BL Companies has been honored with the 2025 Grand Award by the Connecticut chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) for its work on the Harbor Brook Channel Improvements Project in Meriden, Connecticut. This prestigious recognition celebrates engineering excellence and acknowledges the project’s outstanding contributions to flood mitigation, environmental sustainability and community revitalization.
The Harbor Brook project was designed to address chronic flooding along a 1-mile stretch of the brook, reducing the floodplain footprint, protecting vulnerable neighborhoods, and enhancing public access to natural space through the integration of a new multi-use trail.
“This recognition highlights the critical role engineering plays in building stronger, safer and more resilient communities,” said Derek Kohl, Vice President of Operations at BL Companies. “We are proud to collaborate with the City of Meriden and our project partners to deliver a solution that not only resolved a long-standing public safety issue but also restored natural habitat, improved quality of life and created new recreational opportunities.”
The Harbor Brook Channel Improvements Project combined flood mitigation infrastructure with environmental restoration and community accessibility enhancements. The project involved widening and deepening the channel, constructing new floodplain storage areas, replacing aging infrastructure and introducing a 3,500-foot multi-use trail. These efforts addressed flood risk, improved emergency response capabilities and created new public access to the brook.
Construction was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, the result of close collaboration between BL Companies, the City of Meriden, Richards Corporation and Seifert Associates, LLC. BL Companies received the Grand Award, as well as a Connecticut Engineering Excellence Award, during a ceremony at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, Connecticut, on January 28, 2025.