ESWP: Society Information: Annual Awards

ESWP Awards

ESWP Engineer and Project of the Year Award

2008 Metcalf Award Winner

Gerald D. Holder, Ph.D., P.E., U.S. Steel Dean of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh

It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Dr. Gerald D. Holder upon selection as Recipient of the 2008 William Metcalf Award. The Metcalf Award has been presented annually since 1963 by the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) to recognize lifetime achievement in the profession of engineering.

Nominations for the Award are made through an open invitation process. From these nominations, the Recipient is selected by the ESWP Board of Directors. A plaque recognizing previous winners of the Metcalf Award is erected in the Board Room of the Pittsburgh Engineers' Building.

In addition to Dean Holder's many professional accomplishments, he has been an active members of the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania for many years, including serving as a member of ESWP's 125th Anniversary Advisory Council. For a view of Dean Holder's C.V., click here.

The 2008 Metcalf Award will be presented at the ESWP Annual Banquet on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at Heinz Field, East Club Lounge in Pittsburgh, PA.

Congratulations to Dr. Gerald Holder on being chosen as the 2008 recipient of the William Metcalf Award!

Origin of the Metcalf Award

The Board of Direction of the Society at a meeting held on October 31, 1962 formally approved the following resolution concerning the William Metcalf Award.

It is proposed that the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania make an annual award to a very outstanding engineer who is a resident of the United States and whose field of engineering accomplishment relates to those fields normally asssociated with Western Pennsylvania, such as steel, aluminum, power, coal, electrial equipment, chemical, glass, construction, etc.

It is proposed that this award be named the William Metcalf Award in honor of a great engineer and the first President of our Society.

A Stainless Steel plaque, approximately 12 X 14 inches, bearing a likeness of the head of William Metcalf will be properly engraved and presented to the recipient at the Annual Banquet of the Society.

A committee, consisting of seven members of the Society, is to be appointed by the President and to include the President, Chairman of the Entertainment Committee, and five members who are ranking engineering executives of major Pittsburgh industrial engineering enterprises, at least five of whom shall be or have been members of the Board of Direction. The purpose of this committee shall be to select the candidate for the Award each year.

William Metcalf Biography

William Metcalf was born in Pittsburgh on September 3, 1838. Both his father, Orlando Metcalf, and his mother, whose maiden name was Constance D. Fries, were descendants of the very early settlers of this country.

After graduating from Pittsburgh public schools and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York (1858), he returned to Pittsburgh to become an engineer and draftsman at the Fort Pitt Foundry. In one year he became the general superintendent and held this position throughout the Civil War, although he was not yet thirty. It was his guiding genius which made the Fort Pitt Foundry one of the great manufacturing centers for heavy guns and projectiles for the armies of the North in the Civil War. Fort Pitt Foundry was one of the leading makers of armor plate and heavy ordnance for the Union. It was armor plate from this Foundry which was used on the ironclad steamers built at Philadelphia. The Foundry furnished the government with 1,193 cannon, 15 percent of the total supplied during the war. In 1868, Mr. Metcalf went into the steel business, in which he continued for many years, not giving up active management until about 1895.

Manufacture of crucible steel was largely pioneered in the United States by William Metcalf. He was one of the organizers of the Crescent Steel Company in 1889, specializing in fine crucible steels, and developing many of the processes for improvement.

William Metcalf was one of the leading practical experts in the field of mechanical and heat treatment of steel during the period prior to 1900. He was author of numerous scientific papers and leader in engineering circles. His book, "Steel, A Manual for Steel Users," published in 1896 awas widely used.

In addition to being the first President of the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania, Mr. Metcalf was President of the Duquesne Club (1881-2), President of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, President of the Homeopathic Hospital of Pittsburgh, and member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Ameican Society of Mechanical Engineers, British Institute of Civil Engineers and the Episcopal Church. William Metcalf passed away in 1909 at the age of 71.

Past William Metcalf Award Recipients

ESWP Engineer and Project of the Year Award

It is our goal each year to recognize an exemplary engineer and an outstanding project from the Western Pennsylvania region. Awards will be presented in a ceremony during the ESWP Annual Banquet. The attention these awards will bring will highlight the important contributions engineers make to our society. It is the hope that these awards will represent a meaningful impetus in attracting the best minds to the field and encouraging those in the field to excel at their work.

Nominations for ESWP Engineer of the Year and ESWP Project of the Year can be submitted by any member of ESWP, its affiliated technical societies or member companies. The Committee will seek candidates that exhibit evidence of leadership, innovation, and service to the engineering profession and society.

Past ESWP Engineer of the Year Awards Recipients

• 1999 Werner C. Loehlein, P.E.
• 2000 Anthony M. DiGioia III, M.D.
• 2001 Andrew L. Beamon, P.E.
• 2002 Thomas E. Kennedy
• 2003 John E. Coyne, P.E.
• 2004 Fred Reginella, P.E.
• 2005 Eric J. Beckman, Ph.D.
• 2006 Charles M. Russell, Jr., P.E.
• 2007 G. John Kurgan, P.E., Michael Baker Corporation

Criteria for Selection of ESWP Engineer of the Year

• Technical and professional accomplishments
• Contributions to the engineering profession
• Civic and Community affairs

Eligibility for ESWP Engineer of the Year

• Member of ESWP, affiliated technical society or member company
• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree from Engineering School or 5 years work experience in a recognized engineering position
• Accomplishments should be current, within the last 5 years
• No members of the Engineer's Week Committee are eligible for this award

Past ESWP Project of the Year Awards Recipients

• 1998 Commercial Project: American Video Glass Co.
  R.T. Patterson Company, Inc.
  P.J. Dick Incorporated
• 1998 Industrial Project: Lake Erie Steel Company
  Kvaerner Constructors, Ltd.
  Kvaerner Engineering & Construction
  Kvaerner Songer, Inc.
• 1999 Commercial Project: St. Francis Hospital
  LDA - L.D. Astorino Companies
• 1999 Industrial Project: Rio Dam Project
  Southern Energy of New York
  Paul C. Rizzo Associates
• 2000 Commercial Project: PNC Firstside Center
  PNC Financial Services Group
  LDA - L.D. Astorino Companies
• 2001 Commercial Project: PNC Park
  Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
  Pittsburgh Pirates
  HOK Sport
  L.D. Astorino Companies
  Barton Malow/Dick Corporation
• 2001 Transportation Project: West Busway
  Port Authority of Allegheny County
  Michael Baker Jr., Inc.
  Dick Corporation
• 2002 Heavy Construction Project: Braddock Dam
  Owner: US Army Corps of Engineers
  General Contractor: JA Jones/Traylor Bros.
• 2002 Transportation Project: I-70 to PA 51 Project as part of the Mon Fayette Expressway
  Owner: PA Turnpike Commission
  Design Manager: Michael Baker Jr Inc.
  Construction Manager: Trumbull Corporation
• 2002 Environmental Reclamation Project: Summerset at Frick Park Project
  Public/Private Developer: Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
  Private Developer: Summerset Land Development Associates
  Design Professional: GAI Consultants, Inc.
• 2003 Heavy Construction Project: Saluda Dam Remediation
  Owner: South Carolina Electric & Gas Company
  Engineer: Paul C. Rizzo Associates
  Contractor: Barnard Construction Company
• 2003 Transportation Project: Fort Pitt Bridge and Tunnel Rehabilitation
  Owner: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
  Lead Engineer: HDR Engineering, Inc.
  Contractor: Trumbull Corporation
• 2003 Commercial Project: David L. Lawrence Convention Center
  Owner: Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
  Architect: Rafael Vinoly Architects, PC
  Construction Managers: Joint Venture of Turner Construction, P.J. Dick and ATS-CHESTER Engineers, Inc.
• 2004 Commercial Category: UPMC Sports Performance Complex
  Owner: UPMC
  Architect/Engineer: Astorino
  Construction Manager: Mascaro Construction Company, L.P.
• 2004 Industrial Category: Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation
  Electric Arc Furnace
  Owner: Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation
  Engineer: R.T. Patterson Company, Inc.
  Construction Manager: Continental Design & Management
• 2004 Transportation Category: Stage II Light Rail Transit System Project
  Owner: Port Authority of Allegheny County
  Engineer/Designers: URS Corporation, CDM, Parsons Corporation
  Construction Managers: Gannett-Fleming, Inc., DMJM+Harris, Inc.
• 2004 Public Works Category: Hurricane Ivan Flood Emergency
  Road Repair Projects
  Owners: Pennsylvania DOT Engineering District 11-0
  Allegheny County Department of Public Works
  Construction Manager: Michael Baker Corporation
• 2005 Transportation Category: Erie Bayfront Connector Highway
  Owner: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
  Engineer: GAI Consultants
• 2005 Industrial Category: AP1000 Nuclear Reactor
  Owner: Westinghouse Electric Company
• 2006 Commercial Category: BioMedical Science Tower 3 (BST3)
  Owner: University of Pittsburgh
• 2006 Transportation Category: Findlay Connector Highway
  Owner: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
• 2007 Commercial Category: Phipps Conservatory Expansion Project - Owner: Phipps Conservatory; Construction Manager: Turner Construction Co.; Project Architect: IKM
• 2007 Industrial Category: "C" Blast Furnace Rebuilding Project - Owner: SeverStal North America; Primary Design Professional: ATSI, Inc.; Construction Manager: Graycor; Other Project Team Members: Paul Wurth, Inc., ATAC Engineering, Inc., Hatch, Amerex, Quattro Associates, Inc., Siemens VAI, The Thomas Group, Total Equipment Company, Woodings Industrial Corporation, SNC-Lavalin America, Inc.
• 2007 Transportation Category: Pyandzh River Bridge Project - Governmental Construction Authority: USACE - Afghanistan Engineer District & TransAtlantic Programs Center; Engineering & Design, On-Site Consulting Agent for USACE: Michael Baker Jr., Inc.

Criteria for Selection of ESWP Project of the Year

• Technical innovation
• Commercial success
• Benefit to society

Eligibility for the ESWP Project of the Year

• Company or organization who performed the project should be a member of ESWP, or have members who belong to ESWP, an affiliated technical society, or member company
• Projects may be located anywhere in the world
• Projects should have been completed within the last 5 years
• Engineer's Week Committee Members whose companies or organizations are nominated may not participate in the selection process

Outstanding Engineering Achievement

• 2001 Anthony J. DeArdo, Ph.D. & C. Isaac Garcia, Ph.D.

University of Pittsburgh, George Washington Award

• 2008 Benjamin Gordon

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