Lansdale – Two projects completed by Professional Systems Engineering, LLC (PSE) of Lansdale were honored in the Outstanding Engineering Achievement Awards Program of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE). PSE’s was recognized for life safety, communications and security systems at the Philadelphia Zoo and high-tech security systems for a super-maximum correctional facility in Maryland. Criteria for honorees include demonstration of engineering challenges and innovative solutions contributing to the engineering profession.
There were seven projects honored this year. From these, a panel of judges announced one overall Outstanding Engineering Award winner following presentations during the Society’s Chapter meeting held on Thursday, December 8th at the McCall Golf & Country Club in Upper Darby. Visit the Philadelphia Chapter PSPE at www.pspe.org or the Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia. at www.engrclub.org for more details.
The Philadelphia Zoo project was presented by PSE’s Project Manager, Michael Michalski, EIT. This project entailed design and engineering services for site-wide life safety, communications, and security systems protecting America’s First Zoo. Systems protect a 42-acre campus that is home to approximately 1,400 animals representing more than 300 species, many rare and endangered.
One of the challenges of this project was safely and aesthetically blending systems into the surroundings of a variety of animal habitats, as well as among the vegetation of the zoological gardens, and in human environments.
Jerry Forstater, PE, PSE’s Chief Engineer and Owner, presented the North Branch Correctional Institution (NBCI) project. This is a super-maximum correctional facility where PSE provided security systems design and engineering. This included fencing, detention, digital automation, and life safety and communications infrastructure. Systems provide prison personnel greater control and added safety, while reducing manpower. This three-phase project spanned eight years with construction costs totaling over $125 million, of which systems and fencing accounted for over $25 million. This remarkable project was featured on the National Geographic Channel on MegaStructures, a program about the greatest structures ever created.
