“Of all the forces of nature, I should think the wind contains the largest amount of motive power—that is, power to move things. … As yet, the wind is an untamed, and unharnessed force; and quite possibly one of the greatest discoveries hereafter to be made, will be the taming, and harnessing of the wind.”

Abraham Lincoln

NORMAL, IL … More than 40 people heard these prophetic words that Lincoln first spoke in 1858 as Heartland Community College celebrated the installation of its 1.65 MW wind turbine on Friday, Sept.14, on its campus in Normal, IL. Attendees included college administrators and staff members; local and state dignitaries; and project team members.

Farnsworth Group provided grant assistance, land surveying, and transportation, structural and electrical engineering design services for the project, for which installation was completed in June 2012.

Under a tent erected a few hundred feet from the base of the 36-story turbine on the northwest corner of the campus, Heartland Board Chairman Gregg Chadwick quoted extensively from Lincoln’s “First Lecture on Discoveries and Inventions.”

Chadwick was joined by College President Dr. Allen Goben, who called the turbine project, which is highly visible from nearby interstate highways, “a continual exclamation point reminder of the emerging green economy.”

Agnes Mrozowski, Acting Deputy Director of the Illinois Energy Office, said Heartland’s commercial grade turbine was one of 136 ARRA-funded projects that together produced 13,000 jobs in Illinois over two years.

She also noted that the turbine had produced 22 percent of the Heartland campus’s energy in July, which typically is a month with low winds. Normal, IL, City Manager Mark Peterson also praised the college for completing “a tough, tough project” and embracing “green development before it was fashionable.”

Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford said wind turbines across the state are creating learning opportunities through projects such as Heartland’s. Besides cost savings, they also are generating revenues through the exporting of energy from commercial wind farms.

Dr. Jerry Weber, President of College of Lake County and a former Heartland administrator, concluded by commenting, “The green economy is about networking and partnerships. … And then it’s there for the future.”
 

Click here to read local media coverage of the event.

Two Farnsworth Group, Inc. employees earned awards from the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE) for their contributions to furthering the engineering profession in Illinois.

Steve Myers, PE, a Farnsworth Group Principal and leader of the Company’s Water/Wastewater group, was awarded the Professional Engineering Management Award.The Professional Engineering Management Award recognizes a person in a management capacity, supervising engineers. 

Mark Wylie, PE, SE, a Structural Engineer with Farnsworth Group, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award.  The award recognizes a member who has made an outstanding contribution in a single area of Society achievement.

Myers has more than 30 years of experience in planning, design and construction of various types of municipal projects.  He has worked with numerous municipalities, both large and small, to improve their infrastructure.  Myers has successfully coordinated engineering projects with countless regulatory agencies, partnering companies and clients. 

He has held several leadership positions within the Bloomington Chapter of ISPE and served as President in 2009.  He is also an active member of the American Water Works Association and the Illinois Municipal League. 

Wylie has designed a wide variety of transportation related structures including state highway, county bridges and retaining walls.  He has been heavily involved in both the Bloomington Area ISPE Chapter and the State Society of ISPE having served as President of both.  In recognition of his engineering talents and service, he received the ISPE Young Engineer of the Year Award as well as the Illinois Award.

Beyond the engineering community, Wylie has been involved in Boy Scouts of American, Second Presbyterian Church, the Children’s Foundation and Kiwanis International. 

About the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers

The Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE), established in 1886, is a professional association representing more than 1,800 engineers from all fields of practice.  ISPE, headquartered in Springfield, includes among its membership: licensed professional engineers, licensed structural engineers, licensed land surveyors, engineer interns, graduate engineers and engineering students.

Six new Illinois River Road kiosks, designed by Farnsworth Group, were recently dedicated marking the Illinois River Road Scenic Byway. 
 

The kiosks provide information about the Illinois River Road, with each kiosk offering a welcome sign, maps of the Illinois River Road system, and a panel dedicated to attractions located in the host community. The kiosks are located in Peoria, Ottawa, Princeton, Havana, Pekin and Canton.
 

Farnsworth Group was selected to prepare several conceptual kiosk designs for the Byway Committee’s review and approval.  Farnsworth was then directed to install informational kiosks for Gateway Communities along the Illinois River Road Scenic Byway. 
 

The Town of Normal, IL, was awarded a prestigious national transportation award for its Uptown Circle, a roundabout that incorporates a public gathering place in an urban setting.  Farnsworth Group served as the subsurface instracture engineer on the project.
 

Awards were given for projects that went well beyond standard practice to demonstrate an exceptional level of innovation and creativity.  There were more than 50 projects submitted from across the nation. The award was developed by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration and co-sponsored by the American Planning Association and the Transportation Research Board.

Farnsworth Group designed the municipal infrastructure (water mains and sewers) and piping - including pumps and reservoirs - for the Circle's water features.

“It took significant collaboration with engineers and other officials from various federal and state agencies to agree upon a design that could be functional, safe, and beautiful," said Uptown Redevelopment Director Wayne Aldrich.

“As an elected official, I’m pleased to see a major piece of infrastructure serve triple duty as traffic control, stormwater management, and vibrant civic space,” said Town Council member Jeff Fritzen.   “The Uptown Circle fits seamlessly into the fabric of historic Uptown Normal, providing a central gathering place where none previously existed.”

The award committee based its decision on many features of the Uptown Circle, including the cooperation and out-of-the-box thinking by representatives from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as from private firms.  It was also significant that the circle is an integral part of a larger urban revitalization effort that seeks to bring together multiple modes of transportation, particularly with the adjacent multimodal transportation center and multiuse Constitution Trail.

Uptown Circle has also been featured in several national publications, including Civil Engineer and American Public Works Reporter, and it has been presented at the annual conference of the U.S. Green Building Council and the American Society of Landscape Architects.   The Uptown Circle is also the 2011 winner of the Civic Places category of the USEPA's National Award for Smart Growth Achievement and the 2010 winner of the ASLA Illinois Presidential Award in the Urban Design Category. 

Farnsworth Group employees recently participated in the 27th Annual Childrens Miracle Network Telethon, which raised a record amount of more than $3.5 million for the Childrens Hospital of Illinois.

Farnsworth Group offices hosted a variety of fundraising events to help raise money for the hospital, locatedin Peoria, IL.  In addition, five Farnsworth Group employees served as VIPs at the telethon, working the phones from 11 a.m. to noon. 

The telethon raised a total of $3,573,918, shattering the previous year's total of nearly $2.5 million.

Julie Fisher, F.SAME, has been awarded the  Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) President's Medal for her work on the organization's Wounded Warrior Task Force. 
 

Julie, who serves as the task force chairman, was recognized for her outstanding leadership of the SAME Wounded Warrior Task Force, which raised funds for Quality of Life Plus (QL+) engineering projects at California Polytechnic University. She was instrumental in the development of the SAME Wounded Warrior website which highlights Post efforts and national resources that assist wounded warriors.

For more information, visit SAME's Wounded Warrior website.

The Peoria, IL, Journal Star Editorial Board recently authored an opinion column, "Peoria Library Expansion Exemplary Start to Finish," detailing the success of the City of Peoria's newly expanded and remodeled library facilities. 

Farnsworth Group served as the lead Architect/Engineer for the projects, in conjunction with Burnidge Cassell and Associates, that included one new facility, two expansions and two significant renovations. 

The projects included:

- North Branch, a brand new state-of-the-art 30,000 SF library facility
- Main Library, included a new entry tower and renovation on four floors
- Lincoln Carnegie Branch, involving a 14,000 SF Addition in addition to complete renovation of this historic facility
- Lakeview Branch, that included new furnishings and finishes throughout
- McClure Branch, including renovation of this nearly 100-year-old historic facility

Click here to view these projects in our portfolio.  Click here to read the editorial.

Farnsworth Group Landscape Architect Jeff Martin, RLA, recently authored an article titled, "Creating a Sense of Place by Looking to Our Past," in the April issue of InterBusiness Issues.
 

In the article, Martin discusses the trend of New Urbanism, where communities contain walkable streets, interconnected street grids, public open spaces, quality architecture and sustainable development practices.

To read more from the article, click here.

DENVER, CO...Melinda Miller, an Engineer Intern in Farnsworh Group's Denver, CO, office, was awarded the Peck Reisbeck Memorial Award from the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA), Chapter 9, Mile High Chapter.
 

The annual award is given to a recipient who has exemplified the spirit of loyalty to the organization and who has demonstrated a strong desire to further themselves in the right-of-way field.  The award is given in honor of Helen C. Peck and Frances Reisbeck, two past presidents of the Chapter. 

Farnsworth Group's Stan Emerick, PLS, was awarded the 2011 Robert E. Myers Service Award from the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors (MSPS).  Stan is a Senior Project Surveyor located in Farnsworth Group's St. Louis office.
 

The Robert E. Myers Service Award is given to an MSPS member who, over a minimum 10-year timeframe, has given exemplary service and dedication to the surveying profession and to the Society. 
 

Stan has more than 25 years survey experience, and currently serves as Chairman of the Land Survey Advisory Committee for the Misouri Department of Natural Resources.  He also serves as a Director for MSPS and chairs their History and co-chairs the Standards committees. 

Farnsworth Group's Landscape Architecture Team has played a key role in developing a new park in Chillicothe, IL.  One of the signature elements to the new park is a water feature that includes a splash pad for kids to play.  The new park also features a 15-foot hill where kids can climb to get an overview of the park, plus use if for sledding in the winter.   The new Santa Fe Park project was recently profiled in Turf magazine. Click here to read the artice.

Farnsworth Group was recently awarded two merit awards by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) in the 2012 Illinois Engineering Excellence Awards Competition.

Farnsworth Group’s award winning projects, the Regional Water System in Virginia, Illinois, and the Wastewater Collection and Treatment System in Lexington, Illinois, won awards in the Water Resources category and the Waste and Storm Water category, respectively. Entries are judged on the basis of engineering excellence, the degree to which the clients’ needs are met and the benefits to the public welfare and private practice of engineering.

Farnsworth Group worked with the City of Virginia and the regional water system entities to plan, obtain financing, design, permit and construct the Regional Water System.  The recommended project plan included a new 1.4 MGD lime-softening water treatment plant, five (5) new 400 gpm each groundwater wells, 10 miles of new 12-inch raw water main piping from the new wells to the new water treatment plant, and a new 300,000 gallon elevated water storage tank located in Virginia. The project has resulted in improved water quality and cost effective combined operations, maintenance and administration of the system which services over 4,000 residents across Cass County. The regional system provides its customers with reliable and stable water through an economically and energy efficient lime softening treatment process which replaces the existing deteriorated facilities of the municipalities and eliminates the unreliable and potentially contaminated private individual wells for the rural service areas.

After evaluating numerous alternatives, Farnsworth Group designed a zero-depth gravity sewer collection system for the City of Lexington, Illinois, including five lift stations, a wastewater treatment plant with fine bubble air diffusion in three aerated lagoons as well as an innovative zero-discharge central-pivot spray irrigation system that distributes plant effluent onto 320 acres of biomass and standard agricultural crops. The collection system transports domestic waste from approximately 850 residential and commercial properties which previously discharged into Turkey Creek. Due to this zero discharge system, a NPDES permit was not necessary. The design is not only environmentally efficient but will be economically sustainable for years to come.

FORT COLLINS, CO … January 30, 2012…Farnsworth Group, Inc., a national full-service engineering and architecture firm, announced today they have acquired The Engineering Company (TEC), a municipal, water/wastewater and survey firm based in Fort Collins, CO.
 

TEC has been based in Fort Collins, CO, since 1985 serving Colorado Special Districts and municipalities throughout the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions.  TEC has an excellent reputation and will further augment Farnsworth Group’s existing Colorado operations in Fort Collins, Denver and Colorado Springs. 

Farnsworth Group President and CEO Karen Jensen, PE, said:  “TEC’s reputation as a quality provider of engineering services will immediately strengthen our engineering presence in the Colorado and western region of the U.S.  We are enthusiastic about the new opportunities this acquisition will offer, and the expertise and talent joining the Farnsworth Group team to better serve all of our clients.”

TEC staff and clients will benefit from Farnsworth Group’s full-service, multi-disciplined engineering services, the firm’s nationwide network of offices and 100-year history, and the support of more than 300 Farnsworth Group personnel. 

“TEC is looking forward to being part of Farnsworth Group and continuing our mission of providing high quality engineering services from our Fort Collins offices,” said former TEC President J. Brian Zick, PE, who will now serve as Municipal Manager for Farnsworth Group’s Western Region.  “With Farnsworth Group, we will now be able to offer enhanced services to our clients and provide them with additional capabilities and solutions to solve their engineering needs.”

Farnsworth Group's Landscape Architecture Group helped develop a new and innovative park for Chillicothe, IL, a small central Illinois community.  With an involved community, engaged project team and overall cooperation, the new Santa Fe Park offers some interesting features to its residents.  Click here to read the article that profiled the project in Turf magazine.

The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP) held a ribbon cutting to mark the offical opening of its new Cancer Center.  Farnsworth Group served as the Architect/Engineer on the project, which is part of UICOMP's vision to further develop state-of-the-art research facilities in Peoria, IL.

The 28,000 SF research center is dedicated to the study of molecular, cellular, and genetic characteristics involved in cancer. With the commitment of the University of Illinois, Caterpillar Inc., OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Methodist Medical Center of Illinois, the Heartland Partnership, various government entities, and dedicated donors, this new facility will significantly enhance the opportunities for discovering a cure for cancer.

This new facility includes a 2-story laboratory and research office wing, together with a new main campus entry and walkway link. A prominent sail feature with lantern will help define that new main campus entry. Sloped exterior walls at the new south elevation will further enhance the overall ensemble.

Click to here to read additional coverage.

PEORIA, IL…December 8, 2011…Farnsworth Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that Jeff Martin, a Registered Landscape Architect, has joined its Peoria office as a Senior Landscape Engineer.

Jeff joins Farnsworth Group after spending more than 20 years at Teska Associates, Inc., a highly creative multi-disciplinary urban planning, land development and landscape architectural consulting firm located in Evanston, IL.  He has extensive experience throughout the Midwest working with developers, land owners, builders, institutions, municipalities and other public agencies.

At Farnsworth Group, Jeff will be providing private and public sector clients with a diverse range of planning and design services which include master land planning, site development, urban design and planning and landscape design.  He will work closely with the Company’s Architectural and Land Assembly Groups, and will expand its landscape architecture expertise into the Chicago-land area via the firm’s Shorewood, IL, office.

A native of Eureka, IL, Jeff is excited to have the opportunity to provide his creative insight and experience to local clients whom are looking to distinguish themselves in the marketplace with designs that add value and create a ‘sense of place.’

Farnsworth Group's Julie Fisher wasa appointed Chair of the Society of American Military Engineers' Wounded Warrior Task Force (WWTF).  The appointment was made by SAME National President and Rear Admiral Chris Mossey, PE, CEC, USN.

The WWTF was established to further develop SAME’s national strategy to support wounded warriors and families of fallen warriors which represents one of the Society’s three focus areas for 2011-2012. The task force has developed three recommended key efforts to enlist SAME support for wounded warriors through their rehabilitation and for many, their transition to the civilian workforce.

In August, Julie accepted a $5,000 donation from the SAME Missouri River/Texoma Joint Regional Conference Planning Committee on behalf of all wounded warriors of our military forces. Please visit the newly established WWTF website for more information, www.same.org/woundedwarrior.

The American Institute of Architects Central Illinois Chapter named Julie Sass, an Architectural Designer with Farnsworth Group, Inc., as its Outstanding Associate Member.

The awards are given to recognize firms and individuals who have contributed to the reputation of architecture through outstanding service to the profession, education and community.

In its selection of Sass, the selection board said:  “Julie demonstrates exactly what is great about society’s current group of emerging professionals. Her leadership and willingness to serve compliment an inspiring set of accomplishments. It is very encouraging to see her involvement goes much further in touching the peripherals of the architectural profession.”

Farnsworth Group, Inc., a national full-service engineering, architecture and survey firm, was awarded the Outstanding Firm Award by the American Institute of Architects (AIA)-Central Illinois chapter.  This is the second straight time Farnsworth Group has been given the Outstanding Firm Award.

The awards are given to recognize firms and individuals who have contributed to the reputation of architecture through outstanding service to the profession, education and community.

In its selection of Farnsworth Group, the selection board said:  “Farnsworth Group possesses dedication to the profession and community and shows a genuine understanding of what is needed to help create a prosperous society, and then implements those principles to actually make a difference.”

Farnsworth Group is pleased to announce that the College of the Desert Student Services Center in Palm Desert, CA, received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). As part of this $16 million project, Farnsworth Group provided LEED commissioning and LEED consultation for the 48,132 SF building.
 

Farnsworth Group’s team faced unique challenges.  The firm was hired after the project had been designed to LEED Silver levels and after construction had already begun. Farnsworth Group provided a diligent review of the contract documents and made recommendations for changes in a timely manner to elevate this project to a LEED Gold certification level.

The sustainable features in the facility included heating and cooling via a central hydronic system, a water-conserving landscape, an architectural environmental control system via built-in architectural sun shading devices and north facing fenestration. Energy generation from a rooftop photo-voltaic system offset the energy used on site and building automation controls optimized the mechanical system usage.

The Farnsworth Group team exceeded the client’s original expectations by achieving the LEED Gold rating and continues to serve the College of the Desert campus with three more building projects.

Farnsworth Group Architect Dave Burnison, AIA, recently put the finishing touches on a mural he painted on the exterior of the American Legion Hall in Normal, IL.  The mural features iconic images from America's wars. The raising of the flag on Iwo Jima and images from soldiers in Afghanistan bookend other impressions of those who have fought for our country. 

"My dad was a helicopter pilot and I was sort of a military brat," Burnison recently told the Pantagraph.  "So, I have a lot of respect for those who have fought for us.  That's why when I was approached about the project, I had a very good feeling for it becuase this is important to me."

Click here to read the entire article.

Farnsworth Group Interior Designer Sarah Kathro recently authored the article, "Trends in Office Design."  In the article, Sarah discusses the role technology is playing in office layout.  Click here to read the article.

Farnsworth Group played a key role in helping the Dunlap, IL, school district renovate its athletic facilities, including the addition of  an artificial turf football stadium.  Farnsworth Group Landscape Architect Bruce Brown, RLA, discusses how the renovations evolved. Click here to read the article.

Farnsworth Group, Inc. is proud to announce the recent certifications of two of our professionals.

Jayme Buresh of our Colorado Springs Center has earned her Certified Energy Manager (CEM) designation.  This certificate is awarded by the Association of Energy Engineers for meeting certification and competence standards.  The CEM is a recognized standard for the measure of professional accomplishment within the energy management field and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Office of Federal Energy Management Programs and the US Agency for International Development as well as numerous other state, utility and energy corporations.

Nigel A. Gray of our Atlanta office has earned his LEED Green Associate credential.  This professional designation is earned by professionals who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non-technical fields.  The credential is offered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Farnsworth Group, Inc. is proud to announce that two professionals from the firm have recently been awarded engineering awards from the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE).

Donald L. Adams, a Farnsworth Group Principal, won the ISPE Professional Engineering Management Award.  The recipient of the Professional Engineering Management Award, according to ISPE selection criteria, “shall have provided leadership in achievement of technical goals, encouraged and inspired technical and professional achievement, and demonstrated a continuing concern for professional ethics.” 

Mark S. Wylie, Structural Engineering Manager for the firm, won the ISPE Illinois Award. The Illinois Award is ISPE's highest award given to an individual by the Illinois Society and is presented to an engineer who has made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession, the public welfare, and/or humankind.

Farnsworth Group was profiled in Civil Engineers magazine for its innovative approach to a traffic roundabout in Normal, Illinois. The roundabout collects stormwater and uses it in various fountain features that form a central element of a parklike setting. Farnsworth Group's Kevin Hannel, PE, discusses the stormwater engineering components on the project.

Farnsworth Group has announced that Eric R. Bachman, PE, has been appointed a Principal of Farnsworth Group. Mr. Bachman is located in the Company’s Peoria, IL, office and currently serves as leader of the Peoria Transportation Section.

Mr. Bachman joined Farnsworth Group in 1998 as a Transportation Project Engineer in Bloomington. In 2006, Eric was given responsibility for starting a new transportation section in the Peoria office. Today, that section has grown to include a full-service transportation team, earning a reputation throughout central Illinois for delivering quality transportation and traffic services while building exceptional client relationships.

Mr. Bachman has over 18 years of experience in transportation systems and bridge planning, design, and construction. He has served as a Project Manager with responsibilities including all phases of project development and completion for municipalities, counties, and state Departments of Transportation. Some of his notable projects include Grandview Drive Reconstruction, Peoria, IL; Orange Prairie Road Extension, Peoria, IL; Sheridan Triangle Business District, Peoria, IL; and the University of Illinois Medical Office (Main Street and U of I Medical Way Intersection), Peoria, IL.

Eric is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Illinois and the ACEC/IDOT Committee. He is a member in the first program for Future Leaders of Engineering in Illinois provided through the ACEC-IL. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with Honors from the University of Illinois and served six years with the Illinois Army National Guard Infantry.