In Hastings, Nebraska, a long-vacant former middle school is being redeveloped into residential housing, an effort that brings new use to an underutilized property and supports ongoing investment in the community — where education once built futures, new housing will help shape them.

But before construction can begin, environmental challenges inside the building must be carefully managed. The site has been identified as a brownfield due to the presence of hazardous materials such as asbestos, which must be addressed to enable redevelopment. The City was awarded an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant to support cleanup activities and help advance the work needed to prepare the property for its next chapter.

Ұ����Ƶapp is supporting the project through abatement oversight, providing on-site monitoring and coordination to help remediation work move forward in alignment with regulatory requirements and established safety protocols. This role is critical in keeping progress on track and creating a clear path to redevelopment.

“Projects like this are a great reminder of the value of adaptive reuse. This building has so much character that simply can’t be replicated today, and it’s exciting to see a path forward that preserves that history while bringing much-needed housing to the community,” said Kelly Schmitt, National Brownfields Director at Ұ����Ƶapp.

As cleanup advances, the building is positioned to transition from a vacant property into a residential space that contributes to the city’s growth. By addressing environmental conditions that can otherwise delay progress, Ұ����Ƶapp is supporting a project that brings new housing and renewed purpose to the site.

Last year, Erin had the privilege of leading the Ұ����Ƶapp team to a Do-Duck-Athon championship, so we’d be remiss if we didn’t admit we’re hoping to defend the title this year. But what keeps people coming back isn’t the competition. It’s the opportunity to connect with clients, regulators, consultants, contractors, attorneys and industry partners in a relaxed setting that feels completely different from a traditional conference.

When you spend an afternoon playing arcade games together, barriers come down and conversations happen naturally. Those conversations often spark new ideas, strengthen partnerships and lay the groundwork for future collaboration.

And in our industry, that matters.

Environmental restoration projects are rarely defined by a single challenge or a single solution. Whether restoring abandoned mine lands, addressing legacy contamination, revitalizing former industrial properties or supporting complex remediation efforts, success depends on bringing together diverse perspectives and working toward a shared vision for the future.  

At Ұ����Ƶapp, we’ve seen firsthand how strong relationships can help move projects forward. They create opportunities for collaboration, foster trust among stakeholders and help teams navigate complex technical, regulatory and community considerations. Some of the most meaningful progress happens when clients, regulators, technical specialists and community partners come together around a common goal: restoring environments, supporting economic vitality and helping communities thrive.

That’s what makes Do-Duck-Athon special.

Beyond the games and friendly competition, it’s an opportunity to strengthen the relationships that help turn challenges into solutions. It’s where conversations begin, ideas are exchanged and connections are built that can make a lasting impact long after the event is over.

As a sponsor of this year’s event, we’re excited to reconnect with colleagues, meet new faces and share more about how Ұ����Ƶapp supports environmental restoration and abandoned mine land projects across the U.S. And yes, we’ll be doing our best to defend that 2025 arcade championship along the way.

We hope to see you there!

Ұ����Ƶapp has been selected by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide statewide Pavement Design Services for its Maintenance Division. The contract will support highway projects across Texas by helping assess roadway conditions and inform future improvements.

As one of the largest transportation networks in the nation, Texas roadways require ongoing investment to support growing communities, increasing traffic demands and long-term transportation needs. Understanding how those roadways are performing helps TxDOT prioritize improvements, plan for future growth and make the most of its infrastructure investments.

“Infrastructure has a lasting impact on how communities grow and prosper,” said Tom Price, Ұ����Ƶapp Infrastructure Business President. “The roads that connect cities, towns and neighborhoods support nearly every aspect of daily life, and Ұ����Ƶapp has played a role in supporting that network in Texas for decades. Our people are part of the communities we serve, giving them a firsthand perspective on how transportation investments shape the places where people live and work. That perspective reinforces our commitment to delivering practical, durable pavement solutions that stand the test of time. We’re proud to support TxDOT’s efforts to maintain and improve this critical infrastructure while helping position Texas for continued growth in the years ahead.”

Under this new contract, Ұ����Ƶapp will provide pavement engineering, geotechnical services and roadway evaluations supporting highway projects across Texas. The work includes field investigations, pavement condition evaluations, roadway performance analyses and pavement design recommendations supporting both roadway rehabilitation and new construction projects statewide.

By Tom Price, Infrastructure Business President, and Lytle Troutt, Environmental Business President

For many of us, the Fourth of July means time with family and friends — long afternoons by the water, backyard barbecues and neighborhood parades. Fireworks at night, with flags lining front porches and touches of red, white and blue everywhere you look. It’s a moment to slow down and appreciate the freedoms and opportunities we don’t always recognize and simply pause to reflect.

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we’ve been thinking about what it really means to build something that lasts.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the United States took shape as a bold idea, defined as much by uncertainty as by possibility. There was no defined roadmap, just a belief that progress was possible and that each generation would help move it forward. Success depended on the nation’s first engineers, surveyors and problem-solvers — people like George Washington, who helped map the land and laid the groundwork for the systems that would shape a growing nation and connect communities over time.

Throughout our careers, we’ve seen that same spirit of possibility continue to take shape in the work being done today. Progress in infrastructure and environmental work still hinges on solving complex challenges, often without a clear path forward, while defining communities in lasting ways — from reconnecting regions to protecting public health and creating new opportunity where it didn’t exist before.

Since our country’s founding, work itself has evolved. Projects are more complex, expectations are higher and there’s a deeper understanding of how these investments affect communities over time. That has made our work more challenging, but also more meaningful.

Across the country, our clients are leading the way. They are expanding mobility and improving how people connect to jobs, schools and one another. They are strengthening water systems to support growing populations and protect critical resources. They are transforming former industrial sites into places where communities can gather and grow again. They are addressing legacy environmental challenges such as orphaned wells and abandoned mine lands, while also investing in energy and infrastructure that reflects where the country is headed, including the demands of a more connected and digital world.

These efforts may not always be visible, but they are foundational to how communities move forward.

What has remained constant since America’s founding is the importance of partnership. The best outcomes come from alignment, trust and a shared commitment to doing the work the right way. Public agencies, private partners, field teams and communities all play a role.

At Ұ����Ƶapp, we’re proud to support that work, bringing clarity to complex challenges and helping projects move forward with confidence, contributing to outcomes that extend well beyond the life of the project.

Looking ahead, the connection between infrastructure and environmental stewardship is intertwined deeper than ever before. Communities are asking not only what will be built, but how it will perform, who it will serve and what it will leave behind.

We’re grateful for the clients and partners who take on the responsibility to help communities across America flourish and thrive. Their work continues to shape communities, create opportunity and strengthen the future of the places we call home.

The American story is still being written. We see it in every project that moves from concept to reality and in every community that benefits from the investments being made today. So, this Fourth of July, we celebrate the people behind that progress and the work still ahead. We’re grateful to play a small role in what comes next.

-Tom and Lytle

A Top 15 construction management ranking and Top 50 program management placement highlight Ұ����Ƶapp’ dedication to clients and delivering with distinction.

Ұ����Ƶapp has advanced across several categories in the , reflecting continued growth in its core capabilities, rooted in its ability to exceed client expectations, forge strong partnerships and provide exceptional service at every project stage.

Ұ����Ƶapp’ 2026 ENR rankings represent the dedication and trust of clients and project delivery teams. This year, Ұ����Ƶapp climbed to No. 14 on ENR’s Top 50 Construction Management Firms list.  Ұ����Ƶapp also earned a place on the Top 50 Program Management Firms at No. 49, marking an important milestone in the company’s expanding role in delivering complex infrastructure and environmental programs. Additionally, Ұ����Ƶapp ranked at No. 28 on the Combined Construction Management/PM‑for‑Fee Firms list.

“I’m incredibly grateful to our clients for their partnership in addressing the nation’s infrastructure and environmental needs,” said Jacque Hinman, Ұ����Ƶapp Chief Executive Officer.  “The Ұ����Ƶapp Team strives to deliver projects safely, responsively and with distinction, and rankings such as the annual ENR lists serve as a guidepost to measure our progress. The fact that we have achieved these rankings through organic growth, delivered one project at a time, is a testament to the dedication and values of our combined Ұ����Ƶapp-client teams.” 

Ұ����Ƶapp also earned placements across , including No. 54 on the Top 500 Design Firms list, No. 45 among Top 100 Pure Designers and No. 14 in the hazardous waste sector, demonstrating the firm’s continued presence across engineering and environmental services.

Together these rankings highlight the breadth of Ұ����Ƶapp’ capabilities, from professional services to engineering, design and environmental solutions, supporting infrastructure and environmental projects at every stage of the project lifecycle.

With local teams backed by national expertise, Ұ����Ƶapp partners with clients to navigate complexity, deliver with confidence and advance projects that strengthen and connect communities, including construction management on projects like the Avalon Pedestrian Bridge, designed to reconnect residents to their waterfront, as well as advancing resilient water systems that protect public health and improving mobility and safety for growing communities.

Advancements such as LiDAR and drone‑based data collection are shaping the next chapter of surveying and geospatial data collection. These tools enhance accuracy, improve safety and accelerate project delivery, giving surveyors new ways to gather meaningful spatial data while reducing risk in the field. 

Ty Atmaca will present “Drone-Based Geophysics and Methan Detection for Orphan Well Identification” at the in Houston, Texas, June 24-25. He will highlight how advanced drone magnetometer surveys, methane detection technologies and Blue UAS-approved platforms are helping locate undocumented orphan wells faster, safer and more cost effectively.

A New Era of Surveying

Historically, surveying required crews to physically access project sites and manually collect data points — often over extended periods of time. Today, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) enables surveyors to capture millions of data points in a single scan, producing highly detailed 3D models of real‑world environments with remarkable efficiency. 

While the tools have changed, the mission remains the same: delivering reliable, precise and actionable spatial information. Modern survey technologies simply make that mission easier to achieve — and often in ways that are safer and more efficient for field teams.

• Safer: Reduces the need for personnel to enter hazardous or hard‑to‑reach areas such as levees, bridge structures, unstable terrain or industrial sites.
• Faster: Enables data collection in days instead of weeks or months.
• Smarter: Produces richer datasets that support better planning, engineering and environmental decision‑making.

Cagatay “Ty” Atmaca

Where These Technologies Deliver the Most Value

At Ұ����Ƶapp, drone‑based surveying and LiDAR are particularly effective for environmental, energy and infrastructure‑related investigations.

One key application is orphan well locating, where drone‑mounted magnetometers are used to detect buried well casings and undocumented infrastructure that may pose environmental or public safety risks. Drones are also used for methane detection, enabling rapid scanning of large areas — a critical capability for landfill monitoring and emissions management.

LiDAR supports a wide range of additional applications, including transportation corridors, coastal protection, site development, agricultural lands and landfills. The technology is especially valuable for drainage analysis, where subtle elevation changes captured through digital terrain models (DTMs) can help teams identify potential challenges early in the project lifecycle. 

Real‑World Impact

The benefits of integrating LiDAR and drone‑based geophysics are especially clear on complex or remote projects.

In one recent effort, Ұ����Ƶapp supported an orphan well locating and methane detection project in a mountainous region where a well was not visible at the surface. Drone‑based magnetometer data revealed a clear anomaly consistent with a buried well casing, allowing the client to pinpoint its location with confidence. In another instance, the combined use of aerial and ground‑based geophysical methods helped identify a fully buried well that was actively leaking gas — information that would have been difficult to uncover using traditional approaches alone.

On the LiDAR side, Ұ����Ƶapp supported development planning on an 850‑acre site for a large data center project. Terrain data that would have taken months to collect using conventional GPS methods was captured in just days, providing a detailed surface model that clearly represented drainage features and complex topography across the property.

Navigating Challenges and Regulations

Drone‑based projects often require extensive coordination, particularly in regulated or sensitive airspace. Depending on location, operations may involve approvals from airports, military authorities, local governments or landowners. Ұ����Ƶapp’ experience navigating these requirements allows teams to plan and execute drone operations safely, efficiently and in compliance — even in highly controlled environments. 

Looking Ahead

From landfill investigations and geohazard studies to emerging applications such as lava tube detection, LiDAR and drone‑based technologies continue to expand what is possible in surveying and geophysics. By integrating advanced sensors with proven methodologies, Ұ����Ƶapp helps clients gain deeper insight into both surface and subsurface conditions — supporting smarter decisions, improved safety and more resilient outcomes.

From Brownfield to Community Vision in Trimble County, Kentucky

On the edge of Bedford, Kentucky, a historic farm sat largely unused, with a lot of potential still to be realized. Today, that same land is being reimagined as , a new, connected community rooted in the character of Trimble County and designed to support how people want to live, work and gather. 

The site, formerly part of the historic Halloran Farm, was identified as a brownfield property, where past use and environmental uncertainty can present barriers to redevelopment. Through the (KIPDA)’s EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant, Ұ����Ƶapp partnered with KIPDA and project stakeholders to evaluate site conditions and help move the vision forward with clarity and confidence.

Ұ����Ƶapp’ role focused on environmental due diligence and site assessment, helping define what was possible on the land. By identifying potential risks early and aligning with state brownfields programs, the team helped transform uncertainty into a clear path forward, supporting a redevelopment plan that balances preservation, community needs and long-term viability.

Today, Coleman’s Landing is envisioned as a walkable village centered on connection, featuring a mix of homes, trails, green space, small businesses and healthcare services. A new healthcare facility is already underway, expanding access to care and reinforcing the project’s role in strengthening quality of life across the region.

For Ұ����Ƶapp, this work reflects the broader purpose of brownfields redevelopment, helping communities reclaim land in a way that is both responsible and forward-looking.

“Brownfields work is about more than environmental cleanup; it’s about helping communities move from uncertainty to opportunity. At Coleman’s Landing, that meant helping define a clear path forward that supports redevelopment while creating real opportunities for Trimble County to grow,” said Kelly Schmitt, Ұ����Ƶapp National Brownfields Director.

By combining environmental insight with strong local partnerships, Ұ����Ƶapp is helping transform underutilized land into a place shaped by community vision, one that will support Trimble County for generations to come.

In our last feature on Sally Riker, we explored her perspective on leadership, connection and the role infrastructure plays in shaping communities. Since that conversation, Sally was recognized with the first-ever , awarded at the .  This honor is one of the Foundation’s highest honors, recognizing exceptional service and leadership in advancing its mission to develop the next generation of engineering leaders and strengthen the profession. More than a single moment, the recognition reflects a long-standing commitment to service, leadership and the broader mission of the (SAME).

For Sally, the recognition carries weight, but not for the reasons you might expect.

“It’s humbling,” she says. “But it doesn’t feel like something you achieve on your own. It reflects years of people working together. It’s shared.”

That sense of shared effort is not new for her. It traces back to the way she first became involved with SAME. Early in her career and fresh out of college, she attended a local Post meeting and found herself stepping into a leadership role before she fully understood what it meant.

“I was ‘voluntold’ to serve on the board,” she recalls. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into, but I said yes.”

What followed wasn’t a traditional path, but an experience that shaped how she approaches leadership to this day. Working alongside a small, committed group, she learned how to lead in real time, contributing where needed, building together and recognizing that everyone had a role to play.

That early experience has stayed with her, particularly the idea that leadership is less about waiting until you’re ready and more about stepping in and figuring it out along the way. It’s also what kept her connected to SAME as her career evolved, moving from local involvement to regional and national leadership, and eventually to her role on the SAME Foundation Board.

Previously, Sally reflected on how organizations like SAME, the Urban Land Institute and the Council for Quality Growth have influenced her approach to leadership. She described them as spaces to grow beyond the day-to-day work, places where leadership is grounded in service and shaped by mission-driven collaboration.

Through SAME, she developed what she describes as a deeper appreciation for partnership and purpose, an understanding that leadership means contributing to something larger than yourself. That perspective continues to guide her work with the Foundation today.

“It gives me a connection to something bigger,” she says. “You’re not just participating — you’re helping create opportunities for someone else.”

Those opportunities take many forms, including supporting scholarships, mentoring emerging professionals, advancing STEM outreach and contributing to leadership development programs that strengthen the profession over time. Much of this work happens behind the scenes, but its impact is long-lasting, shaping the pathway for future leaders across the industry.

One of the most visible examples of that work is the Soaring Eagle Award, a national recognition program Sally helped bring to life alongside a dedicated group of leaders. What began as an idea evolved over several years into something more significant, an effort to recognize a different kind of leadership.

“We wanted to highlight how people lead,” she explains. “Not just what they’ve delivered, but how they bring others along with them.”

That focus — on how leadership is practiced, not just what it produces — mirrors the values that have guided her own journey. It also reinforces a broader shift in how the industry defines impact, moving beyond individual accomplishments to the influence leaders have on the people and teams around them.

Receiving the SAME Foundation President’s Medal feels, in many ways, like a reflection of those same values. More than three decades after that first Post meeting, Sally still comes back to the moment she said yes and the opportunity it created.

“You don’t always realize it at the time,” she says. “But someone gave me a seat at the table early. And that changes your path.”

It’s a perspective she continues to carry forward, both in her work with SAME and in her role at Ұ����Ƶapp. As Vice President of Strategy and Growth for Ұ����Ƶapp’ Infrastructure South Atlantic Division, her focus remains consistent: building relationships, creating opportunities and thinking long-term about both projects and people.

In our previous Q&A, Sally described leadership as something that requires intentionality, listening, understanding context and leading with purpose. That same mindset is evident in how she views this recognition: not as a defining milestone, but as part of a larger, ongoing commitment.

“If you’ve had that experience,” she says, “you try to do the same for someone else.”

Read the full conversation

To learn more about Sally’s background, leadership philosophy and career at Ұ����Ƶapp, explore our previous feature: The Industry Connector: Q&A with Sally Riker

​

Atlanta’s rise as a national soccer hub is gaining speed — fueled by growing global attention as the city prepares to host matches during the upcoming World Cup and reinforced by the recent groundbreaking of a new National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) training facility in Marietta.

The 33-acre, purpose-built campus will become the home base for Atlanta’s newest team, set to debut in 2028. Designed as a world-class training environment, the facility will include a headquarters building, multiple full-size fields and the infrastructure needed to support daily operations and long-term growth.

But long before the first field is installed or the first structure begins to rise, the success of a facility like this is shaped by the work happening below the surface. Projects of this scale demand the same level of coordination and technical rigor as major infrastructure programs — where durability, site performance and continuous use all matter from day one.

That is where Ұ����Ƶapp brings depth and experience. With decades of work supporting sports and recreation infrastructure across Atlanta and nationwide, Ұ����Ƶapp delivers civil site engineering, geotechnical and environmental services for complex athletic facilities and campus environments. From professional stadiums and training campuses to collegiate and community sports complexes, Ұ����Ƶapp helps bring fields, buildings and supporting site systems together in ways designed to perform reliably over time.

On the new NWSL training facility, Ұ����Ƶapp is supporting the design team with an integrated scope that includes civil site engineering, geotechnical evaluation and environmental permitting — helping guide the project from early site characterization through design, permitting and into construction. From the outset, subsurface conditions, grading strategies and environmental considerations have played a central role in shaping the site and influencing how fields, structures and infrastructure systems work together.

The facility is also being designed to function as a cohesive system under continuous use. Multiple fields, support facilities and circulation infrastructure must work together across the campus — balancing drainage, resilience and operational efficiency in a setting expected to perform every day. That kind of long-term performance depends on early coordination across disciplines.

“When site development, geotechnical and environmental considerations are brought together early, the team can evaluate how each decision impacts overall site performance,” said Andrew Pankopp, Ұ����Ƶapp National Practice Team Manager – Civil Site Engineering. “It allows you to align grading, drainage and constructability with permitting and long-term use from the start — reducing rework, improving efficiency and supporting a site that performs reliably over time.”

Beyond the facility itself, the project reflects a broader investment in the City of Marietta’s Franklin Gateway Corridor, where infrastructure supports not only professional sports, but also long-term growth and opportunity for the surrounding community. New community parking and corridor improvements will create additional ways for people to connect and engage with the adjacent community soccer facilities.

As purpose-built training environments continue to grow — particularly in women’s professional sports — this kind of investment reflects a broader shift toward infrastructure that supports athletes, operations and meaningful community connection.

“The NWSL training facility represents more than a new training campus,” said Tom Price, Ұ����Ƶapp Infrastructure Business President. “It’s helping shape the future of sport — where strong training environments and community investment work together to support athletes and create a lasting impact, enabling communities to grow, connect and thrive.”

Located within one of Appalachia’s most iconic landscapes, reflects a layered history of natural beauty, industrial use and ecological recovery. Drawing on deep experience in abandoned mine lands reclamation, Ұ����Ƶapp supports the park’s restoration by designing site-specific solutions that address legacy mining impacts while preserving the area’s scenic character and environmental integrity.

 Ұ����Ƶapp developed reclamation design plans for five sites within the park system, each shaped by both abandoned surface and underground mining activities with the land altered by these past activities.   Although mining operations ceased several decades ago, lingering impacts continue to affect surface and groundwater quality, landscape stability and visual aesthetics. Ұ����Ƶapp’ approach focused on understanding the unique conditions at each site and developing thoughtful, low-profile solutions that restore function while blending naturally into the surrounding environment.

A central element of the work involved managing acid mine drainage (AMD) and other waters emanating from abandoned deep‑mine entries. At several locations, discharges were largely dispersed, difficult to control and highly visible within protected park settings. Ұ����Ƶapp’ designs consolidate, control and convey flows, routing them through engineered systems that subtly follow natural drainage patterns. Treated water is directed to existing swales leading to the New River, reducing visual impacts while protecting water quality.

In areas where low‑volume seeps were identified, Ұ����Ƶapp developed targeted capture and conveyance strategies to direct flows to designated outfall locations. These designs incorporate a proposed grout curtain to control subsurface pathways, with the resulting discharges routed to natural drainage features. Final outfalls are intentionally designed to appear seamless within the landscape, underscoring Ұ����Ƶapp’ emphasis on technical performance paired with visual sensitivity.

Beyond mine water management, the project scope included reclamation design for abandoned highwalls, coal refuse and spoil piles, sealing of portals, stream restoration and remediation and demolition of legacy structures. Each component was approached with long‑term land management, safety and ecological recovery in mind — reflecting Ұ����Ƶapp’ commitment to solutions that not only address existing hazards but also support natural processes and enhance the visitor experience.

Collaboration was integral throughout the design process with Ұ����Ƶapp working closely with agency partners, including the National Park Service and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, to align technical solutions with regulatory requirements, agency standards and long-term management objectives. This coordination helped navigate the complexities of working within a federally protected landscape while remaining consistent with the park’s mission.  

“Through thoughtful planning, innovative engineering and respect for the natural and cultural significance of the New River Gorge, Ұ����Ƶapp is helping transform areas affected by historical mining into stable, functional and visually harmonious landscapes. These projects demonstrate how reclamation design plans can successfully bridge the past and the future — addressing legacy impacts while protecting one of the nation’s newest and most treasured national parks for generations to come,” said Clayton Kirk Roderick, Ұ����Ƶapp Abandoned Mine Lands Program Manager.

Learn more:

• Ұ����Ƶapp Abandoned Mine Lands Solutions
• Restoring What Was Left Behind—Ұ����Ƶapp’ Leadership in Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation