consultancy Arup, the DS+R team figured out which of three different versions would be the most structurally sound, considering variables such as wind resistance, how to deal with retaining water,... The end result was a stretched, tied arch with steel skin that went across the rail line and curved left to right, allowing it to be shorter and structurally viable. Collaborating in software tools like Rhino, Grasshopper, and proprietary programs used by Arup, the teams figured out the final form. They had it shipped in pieces to the site and welded together in chunks to shorten the delay of the active rail lines below.“We architects studied structural engineering, of course, but we’re not regularly... For Deichmann, these projects can’t work unless both parties can make concessions, collaborate, and refuse to be entrenched.At one point, the preliminary shape of the bridge was looking good, but the curved span didn’t...

Instead of refusing to problem solve, the engineers took that small gap as a challenge. They redoubled their efforts and figured out how to tweak the shape.Selling a visionIn Portland, Ore., the car-free Tillikum Crossing is a cable-stayed bridge across the Willamette River that opened in 2015. It features dedicated space for pedestrians, bikes, and rail transit. Architect Donald MacDonald, FAIA, who once designed toll booths for the Golden Gate Bridge and worked on the Tillikum Bridge project, said he utilized many hand-drawn plans as he interacted with engineers and sought... Showing physical sketches made the project proposals feel more considered and helped him explain the ways he was literally and figuratively drawing from the landscape. (The Tillikum project utilized the profile of nearby Mount Hood.)Bridges differ from buildings in their impact on the landscape, said MacDonald.

Because they’re often expensive, stand out amid the urban landscape, and take years to build, they are very symbolic developments that attract lots of feedback. MacDonald believes that makes it all the more important for architects to work closely with engineers to sell their vision, backed up with extensive research and study.Collaborations between architects, engineers, and contractors continue throughout... Farber said the intricacies of the Rock Island project didn’t stop when they figured out the structural challenges of supporting public space and new amenities. They decided to galvanize the steel to protect the overall structure and give it a longer lifespan. The contractors who worked on the project had experience with bridges, making it easier to figure out how to approach and sequence construction above the river. “Dealing with a very old bridge that was being loaded very differently than what the original intent was meant they had to scrutinize it and make sure it was right,” said Farber.With so many...

Beyond the symbolism of bridges as connectors, there are also extensive opportunities to turn abandoned structures or overlooked crossings into something new. “There are hundreds if not thousands of bridges that are abandoned and have significant capacity to do something like Rock Island,” said Farber. “I definitely think it’s possible when this opens, that it gets a lot of national attention and starts to encourage others to try something similar.”Patrick Sisson is a freelance writer covering architecture and design. He lives in Los Angeles. The project is designed to strengthen NJ TRANSIT’s capacity to maintain and service its rail network by providing modern infrastructure that supports essential right-of-way maintenance and repair operations. NJ TRANSIT is set to advance its Northern Rail Maintenance-of-Way (MOW) Facility project in Clifton, N.J., with the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Special Prequalification anticipated in June 2025.

The RFQ, currently pending final approval from the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller, initiates the first phase of a two-step procurement process to engage a qualified design-build team for the facility’s final... “This project is a key step in delivering the infrastructure we need to support reliable and efficient transit operations across the state,” said NJ TRANSIT President/CEO Kris Kolluri. “We look forward to partnering with experienced teams who share our commitment to innovation and excellence.” The new facility will replace the aging and flood-prone Wood-Ridge MOW site. The project is designed to strengthen NJ TRANSIT’s capacity to maintain and service its rail network by providing modern infrastructure that supports essential right-of-way maintenance and repair operations. The dynamic U.S.

transit market evolves as agencies initiate new projects to enhance mobility and reduce congestion. In the next three years, numerous bridge projects across the U.S. will offer significant opportunities for engineering firms. These projects, from urban replacements to rural expansions, aim to meet transportation needs and update aging infrastructure. With bridges needing replacement and new structures for growing populations, demand for engineering services is set to rise. Many of these projects have a clear focus: making travel safer and smoother.

Cities will see major bridge replacements to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, while rural areas will benefit from new crossings that enhance access and support growth. Some projects will also incorporate new technologies for more efficient, resilient bridge designs. As these projects unfold, a wide range of expertise will be needed, from structural engineering to environmental assessments and project management. Firms offering comprehensive solutions will be well-positioned to help project owners achieve their goals. By aligning with these bridge initiatives, firms can shape the future of infrastructure development. Below are a few interesting projects, each providing a unique opportunity to contribute innovative engineering solutions, sorted by value:

NY 36 Hornell Gateway Connection Project, New York - A major infrastructure initiative in Hornell, New York, aims to improve traffic safety and mobility along the Route 36 corridor by replacing and upgrading the... The project, valued at approximately $55 million, is set to begin construction in Fall 2026 and is expected to be completed by Winter 2028/2029. Funding is primarily provided by the New York State Department of Transportation, with additional support from federal infrastructure funds. SR-A1A Over Sebastian Inlet Bridge Replacement, Florida - This project by the Florida Department of Transportation aims to improve safety, traffic flow, and resilience to coastal conditions. The new bridge will feature two 12-foot travel lanes, two 8-foot shoulders, and two 12-foot shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists, along with reconfigured park entrances and enhanced crosswalks. Estimated to cost $97.3 million, the project is currently in design, with construction scheduled to begin in Spring 2026.

New Jersey – Bid Notices & rfps for Educational Facilities Authority https://www.nj.gov/njefa/procurement/bid-opportunities/ New Jersey Other Bid Opportunity Sites https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/purchase/bid_op_sites.shtml and https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/dpmc/project_construction_advertisements.shtml New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU) (https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/index.shtml) on November 3, 2022 announced the award of an estimated $723 million to Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) for the construction of electric power transmission... The total project cost is estimated to be $1.07 billion, including the necessary onshore electric grid upgrades. The project will connect DC generated electricity from offshore wind mills to Monmouth County NJ where the DC power will be converted to AC power that will then flow into the electric grid. Construction should begin in 2025 and wrap up by 2030.

On October 26, 2022 the Larrabee Tri-Collector Solution (LTCS) offshore wind transmission project was selected by Mid-Atlantic Offshore Development (MAOD) and JCP&L. The BPU Board decided a successful bidder for New Jersey’s third offshore wind generation solicitation will be required to prebuild a single corridor from the shore crossing to the LTCS to minimize environmental impact,... For more information https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/2022/approved/20221026.html and https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/37335-new-jersey-bpu-awards-offshore-wind-transmission-project-to-jersey-central-power-and-light/ for more billion dollar construction projects in the US announced in 2022 go to https://uspublicworks.com/billion-dollar-projects/ New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, Lyndhurst, NJ Public Bid Notices https://www.njsea.com/public-notices/ New Jersey Transit Authority Procurement https://www.njtransit.com/procurement/notice-of-awards Bridge construction is a complex process that requires planning, design, and physical implementation of a structure.

Here’s how to manage this process In civil engineering, bridges are considered vital arteries connecting communities and enabling the uninterrupted flow of people, goods, and services. Building and maintaining these structures, however, pose a series of challenges that become increasingly demanding and complex over the years. Now more than ever, seeking innovative solutions is necessary to address these challenges and ensure the safety, sustainability, and efficiency of our connecting infrastructures. In this article, we’ll delve into how the process of designing and constructing these structures unfolds and understand why bridge management software, bridge inspection software, and structural health monitoring software are indispensable tools for... You can try these tools for free by simply activating an account.

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