Mackinac Bridge Platforms Project Wins Top Prize in National Engineering Awards Program

Ruby+Associates was honored on November 5, 2020 during the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) Virtual Structural Engineering Summit for their work on the Mackinac Bridge Paint Platforms project. The project was recognized with the top award in the Other Structures category: Outstanding Project.

As part of the five-mile long Mackinac Bridge’s first stripping and repainting in its 60+ year history, Ruby’s engineers were tasked with designing platforms to allow for removal and collection of the original lead-based paint and repainting the bridge’s 552-foot towers. 

Considering high winds, the design was an enclosed, lightweight space frame - a two-story movable steel and aluminum system that encircles the tower legs.  Another platform with its own dual steel box truss was used to for the struts.   

During his NCSEA award acceptance speech, Project Executive Bruce Burt, PE, said, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work on an iconic structure like the Mackinac Bridge and on a such a tremendously challenging project.”  Burt recognized the project’s owner as well: “I’d like to thank Kim Nowack of the Mackinac Bridge Authority who was receptive to the innovative approach we offered to the challenge of painting these massive towers.”